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The Declaration of IndependenceThe Declaration of Independence July 4, 1776July 4, 1776

The Signers declared both ourThe Signers declared both ourIndependenceIndependence from Britainfrom Britain

and ourand ourDependenceDependence upon Godupon God

1.1. …laws of nature and nature’s God…laws of nature and nature’s God2.2. …endowed by their Creator…endowed by their Creator3.3. …the Supreme Judge of the world…the Supreme Judge of the world4.4. …reliance upon Divine Providence…reliance upon Divine Providence

The Declaration of IndependenceThe Declaration of Independence Refers to God Four Times!Refers to God Four Times!



The Sacrifices of the 56 SignersThe Sacrifices of the 56 SignersThese men not only pledged but gave These men not only pledged but gave their their liveslives, and their , and their fortunesfortunes, and not , and not one went back on his one went back on his sacred honorsacred honor


What should we do asWhat should we do asChristian CitizensChristian Citizens

of such a great nation?of such a great nation?


The Text: Matthew 22:15The Text: Matthew 22:15--2121


The Trap: The Issue of The Trap: The Issue of Government and TaxesGovernment and Taxes


Jesus’ Reply:Jesus’ Reply: “Give to Caesar what is “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s”Caesar’s and to God what is God’s”

Matt. 22:21Matt. 22:21


Americans are blessed to have, as Americans are blessed to have, as Lincoln put it, a “government of the Lincoln put it, a “government of the people, by the people, and for the people, by the people, and for the

people.”people.”


Five things every Christian Five things every Christian can do to have can do to have



Action Step # 1Action Step # 1_________ FOR YOUR GOVERNMENT_________ FOR YOUR GOVERNMENT


Action Step # 1Action Step # 1SEEK GODSEEK GOD FOR YOUR GOVERNMENTFOR YOUR GOVERNMENT

PRAY!PRAY!



PRAY!PRAY!“I urge then first of all that requests, prayers, “I urge then first of all that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for intercession and thanksgiving be made for

everyoneeveryone——for kings and all those in authority, for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all

godliness and holiness. This is good, and godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to

be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth”be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth”1Timothy 2:11Timothy 2:1--44



“The heart of the King is in the hand of “The heart of the King is in the hand of the Lord; He directs it like a watercourse the Lord; He directs it like a watercourse

wherever he pleases” wherever he pleases” Proverbs 21:1Proverbs 21:1



"If my people who are called by my "If my people who are called by my name, will humble themselves and name, will humble themselves and

pray and seek my face and turn from pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from their wicked ways, then will I hear from

heaven and will forgive their sin and heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”will heal their land.”

2 Chronicles 7:14 2 Chronicles 7:14


Action Step # 2Action Step # 2________ YOUR GOVERNMENT________ YOUR GOVERNMENT


Action Step # 2Action Step # 2SUPPORTSUPPORT YOUR GOVERNMENTYOUR GOVERNMENT

Pay TaxesPay Taxes



Jesus’ Teaching: Jesus’ Teaching: “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s” “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s”

Matthew 22:21Matthew 22:21

Jesus’ Example: Jesus’ Example: “Coin for Taxes in the Fish’s Mouth”“Coin for Taxes in the Fish’s Mouth”

Matthew 17:24Matthew 17:24--2727



Paul reasons: Paul reasons: “This is why you pay taxes, for the “This is why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who authorities are God’s servants, who

give their full time to governing.”give their full time to governing.”Romans 13:6Romans 13:6



Take PrideTake Pride



Take Pride!Take Pride!““If I forget you, O Jerusalem, may my If I forget you, O Jerusalem, may my

right hand forget its skill. May my right hand forget its skill. May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth if I tongue cling to the roof of my mouth if I

do not remember you, if I do not do not remember you, if I do not consider Jerusalem my highest joy.” consider Jerusalem my highest joy.”

