Dear UnderGodthebook.com Subscriber,

Celebrate our independence by declaring your dependence... upon God. As we celebrate our country's rich past this July 4th, take time to remember those that gave up their lives to follow God and make history. To be inspired and edified, read the Under God story below about the writing and signing of the Declaration of Independence, entitled "Declaration of Dependence… upon God." Forward it to friends, read it with your family, and take time to reflect on the grave risk our founders took for the sake of liberty.

Also, if Under God challenges us to declare our dependence upon God, how are we to do it? Living Under God, a companion book due out in October, will help you take practical steps to becoming a godly influence in our society like the heroes and heroines of Under God. The devotional companion to Under God opens each reading with Scripture and a theme--including justice, mercy, and sacrifice--illustrated in lives and events of our country's past.

What’s Next?
Ask yourself the tough questions. Begin a study group with friends to continue the search for justice, mercy, and love. Living Under God will offers questions for further study and discussion starters for groups.

Pre-order Living Under God (20% off)
Buy Under God (20% off)

*****

The following excerpt is from Under God by Toby Mac and Michael Tait (with WallBuilders) © 2004; ISBN 0764200098
Published by Bethany House Publishers.

A Declaration of Dependence... Upon God:
The Signing of the Declaration of Independence
Summer 1776

Thomas Jefferson stretched and yawned loudly. He was completely drained of thought and empty of rhetoric, but he was finished writing the Declaration of Independence. He smiled proudly; he was very pleased with the final draft. In fact, the whole process had been amazing. It was as if he were a container that had been filled over the years with bits and pieces--a phrase here, a concept there. And all of it had been waiting, waiting for this moment. When he sat down to write, the words began to flow out. Majestic, powerful, poetic words--words that would change all history. He had such a sense of purpose, of destiny, as he wrote. He lost track of time. Someone had brought him food--and he had eaten--but all he could remember were the beautiful words coming out of the depths of his being.

He extinguished the lamp and went to sleep.

The next day Thomas approached the other four committee members chosen by the Continental Congress to work on the Declaration of Independence. He could hardly wait to show them the genius of his workmanship. At first, they were amazed that he had finished the draft so quickly. Then they were amazed at what he had written. It was magnificent!

When in the course of human events . . .

"Perfect!"

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal. . . .

"This is good!"

Governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. . . .

"I wouldn't change a word."

Thomas Jefferson closed his eyes, basking in the praises of the older statesmen. It was the highlight of his life.

Then the congressman from Massachusetts broke his reverie. "I would like to add the words, 'They are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights,'" said John Adams.

"Where?" Thomas asked.

"Right after 'all men are created equal.'"

Benjamin Franklin nodded in agreement. "Oh, that's good. Yes! And what about toward the end--let's insert 'with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine
Providence.'"

Thomas was offended. Government by committee was an exciting concept, but writing by committee left a lot to be desired. The committee of five continued to work together, making small changes until they agreed the Declaration of Independence was ready to present to the Continental Congress--if Congress was finally ready to declare independence!

They would soon know. Their draft would be presented when the delegates reconvened on July 1, 1776. Then they would vote on whether to break with Great Britain.

The choice was not a decision that our Founding Fathers made lightly--in fact, they had tried everything else first. A year earlier, on July 5, 1775, Congress had sent the "Olive Branch Petition" directly to King George III, asking for his help in making peace. But the king refused to even look at it.
Famous British parliamentarians argued for America's cause, but none of their arguments moved King George. In his eyes there was only one way to deal with rebellion: crush the rebels by military force. He declared war.

But never in Britain's history was recruiting volunteers so difficult. The recruiting officers were tarred and feathered in Wales and stoned in Ireland; in the previous war three hundred thousand men had volunteered, now not even fifty thousand had come forward. King George was forced to hire mercenaries from Germany who were willing to fight the Americans.

Despite the fact that England had declared war, many congressional delegates were still hoping for a way to reconcile. Only eight of the thirteen colonies had voted to declare independence.

Then, on June 7, 1776, news came that King George's hired mercenaries were coming to America to fight. In response, Richard Henry Lee of Virginia formally proposed to Congress that the colonies declare their independence. Congress postponed its decision until July, so those delegates who were uncertain could check with the people they represented.

When they reconvened, the Resolution for Independence was adopted by twelve of the thirteen colonies, with New York abstaining. Congress then began to discuss the wording of the Declaration. The changes demonstrated Congress's strong reliance upon God--as delegates added the words "appealing to the Supreme Judge of the World for the rectitude of our intentions."

In the center section are the complaints against King George that made independence necessary. Surprisingly, the reason given by modern history books--"taxation without representation"--is not at the top of the list. In fact, it was seventeenth in a list of twenty-seven grievances, including eleven points on abuse of representative powers, seven on abuse of military powers, and four on abuse of judicial powers.

The revisions continued into the late afternoon of July 4, when, at last, church bells rang out over Philadelphia; the Declaration had been officially adopted.
One of the most widely held misconceptions about the Declaration is that it was signed on July 4, 1776, by all the delegates in attendance. In fact, it wasn't officially signed until August 2.

On that day, John Hancock, the president of Congress, was the first to sign. He signed with a flourish, using a big, bold signature centered below the text.

Then, one by one, the other delegates were called upon, beginning with the northern-most states. Each man knew what he risked: To the British this was treason, and the penalty for treason was death by hanging. Benjamin Franklin said, "Indeed we must all hang together. Otherwise we shall most assuredly hang separately."

William Ellery, a delegate from Rhode Island, inched his way to stand near the desk where the delegates were signing their names. He was curious to see their faces as each committed this supreme act of courage. Ellery later reported that he was not able to discern real fear on anyone's face. One man's hand shook badly: Stephen Hopkins, also from Rhode Island, was in his sixties and was quick to explain, "My hand trembles, but my heart does not."

A pensive and awful silence filled the room, as one delegate after another signed what many at that time believed to be their own death warrants. The only sound was the calling of the names and the scratch of the pen.

Then the silence and heaviness of the morning were interrupted by the tall, sturdily built Colonel Benjamin Harrison of Virginia, who told the slender Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts, "I shall have a great advantage over you, Mr. Gerry, when we are all hung for what we are now doing. With me, it will all be over in a minute, but you, you'll be dancing on air an hour after I'm gone."

In the end, no signer was hung for treason, though many suffered greatly for their stand. For these men, who mutually pledged to each other their lives, their fortunes, their sacred honor, this was more than a declaration. It was more than a document. It was a covenant, the most solemn, the most sacred of human agreements. They understood that God himself was a witness of their actions that day.

In declaring their independence from earthly power and authority, our Founding Fathers declared their dependence upon Almighty God: "with firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence." Like the Pilgrims before them, they fully expected God to keep His side of the covenant as they obeyed His Word and followed His Spirit.

They were not disappointed.

***

I am well aware of the toil and blood and treasure that it will cost us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States. Yet through all the gloom I can see rays of ravishing light and glory. I can see that the end is worth more than all the means.
--JOHN ADAMS

We have this day restored the Sovereign, to Whom alone men ought to be obedient. He reigns in heaven and . . . from the rising to the setting sun, may His Kingdom come.
--SAMUEL ADAMS

Copyright 2005, Bethany House Publishers