Grace World Outreach Church
Pastor Daniel K Norris
LIFE, LIBERTY & THE PURSUIT
An American Story
Galatians 5:1 (ESV)
5 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery… 13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.
Freedom is God's idea.
Our mission statement as a nation …
“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.”
Four Founding principles
- Truth
- Equality
- Faith
- Rights
1) A NATION FOUNDED UPON TRUTH
We hold these truths to be self-evident
Law and order based on absolute truth
Absolute Truth - the same for all people, at all times, and all situations
Where there is no prophetic vision (LAW & TRUTH) the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law (Pro 29:18).
Absolute Truth vs Moral Relativism
At the time of our founding, the majority of Americans viewed truth to be absolute and determined by the God of the Bible. Today Americans see many sources of truth—and Reject Moral Absolutes
2020 Study by George Barna showed that most Americans reject any absolute boundaries regarding their morality, with a majority—58% of adults surveyed—believing instead that moral truth is up to the individual to decide. (Nearly 80% of those under 40)
Only 43% Born again Christians —still embrace absolute truth.
https://www.arizonachristian.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/AWVI-2020-Release-05-Perceptions-of-Truth.pdf
When TRUTH is no longer before our eyes, There is no foundation beneath our feet
2) A NATION FOUNDED UPON EQUALITY
that all men are created equal
Gal 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
EQUALITY means equal opportunity not equal outcome
3) A NATION FOUNDED UPON FAITH
that they are endowed by their Creator
Revisionists want to remove God and Christianity from our nation’s history, making our founders into men that discouraged church, faith, and God, but NOTHING could be FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH
Our founders understood that truth, equality, and rights came from God not government.
God over Man, Man over Government
4. A NATION FOUNDED UPON RIGHTS
that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”
our rights are
- God Given
- Individual
Life - No one can deprive you of life
Liberty - No one can deprive you of freedom
Pursuit of Happiness - No one can dictate how you are to live
RIGHTS come with RESPONSIBILITY