Psalm 137:5Psalm 137:5--66


Action Step # 3Action Step # 3______ TO YOUR GOVERNMENT______ TO YOUR GOVERNMENT


Action Step # 3Action Step # 3SUBMITSUBMIT TO YOUR GOVERNMENTTO YOUR GOVERNMENT



Peter instructs:Peter instructs:““SubmitSubmit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to yourselves for the Lord’s sake to

every authority instituted among men: every authority instituted among men: whether to the king who is the supreme whether to the king who is the supreme authority or to governors, who are sent authority or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.”and to commend those who do right.”

1 Peter 2:131 Peter 2:13--1414



Peter instructs:Peter instructs:“Show proper “Show proper respectrespect to everyone: Love to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, the brotherhood of believers, fear God,

honorhonor the king.”the king.”1 Peter 2:171 Peter 2:17



NeroNerowas thewas the

Emperor!Emperor!


Action Step # 4Action Step # 4_________ TO YOUR GOVERNMENT_________ TO YOUR GOVERNMENT


Action Step #4Action Step #4STAND UPSTAND UP TO YOUR GOVERNMENTTO YOUR GOVERNMENT


Action Step # 4Action Step # 4STAND UPSTAND UP TO YOUR GOVERNMENTTO YOUR GOVERNMENT

Biblical ExamplesBiblical Examples••Moses petitioned Pharaoh Moses petitioned Pharaoh ••Nathan confronted King David Nathan confronted King David ••Elijah faced off against King Ahab Elijah faced off against King Ahab ••Isaiah condemned moral decay in the culture Isaiah condemned moral decay in the culture ••Amos inveighed against injustice in societyAmos inveighed against injustice in society••Daniel pointed out pride in NebuchadnezzarDaniel pointed out pride in Nebuchadnezzar••John the Baptist called out King HerodJohn the Baptist called out King Herod


Action Step # 5Action Step # 5_______ YOUR GOVERNMENT_______ YOUR GOVERNMENT


Action Step # 5Action Step # 5SELECTSELECT YOUR GOVERNMENTYOUR GOVERNMENT



““But But selectselect capable men from all the capable men from all the peoplepeople——men who fear God, trustworthy men who fear God, trustworthy

men who hate dishonest gainmen who hate dishonest gain——and and appoint them as officials…”appoint them as officials…”

Exodus 18:21Exodus 18:21



““Let each citizen remember at the Let each citizen remember at the moment he is offering his vote… moment he is offering his vote… that he is executing one of the that he is executing one of the most solemn trusts in human most solemn trusts in human society for which he is society for which he is accountable to God and his accountable to God and his country.”country.”Samuel Adams Samuel Adams –– Founding FatherFounding Father



First, Register to Vote: First, Register to Vote:

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as many as 35% of the votingas many as 35% of the voting--age age

population are not registered.population are not registered.



Second, Register a Friend: Second, Register a Friend: Take a friend a Voter Registration Form Take a friend a Voter Registration Form

or organize a nonor organize a non--partisan Voter partisan Voter Registration Drive Registration Drive –– see see

iVoteValues.orgiVoteValues.org for details.for details.



Third, Vote Your Values: Third, Vote Your Values: Every Candidate has values. Don’t you Every Candidate has values. Don’t you

think it is important to find out what think it is important to find out what they are and see how they match up they are and see how they match up with your own values, beliefs, and with your own values, beliefs, and

convictions?convictions?



““Providence has given to our Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers, people the choice of their rulers, and it is the duty, as well as the and it is the duty, as well as the privilege and interest of our privilege and interest of our Christian nation… to select and Christian nation… to select and prefer Christians for their rulers.” prefer Christians for their rulers.” John Jay John Jay –– Founding FatherFounding Father

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/72/John_Jay_%28Gilbert_Stuart_portrait%29.jpg



Which Values?Which Values?The Value of LifeThe Value of Life



The Value of Life: The Value of Life: “You watched me as I was being formed in “You watched me as I was being formed in

utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was dark of the womb. You saw me before I was

born. Every day of my life was recorded in your born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book.book. Every moment was laid out before a Every moment was laid out before a

single day had passed.”single day had passed.”Psalm 139:15Psalm 139:15--1616



The Value of Life: The Value of Life:

