God And The Declaration Of Independence
Bodie Hodge, M.Sc., B.Sc., PEI
Biblical Authority Ministries, October 6, 2025 (Donate)
Born Out Of A Christian Nation
The United States was born out of Christian nation. England,
was (and still is technically) a Christian nation. More specifically, it was an
Anglican nation (that is, the Church of England) as the King or Queen still
resides as the head of the church.
In fact, I’ve been to Windsor Castle and had the opportunity
to walk through St. George’s Chapel where Christian services were
held in the days of Queen Elizabeth II. At the time, she was the head of the
Church of England.
In more modern times, the King (or Queen’s) power is limited
in the United Kingdom with the Prime Minister, members of the House of Commons
and House of Lords and a judiciary sharing power along with the monarch.
King of Kings Above The King
During the time of the Revolution in the United States, the
King held much more power. This consolidation of powers was a mighty role. Even
in Ancient Israel, the head of political power (e.g., the King) was separated
from the head of religious power (e.g., the High Priest).
Unless one is perfect, it would not be wise to invest all this power to one person. Of course, in the perfection of Jesus Christ, who is the ultimate King of Kings, High Priest, Prophet, Apostle, Creator, Sustainer of the World, and Supreme Judge, He could easily fulfill all these powerful offices in a perfect, just, and loving way.
Who are we to deny Him His
everlasting dominion and rule? After all, Christ upholds all things into
existence and currently sits on the throne of God (Hebrews 12:2[1])!
The Declaration
Prior to the founding of the USA, the people politically
joined as collections of individual colony-states. Each with their own laws and
constitution.
Upon the revolution, the founding document of independence
for the United States was the Declaration of Independence. This is the
first of the Four Organic Laws of the United States ((1) Declaration of
Independence, (2) Articles of Confederation, (3) Northwest Ordinance, and (4) the
Constitution). In this initial founding document, there was an appeal to God
over the King of England for independence.
The overall thrust of this document cannot be overstated.
The colonists recognized that God had sovereignty over local rule and over the
King of England. Their request to God for independence is not to be missed—it
shows a submission to Whom they collectively viewed as the ultimate
authority—God.
The Declaration of Independence openly appeals to God
specifically too. For instance, consider these statements:
· “When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them…”
· “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.”
· “We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America… appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions…”
· “And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”
These passages appeal to various names of God; and in the
Bible, they were specifically applied to Jesus Christ. For instance, regarding
divine Providence, Christ is the sustainer (Colossians 1:17[2])
and the one who upholds all things into existence (Hebrews 1:3[3]).
Romans 1:18-32 points out that all people know God exists by
simply looking at the creation and nature. They are without excuse and yet,
they often try to suppress the knowledge of God in their sinful state.
Nevertheless, Jesus is God as described in Paul’s writings (Paul wrote Romans
and several other books in the New Testament by the power of the Holy Spirit).
But Nature’s God is Christ to anyone who has a basic understanding of the New
Testament.
Christ, the Word of God (John 1), is the Creator Himself who took on human flesh and became a man—a feat all too easy for an all-powerful God who can do all His holy will (John 1:14[4]). Christ is the Creator according to John 1, Hebrews, 1 and Colossians, 1. And because we are made in the image of God (Genesis 1-2), we have certain rights endowed to us by our Creator. Rights are a Christian concept.
Christ is the supreme Judge of everyone on Judgment Day. You will die once, then face judgment (Hebrews 9:27[5]).
Deistic god?
In no way are these terms for God (e.g., divine Providence,
Creator who gives rights, Supreme Judge of the world, etc.) any form of reference
to a generic god or deistic god. This is a common fallacy today.
A deistic god is hands off, no judgment, no revelation, no
concern with local law, and not the type of inactive "god" that anyone would
appeal to for help! If a deistic god existed, then you shouldn’t have
any inkling about their existence and shouldn’t know anything about this
alleged god because this god didn’t reveal anything about themselves. It
is actually embarrassing to think that someone would misunderstand the God
mentioned in the Declaration of Independence as any form of deistic or generic
god.
The audacity to think that the God of the Declaration is any
other than the God of the Bible—Jesus Christ—is absurd at best and deceptive at
worst. The founding fathers of the USA appealed to the God of the Bible, and
that is a simple truth.
□
Bodie Hodge, Ken Ham's son in law, has been an apologist
since 1998 helping out in various churches and running an apologetics website.
He spent 21 years working at Answers in Genesis as a speaker, writer, and
researcher as well as a founding news anchor for Answers News. He was also head
of the Oversight Council.
Bodie launched Biblical Authority Ministries in 2015 as a
personal website and it was organized officially in 2025 as a 501(c)(3). He has
spoken on multiple continents and hosts of US states in churches, colleges, and
universities. He is married with four children.
[1] Fixing
our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set
before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the
right hand of the throne of God. NAS
[2][2]
He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. NAS
[3] And
He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and
upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of
sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. NAS
[4] But
Nature’s God is Christ to anyone who has a basic understanding of the New
Testament. NAS
[5] And
inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes
judgment. NAS
