236 years ago today, 56 men pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor to securing independence from tyranny. And the peoples ofthis nation that were destined to enjoy the liberty that these 56 helped secure? Did they have any responsibilities? Yes, the 56 said. They had the duty to do the same.

Today we Americans will go to parades, we will have barbecues, we will watch baseball, we will shoot off fireworks. A very small percentage willpause to reflect on the cost of this freedom that we enjoy. Fewer still will contemplate the fact that we are a nation that is being overtaken by tyrants. Even fewer  will stop to consider, even for a moment, that they may be dooming their posterity to a revolution of their own.

We live in a nation of theorists and politicians. The theorists theorize that we can enjoy sexual immorality with no harm to our morals. They theorize that we can enjoy drunkenness with no harm to our character. That we can teach our children that we were created by a random "big boom" instead of a loving Great God.   

The politicians pass laws that allow people to kill babies, then pass child welfare laws as if they cared. They have no time for the National Day of Prayer, but spend hours in the White house praying with Muslims on their special day. They suggest the need for a national police force at least as big as our existing military. They pass laws that were not written by congress, say they have to pass them to know what's in them and then, when we do find out, tell us to shut up and mind our own business. They issue decrees that they will only enforce those laws that they deem fit...

Now they have passed a law that will force every tax payer to help fund abortion, and they call this law "health care".

This is not a very cheerful 4th of July article, but it is patriotic. It is a warning to those who had no problem of running up trillions of debt for their children to pay. It is a warning for those who are leaving their grandchildren a nation that is on the brink of moral collapse, because we kicked the God of Heaven out of our schools and public squares, and exchanged Him for the prince of darkness. It is nothing less than a warning to those who are still patriots to consider this: We may be dooming our posterity to a future Declaration of Independence... and the awful war that it may precipitate.

More than anything else, this is a call for Christians to start acting like Christians. It is a call to repentance and to prayer. It is a call to not only stand for the right, but to do the right. This nation has been a great nation because we were a godly nation. You may not agree with this -that's your privilege. But, for those who do believe - not only in the self-evident truths of the 56 - but in the God of Heaven who created this world, I beg you to consider this: He did not put you here to live a life of luxury and leave the bill for your children. He did not give you a free nation, only to pass one along that is ruled by tyrants. And, more than anything else, He did not give up His only begotten Son, only to have you ignore His teachings and then have the audacity to proclaim His grace.

We have been given much. Let's leave our children a nation worth living in. It will mean waking up and paying attention to what is going on. It will mean voting for righteous men and women, rather than deceivers who would promise you something for nothing. It will mean some pain... and some sacrifice... and a total love for God and Christ. And, it will require nothing less than the pledging of your life, your fortunes and your sacred honor - hopefully not in battle, but in living for Jesus.

America is great because America is good. And, should she ever cease to be good, she will cease to be great.  Alexis de Tocqueville

If you hold to my teaching, you really are my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free - Jesus