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“Does Who You Are Writing to Change What You Believe?"

Lucious Conway

GOVT-200: Constitutional Government and Free Enterprise

(Professors Name)

June 20, 2022

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Introduction

God stands in the light and sits in the shadow of the signers’ signatures. The Declaration

of Independence and the United States Constitution though two distinct documents with different

purposes possess a common theme. God is not separate from government. The signers of the

Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution had a Biblical Christian

Worldview, which recognized God is all and is over all that is life.1 The signers never thought or

intended that God be separate from government, only from religion. As Dr. Christine Leigh

Heyrman documents in her article discussing the separation of church and state, “…what

consumed them [the founding generation] was answering the needs of their present and avoiding

the pitfalls of the past. Those steeped in the ideals of the Enlightenment were determined to

ensure that the religious wars which had wracked Europe would not engulf the new republic…”2

Words are all important here because it is the words recorded in the documents at issue that

provides us with both the facts of what was written and the inference of what was not. More

specifically the foregoing is as regards the difference in the terms religion/church and God

present in and absent from each document discussed herein.

Purpose Informs Pronouncements

The most obvious difference in the documents is that God is overtly referenced in the

Declaration of Independence while not so pronounced in the United States Constitution. The

purpose of each document was quite different. “Colonists wrote the Declaration of Independence

to record their complaints against King George III of England and announce their intention to

break free from British rule. The Framers, on the other hand, drafted the Constitution to create a
1
Glenn Martin, "Biblical Christian Education: Liberation For Leadership", Biblicalchristianworldview.Net,
Last modified 2022, http://biblicalchristianworldview.net/documents/biblicalChristianLeadershipGlennMartin.pdf.
2
Christine Heyrman, "The Separation Of Church And State From The American Revolution To The Early
Republic, Divining America, Teacherserve®, National Humanities Center", Nationalhumanitiescenter.Org, Last
modified 2022, http://nationalhumanitiescenter.org/tserve/eighteen/ekeyinfo/sepchust.htm.
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system of government for the newly independent country.”3 God was invoked as the authority

empowering the colonists to reject and separate from British Rule in the text of the Declaration

of Independence. While the purpose of the United States Constitution was to unite and form a

system of government conducive to the common welfare of the former colonists as God-ordained

stewards of the world. The Declaration of Independence was as between God and man while the

United States Constitution was as among men. The primary difference points to the authority of

stewardship in the Declaration of Independence and the practice of stewardship in the United

States Constitution. The Bible is filled with examples of the following quote attributed to

Thomas Jefferson. "When injustice becomes law, then rebellion becomes duty.” In Acts 4:19 it is

recorded that “…Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of

God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.” All stewards (men) must choose as did

the Framers in deciding to rebel against injustice which is against our Just God. This is the

authority in stewardship Adam relinquished to Eve in the garden.4 Also, this the authority of the

Hebrew boys preserved in Daniel 3:12, 18. This authority of stewardship was in fact based on the

practice of stewardship from its relinquishment in Adam to its’ assertion in Peter and John up to

an including our Founders.

Two Sides of the Same Coin

3
Jessica Gillespie, "Overview Of The Declaration Of Independence And The U.S. Constitution",
Lawyers.Com, Last modified 2022, https://www.lawyers.com/legal-info/criminal/constitutional-rights/declaration-
of-independence-and-us-constitution.html.
4
God Moses, "Genesis 3 :: King James Version (KJV)", Blue Letter Bible, Last modified 2022,
https://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/gen/3/17/s_3017.
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Both of America’s foundational documents proclaim Divine principles. The Declaration

of Independence relies on the truth that “…all men are created equal5. That is to say, all humanity

was made6 (by God), and endowed (provided) by their Creator with…rights…7” from God8. And

the U.S. Constitution provides that “Governments are instituted among men…from the consent

of the governed9.” The Declaration of Independence states that there is a “...Supreme Judge of

the world...10,” and “Article 2, 1, cl. 8 of the U.S. Constitution requires the President to take an

oath of office. Article 4, cl. 3 requires oaths of office for members of the U.S. Congress; the

federal judiciary; and officers of state legislative, executive, and judicial branches of

government.”11 The word “solemnly” in these oaths’ rests in its’ origin as a religious and sacred

principle.12 Both of America’s foundational documents follow the principle of faith in God and

