A Prayer for Independence Day

Lord God Almighty, in whose Name the founders of this country won liberty for themselves and for us, and lit the torch of freedom for nations then unborn: Grant that we and all the people of this land may have grace to maintain our liberties in righteousness and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one
God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Beginning with the courageous stand our nation’s founders took in the signing of the Declaration of Independence, written by Thomas Jefferson of Virginia, our American dream of the equality of all people began. What followed was the prolonged War for Independence, commonly known as the Revolutionary War.

Sadly, though, the war proved to be anything but revolutionary. By God’s grace and the sacrifice of many a patriot’s life, independence was won. Yet the radical change in the structuring of society and power which lies at heart of any “revolution” simply did not happen. The wealthy class of white men remained the only ones in charge of government and social standards. They and their fellow property owners were the only ones permitted to vote when our brilliant and visionary founding document, the Constitution of the United States of America, was ratified. Non-property-owning white men were eventually allowed to vote, notwithstanding efforts to enfranchise former male slaves following the Civil War.

As a people, citizens of the United States, we have struggled and struggle still with the full meaning of Thomas Jefferson’s divinely-inspired assertion that all human beings are created equal and stand equally deserving of dignity and respect in our common life and the communal and individual pursuit of happiness. With Christ Jesus as our guardian and guide, we have come a very long way, but true and lasting equality for all humanity in our country and across the globe is far from won in our faithful effort to “love our neighbor as we love ourselves”.