The Declaration of Independence is unique in all of the world. No other country has a document quiet like it. It is the culmination of almost two centuries of biblical thought applied to the nature of man, God ordained rights, and the purpose of government.
Citizens of the United States today have an emotional feeling toward the Declaration but few have read and studied it. In fact it is safe to say that over 90% of the American public have little understanding of the main principles within it.
As you will learn in this series, the Declaration of Independence serves the role as our national charter, outlining the God ordained liberties that are granted by God to every human being and stating that the purpose of government is to secure and protect these rights.
Additionally, you will find that the Declaration and Constitution are designed to work together. They are not isolated and separate. The Declaration articulates our national philosophy and purpose and the Constitution serves the Declaration by putting in place a structure that serves the principles of the Declaration.
You will quickly see that the secularists statement that “the Constitution does not reference God and therefore the United States is a secular nation” is a “red herring” argument out of either ignorance or malice.. The fact is that the Declaration of Independence mentions God four times and since the Constitution and Declaration can only be properly understood when viewed together the lack of God’s name in the Constitution is irrelevant.
Finally, a more detailed study will in fact lead to the discovery that the Declaration of Independence actually makes 25 declarations about personal, civic, and political life.
When the phrase, “American Exceptionalism” is spoken about, this is a key aspect of what that phrase means. That is, the Declaration of Independence is the “exception”. No other country has a document like this one.
This series will be life changing as you gain a true appreciation for this amazing document.
- Understanding How the Declaration of Independence and Constitution Work Together – 5m
- Understanding the Declaration of Independence – 9 Key Concepts -9m
- Declaration of Independence – The Bedrock of Liberty – The Apple of Gold-13m
- Declaration of Independence – Linking Principles and Structure-5m
- Declaration of Independence – 25 Questions on the Philosophy of Government-4m
- Declaration of Independence – 25 Questions with Answers Included-4m
- Declaration of Independence – 25 Questions with Alternative Answers-4m
- Declaration of Independence – 25 Declarations it Makes-5m
- Declaration of Independence – An Anchor for Liberty-2m
- Declaration of Independence – Tyranny when the Anchor is Removed-2m
Abraham Lincoln said:
“I have never had a feeling politically that did not spring from the sentiments embodied in the Declaration of Independence”.
“We hold these truths to be self‑evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
As Lincoln reflected on the relationship of the Declaration of Independence to the Constitution, he was drawn to a scripture passage in the Old Testament.
“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver” ~ Proverbs 25:11,
As he meditated on this passage, he saw how this clearly expressed the connection between the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.
Here is the rest of the story.
- Abraham Lincoln 01 – Declaration and Constitution – His Connection to the Founders – 6m
- Abraham Lincoln 02 – The Declaration – For all People, at All Times, Everywhere – 7m
- Abraham Lincoln 03 – The Declaration and Constitution – The Apple of Gold & Frame of Silver – 5m
- Abraham Lincoln 04 – Declaration and Constitution – Linking Principles and Structure – 4m
Videos from the Country Built to Last Series that Relate to the Declaration of Independence
These are selected videos that focus on the importance of the Declaration of Independence from the 25 part series "A Country Built to Last". The entire series can be found at the "Country Built to Last Tab" on this website. Here are the particularly relevant items:
- A Country Built to Last 05 - What is the Core of the United States - 7m
- A Country Built to Last 06 - A Deep Look at the Core – Synonyms of the Creator – 3m
- A Country Built to Last 07 - A Deep Look at the Core – Founders Reflection on The Creator – 5m
- A Country Built to Last 08 - A Deep Look at the Core – US History Starts with The Creator – 3m
- A Country Built to Last 09 - A Deep Look at the Core – Laws of Nature and Natures God – 5m
- A Country Built to Last 10 - A Deep Look at the Core – Supreme Judge of the World – 5m
- A Country Built to Last 11 - A Deep Look at the Core – Divine Providence – 3m
- A Country Built to Last 12 - A Deep Look at the Core – A Slavery Time Bomb – 4m
- A Country Built to Last 14 - A Deep Look at the Core – Endowed by Their Creator – Psalm 139 – 3m
- A Country Built to Last 17p1 - Preserve the Core – Without The Creator our Institutions Fail p1 – 6m
- A Country Built to Last 17p2 - Preserve the Core – Without The Creator our Institutions Fail p2 – 7m
- A Country Built to Last 23 - Preserve the Core – The 100 Year War on the Core -8m
- A Country Built to Last 24 – Preserve the Core – Declaration and Constitution – Heart and Ribs – 3m
Additional Resource - [Note - this is streamed from an Amazon Video Server]