“All men are endowed by their Creator “All men are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights. Among with certain unalienable rights. Among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of these are life, liberty and the pursuit of

happiness.” happiness.” The Declaration of IndependenceThe Declaration of Independence



The Value of Life:The Value of Life:•• Every day in America, more babies are aborted than Every day in America, more babies are aborted than those who died in the 9/11 attacks.those who died in the 9/11 attacks.••Abortion ends the lives of more than one million Abortion ends the lives of more than one million unborn children in America every year. unborn children in America every year. ••Nearly 25% of all pregnancies end in abortion.Nearly 25% of all pregnancies end in abortion.••Nearly 50 million have been murdered by abortion.Nearly 50 million have been murdered by abortion.

It is the American Holocaust!It is the American Holocaust!



The Value of Life:The Value of Life:

“Rescue those who are being led away to “Rescue those who are being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward death; hold back those staggering toward

slaughter.”slaughter.”Proverbs 24:11Proverbs 24:11



Which Values? Which Values? The Value of FamilyThe Value of Family



The Value of FamilyThe Value of Family

“So God created man in his own image, in the “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female image of God he created him; male and female

he created them…For this reason a man will he created them…For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to leave his father and mother and be united to

his wife, and they will become one flesh.”his wife, and they will become one flesh.”Genesis 1:27; 2:24Genesis 1:27; 2:24



The Value of FamilyThe Value of Family

The Homosexual Agenda ThreatensThe Homosexual Agenda Threatensto Redefine and Destroy Marriage and the Familyto Redefine and Destroy Marriage and the Family



Which Values? Which Values? The Value of FreedomThe Value of Freedom



The Value of FreedomThe Value of Freedom“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.

Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”

Galatians 5:1Galatians 5:1



The Value of FreedomThe Value of Freedom

“Congress shall make no law respecting an “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the establishment of religion or prohibiting the

free exercisefree exercise thereof…” thereof…” First Amendment to the ConstitutionFirst Amendment to the Constitution

Maximum Patriotic ImpactMaximum Patriotic ImpactAction Step # 5Action Step # 5

SELECTSELECT YOUR GOVERNMENTYOUR GOVERNMENT

Declared Unconstitutional:Declared Unconstitutional:

••For Kindergarteners to recite: "God is great, God is good”For Kindergarteners to recite: "God is great, God is good”••For an Elementary student to ask and for the teacher to For an Elementary student to ask and for the teacher to answer whose birthday is being celebrated at Christmasanswer whose birthday is being celebrated at Christmas••For two Middle School students to bring their Bibles to For two Middle School students to bring their Bibles to class, which were confiscated, called “garbage,” and trashedclass, which were confiscated, called “garbage,” and trashed••For an Honor Guardsman to say: “God bless you, this family, For an Honor Guardsman to say: “God bless you, this family, and may God bless this country” at a veteran’s gravesideand may God bless this country” at a veteran’s graveside••For a county government building exterior to display our For a county government building exterior to display our national motto: “In God We Trust”national motto: “In God We Trust”




“If we do not use our freedom to defend our “If we do not use our freedom to defend our freedom, we will lose our freedom.”freedom, we will lose our freedom.”

Dr. Kenyn CuretonDr. Kenyn Cureton



The Value of FreedomThe Value of Freedom“Of all the dispositions and habits which lead “Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, Religion and Morality to political prosperity, Religion and Morality are indispensable supports. In vain would are indispensable supports. In vain would

that man claim the tribute of Patriotism, who that man claim the tribute of Patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great Pillars of should labor to subvert these great Pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the human happiness, these firmest props of the

duties of Men and Citizens.” duties of Men and Citizens.” George Washington George Washington –– Farewell AddressFarewell Address



The Liberty BellThe Liberty Bell



“Proclaim liberty throughout the land “Proclaim liberty throughout the land unto all the inhabitants thereof!”unto all the inhabitants thereof!”

Leviticus 25:10Leviticus 25:10

The Liberty BellThe Liberty Bell


Let Freedom Ring!Let Freedom Ring!


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