The American patriots of 238 years ago are called founders in history and by our leaders. But Lincoln saw another dimension. Hear him as he begins the Gettysburg Address:

“Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in Liberty . . .”

Did you hear him? Listen! Did you hear? These “fathers” were not founders, they were mid-wives! Notice it is not, “conceived in liberty;” it is, “conceived in Liberty!” Liberty is from God. Actually, it is more than that. Liberty is a quality of God. That capitalization is not used casually. Liberty—and our new country—was born from above!

A clear reading of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution for the United States of America shows that, from the beginning, Americans have acted with the confidence that We the People have a sovereignty under God and the government  together with the officers of that government (at any level) are subject to We the People. That American reality is called into question today by the secular forces at large and, too often, from Christian pastors and leaders.

So, who is America’s king? Is it God granting sovereignty to We the People or is our sovereign the American president? Let’s look at two sources: The Holy Bible and American history.

Here’s what the Bible says about reality in a post resurrection world:

John 19:15-16 But they cried out, “Away with him, away with him! Crucify him!” Pilate said unto them, “Shall I crucify your king?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar!” Then he delivered Him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus and led Him away.

I Timothy 6:13b-15 I give thee this charge: that thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukable until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which He in His times shall show — He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords.

Revelation 17:14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them; for He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and they that are with Him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

(21st Century King James Version)

Turning to history, the fathers of America clearly understood they were called, chosen and faithful as they faced the Army of the King of England sent to subdue the “rebels” and arrest their leaders, Samuel Adams and John Hancock, April 19, 1775. Here is the account of events from Time Tracks:

“On April 18, 1775, John Adams and John Hancock were at the home of Reverend Clarke. British General Gage was pleading with the colonists to lay down their arms and all would be forgiven, except for Samuel Adams and John Hancock. That same night, Paul Revere arrived to warn them of the approaching Redcoats. The next morning British Major Pitcairn shouted to an assembled regiment of Minutemen;“Disperse, ye villains, lay down your arms in the name of George the Sovereign King of England.” The immediate response of Reverend Jonas Clarke was:

‘We recognize no Sovereign but God and no King but Jesus.’”

That battle cry soon rang throughout the colonies making this not just a battle for rights, but for religious freedom as well. That would explain why the very first amendment of the Constitution deals with our religious freedoms.

The Committees of Correspondence sounded the cry across the Colonies: “NO KING but KING JESUS.”

Jonathan Trumbull, a crown-appointed governor, wrote back to England: If you ask an American, who is his master? He will tell you he has none, nor any governor but Jesus Christ.

For these American revolutionaries—and us—rights are gifts from our omnipotent God. Governments cannot give what they do not have. Governments can only take.

But for the French revolutionaries and today’s American left, rights are made up by an all-powerful government. Rights are parceled out to the supplicants. What they always do, however, is impose restrictions and penalties and taxes and regulations un-favored “groups.”

Yes, lads and lassies, the American independence we are about to celebrate was born from above making We the American People sovereign under God! We are called and we are chosen. Let us be also faithful!