This year's 4th of July celebration marks the 249th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, our fundamental, historic document of freedom based on the principles of individual liberty. For 249 years, this document has affirmed that as people of this country, we have had and continue to have the unalienable rights to "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness". Unalienable means nothing less than “undisputable” or “unable to be taken away.” This is more than a governmental or political statement as it is preceded by the words “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed (gifted) by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights….” This places our Creator, God’s own self, at the center of rights given of which we have duties and obligations to preserve so we can continue to live in and celebrate our freedom.As we celebrate this year’s Independence Day, this day of freedom, let us remember to thank God for the unalienable rights we have. Rev. Peter Marshall, a Presbyterian pastor, who was appointed chaplain of the U.S. Senate in 1947, was a man of faith who prayed the truth to guide the leaders in his day. One of his prayers that, I think resonates with what we celebrate this week, was prayed on the anniversary of President Abraham Lincoln’s birthday, February 11, 1947.
We thank Thee, Almighty God, for the rich heritage of this good land, for the evidences of Thy favor in the past, and for the Hand that hath made and preserved this nation.We thank Thee for the men and women who, by blood and sweat, by toil and tears, forged on the anvil of their own sacrifice all that we hold dear. May we never lightly esteem what they obtained at a great price. Grateful for rights and privileges, may we be conscious of duties and obligations.On this day we thank Thee for the inspiration that breathes in the memory of Abraham Lincoln, and we pray that some of the spirit that was his may be ours today. Like him, may we be more concerned that we are on Thy side, than that Thou art on ours. In our hearts may there be, as there was in his, "malice toward none and charity for all;" that we may, together, with Thy blessing and help "bind up the nation's wounds, and do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations." Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
From: The Prayers of Peter Marshall
The Covenant Hymnal a Worshipbook has 24 hymns of “Justice and Peace” and “Nation and Society.” I conclude with words from “ Jesus, Who Transcends the Ages”:
Jesus who transcends the ages, faith and love in us prepare; may we know the name, “God’s people,” and to all his grace declare. Through our task at times o’er-whelm us and we weep in frailty, plant a new hope, revive our spirits! Dare us love more fervently.
