Are We Celebrating Independence or Insurrection on July Fourth (Part 1)

On July 4th we celebrate Independence Day, the day commemorating the signing of the Declaration of Independence. This document declared our independence from the government of Great Britain in 1776.

  • A great controversy between evangelicals rages concerning what the Founding Fathers did in the Revolutionary War for Independence.

  • Was the American Revolution civil disobedience or rebellion against God’s Word in Romans 13?

  • Was the Revolutionary War Self-Defense against Great Britain or Sin?

  • Was the War for Independence Just War or an offensive war?

  • Was the Declaration of Independence a declaration of unbiblical treason?

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4th of July, Are We Celebrating Independence or Insurrection (Part 2)

The late Dr. Jack L. Arnold agreed with John MacArthur that the Revolutionary War was rebellion against God:

In our own American Revolution, Christians were divided over how to understand their responsibilities to the state and over the right to revolt. Some, especially those of the Church of England, fought on the side of the British in an attempt to be faithful to Romans 13:1. Others fled to Canada. John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, was a Tory and sided with England rather than with the Colonies because of his biblical conviction. Yet the Reformed Churches, especially the Presbyterians, felt the revolution justifiable. This revolution was somewhat different from others as it did not result in a breakdown of law and order. Political, social, and economic order was maintained. In fact, the Congress of 1774 had no thoughts of revolution and tried for two years to gain equal representation by lawful means. History shows that Britain, not the Colonies, forced the issue. It was in 1776, after much prayer, that the Continental Congress decided to declare its independence. This ultimately led to the formation of our Declaration of Independence, which acknowledges God as the Creator of all men. Our Constitution and form of government were set forth to a nation that was God-fearing, Christ-living, and biblically oriented. However, this does not prove it was biblically correct to revolt…To resist government is to resist God because government is merely an instrument of God.

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July 4th: Are We Celebrating Independence or Insurrection? (Part 1)

On July 4th we celebrate Independence Day, the day commemorating the signing of the Declaration of Independence. This document declared our independence from the government of Great Britain in 1776.

Great controversy between evangelicals rages concerning what the Founding Fathers did in the Revolutionary War for Independence.

Was the America Revolution civil disobedience or rebellion against God’s Word in Romans 13?

Was the Revolutionary War Self-Defense against Great Britain or Sin?

Was the War for Independence Just War or offensive war?

Was the Declaration of Independence a declaration of unbiblical treason?

Read more