“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”[1]
244 years ago these words were adopted as the core principle of what is known as the Declaration of Independence. It was a unique document in 18th century political doctrines and it changed the world more than any other words composed in the English language. But today it is being challenged as never before and on this day set aside for the celebration of independence from the shackles of oppressive government it is time to look again at that core principle found in the Declaration of Independence.
Nearly a century later two other documents were published that provide a stark contrast to the truth within the Declaration of Independence. This was Charles Darwin’s Origin of Species[2] and Karl Marx’s Communist Manifesto[3].
In the Declaration of Independence equality for all people is established by our Creator and the result is “…life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
For Darwin, the rest of his book title explains the premise of his theory: “…By Means of Natural Selection of the Preservation of Favored Races in the Struggle for Life.” In terms of human existence Origins assumes a system where all are not equal and so-called “favored” races are expected to prevail. The Communist Manifesto is the same idea of competing forces applied to political theory. Marx wrote of an idealized society where all are equal, but in the nearly two centuries that have passed hundreds of millions of people have followed his teaching and it has never worked. Instead of the equality and prosperity communism promised it has always yielded oppression, poverty and death.
The theories of Darwin and Marx are both a materialistic view of life, which ignores the direct and significant influence of the Creator.
Those who signed the Declaration of Independence knew equality for all was only possible if we accepted the reality of God’s authority in the affairs of men. Without that authority humanity is reduced to a never ending struggle for power and dominance. It could be autocratic kings, bureaucratic governments or tyrannical dictators, but all govern according to their superior power over others and life, liberty and happiness are stripped away from most.
Jesus put these concepts in different terms, but the core principle, that God has made us all, with equal rights and responsibilities is identical to what is expressed in the Declaration of Independence: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6.
In Galatians 3:28 the Apostle Paul declared: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Paul is not denying the distinctness of these differences within the human race. He is stating in no uncertain terms that all are created equal and remain equal in the eyes of God.
In these troubling times, on this most significant day, do not be distracted by the clamor to divide and distract from the immutable truths we find in God’s Word and our nation’s founding document. We are endowed by our Creator with equal value, equal opportunities and equal rights.
All lives matter equally to the Creator of all.
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