His power to sustain and defend the right actions of men.13 This faith follows the three

presuppositions of our Biblical Christian Worldview which is (1) The Kingdom of God is
5
"Genesis 1:26 Then God Said, "Let Us Make Man In Our Image, After Our Likeness, To Rule Over The
Fish Of The Sea And The Birds Of The Air, Over The Livestock, And Over All The Earth Itself And Every Creature
That Crawls Upon It."", Biblehub.Com, Last modified 2022, https://biblehub.com/genesis/1-26.htm.
6
"Create | Etymology, Origin And Meaning Of Create By Etymonline", Etymonline.Com, Last modified
2022, https://www.etymonline.com/word/create#:~:text=%22to%20bring%20into%20being%2C%22,'to%20make
%20grow'%2C%20which.
7
"Galatians 5 :: King James Version (KJV)", Blue Letter Bible, Last modified 2022,
https://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/gal/5/1/s_1096001.
8
Eugene Volokh, "The Declaration Of Independence And God", Washingtonpost.Com, Last modified
2022, https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/volokh-conspiracy/wp/2015/07/05/the-declaration-of-independence-
and-god/.
9
"Psalm 8 :: King James Version (KJV)", Blue Letter Bible, Last modified 2022,
https://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/psa/8/6/s_486006.
10
"Isaiah 33:22 KJV: For The LORD Is Our Judge, The LORD Is Our Lawgiver, The LORD Is Our King;
He Will Save Us.", Biblehub.Com, Last modified 2022, https://biblehub.com/kjv/isaiah/33-22.htm.
11
Haydel Judith, "Loyalty Oaths", Mtsu.Edu, Last modified 2022,
https://www.mtsu.edu/first-amendment/article/1126/loyalty-oaths.
12
"Solemn | Etymology, Origin And Meaning Of Solemn By Etymonline", Etymonline.Com, Last modified
2022, https://www.etymonline.com/word/solemn.
13
"Psalm 28 :: King James Version (KJV)", Blue Letter Bible, Last modified 2022,
https://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/psa/28/7/s_506007.
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spiritual, (2) Man is prophet, priest, and king under sovereign God, (3) No institution exists

between God and man. Finally, the unwritten though textually authorized United States Supreme

Court prayer “…God save this Honorable Court14” shadows The Declaration of Independence

well-lit and written reliance “…on the protection of divine Providence.15”These Divine Principles

in the light of specificity in The Declaration of Independence are no less present and apparent in

the shadows of the United States Constitution.

If it is Not in Writing, then it Never Happened… Or did it?

The use of the Bible is central in both The Declaration of Independence’s right of

rebellion and the United States Constitution’s right to self-governance in their proclamations as

delineated above. God is the Bible and reference to God is reference to the Bible within both

documents.16 Thus, the authority claimed in both documents, as written, originate in the Bible.

Our United States Constitution contains some significant shadows from the Bible. In our

Preamble the opening phrase “We the People…” shadows the many instructions to gather the

people and for the people to commit to follow the law.17 The scripture Psalm 133:1 “Behold, how

good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.” is shadowed in the U.S.

Constitution’s purpose, “In order to form a more perfect union…” As well domestic tranquility

in our U.S. Constitution shadows the scripture “…the work of righteousness shall be peace, and

the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance forever.” The U.S. Constitution is replete

14
Scholarship.Law.Marquette.Edu, Last modified 2022,
https://scholarship.law.marquette.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=&httpsredir=1&article=5243&context=mulr.
15
"Jeremiah 29 :: King James Version (KJV)", Blue Letter Bible, Last modified 2022,
https://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/jer/29/11/s_774011.

"Psalm 8 :: King James Version (KJV)", Blue Letter Bible, Last modified 2022,
16

https://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/psa/8/6/s_486006.
17
"Parallel Concepts Between The U.S. Constitution & The Bible", National Center For Constitutional
Studies, Last modified 2022, https://nccs.net/blogs/articles/parallel-concepts-between-the-u-s-constitution-the-bible.
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with these shadows of the signers Biblical Christian Worldview and proof that God was not, is

not and will never be separate from American government.

One Puzzle Many Pieces

Man’s common origin and destiny is underscored in both documents. The Declaration of

Independence stands on power conveyed by “…Nature’s God…” The United States Constitution

sits on securing through God-ordained government “…Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our

Posterity…” The Declaration of Independence argues man’s “consanguinity.” These common

Biblical Christian Worldviews while obvious in The Declaration and subtle in the United States

Constitution are none the less there imbedded in the Anthropological Question “…Am I who I

am because of who God is or is God who He is because of who I am?”18 Based on what our

Founders wrote and signed in The Declaration of Independence and the United States

Constitution our answer is the former. I/We am/are who I/We am/are because of who God is as

was the signer’s belief.

Principles and/in Practices

A Biblical Christian Worldview guided the signers of The Declaration of Independence

and the United States Constitution perpetually combining God and/in government. The

difference is primarily in the purpose and audience of each document. The preponderance of

similarities lay in the principles and practices expounded in both documents. God in purpose and

God in practice are like manifestations of water as ice and steam. In the Declaration of

Independence God is clearly identified as the authorizing and guiding solid, resolved force of the

rebellion against British rule. In The United States Constitution God is like steam in the many

individual particles that together create mechanical power that moves natural things like

18
Glenn Martin, "Biblical Christian Education: Liberation For Leadership",
Biblicalchristianworldview.Net, Last modified 2022,
http://biblicalchristianworldview.net/documents/biblicalChristianLeadershipGlennMartin.pdf.
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government. Though America is not officially a Christian Nation it continues to be a nation with

a Biblical Christian Worldview. This evidences that the signers of both The Declaration of

Independence and the United States Constitution did not consider that God is or ever would be

separated from the government of America.

Bibliography

Martin, G., 2022. Biblical Christian Education: Liberation for Leadership. [online]
Biblicalchristianworldview.net. Available at:
<http://biblicalchristianworldview.net/documents/biblicalChristianLeadershipGlennMarti
n.pdf> [Accessed 26 May 2022].
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Heyrman, Christine. "The Separation Of Church And State From The American Revolution To
The Early Republic, Divining America, Teacherserve®, National Humanities Center".
Nationalhumanitiescenter.Org, Last modified 2022.
http://nationalhumanitiescenter.org/tserve/eighteen/ekeyinfo/sepchust.htm.

Gillespie, Jessica. "Overview Of The Declaration Of Independence And The U.S. Constitution".
Lawyers.Com, Last modified 2022.
https://www.lawyers.com/legal-info/criminal/constitutional-rights/declaration-of-
independence-and-us-constitution.html.

McCann, Hugh. "Divine Providence (Stanford Encyclopedia Of Philosophy)".

Plato.Stanford.Edu, Last modified 2022. https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/providence-
divine/#:~:text=Traditional%20theism%20holds%20that%20God,working%20all
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https://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/gal/5/1/s_1096001.

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https://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/psa/8/6/s_486006.

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Our King; He Will Save Us.". Biblehub.Com, Last modified 2022.
https://biblehub.com/kjv/isaiah/33-22.htm.

Volokh, Eugene. "The Declaration Of Independence And God". Washingtonpost.Com, Last

modified 2022.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/volokh-conspiracy/wp/2015/07/05/the-
declaration-of-independence-and-god/.

"Genesis 1:26 Then God Said, "Let Us Make Man In Our Image, After Our Likeness, To Rule
Over The Fish Of The Sea And The Birds Of The Air, Over The Livestock, And Over All
The Earth Itself And Every Creature That Crawls Upon It."", Biblehub.Com, Last
modified 2022, https://biblehub.com/genesis/1-26.htm.

"Create | Etymology, Origin And Meaning Of Create By Etymonline". Etymonline.Com, Last

modified 2022. https://www.etymonline.com/word/create#:~:text=%22to%20bring
%20into%20being%2C%22,'to%20make%20grow'%2C%20which.

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amendment/article/1126/loyalty-oaths.

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modified 2022. https://www.etymonline.com/word/solemn.
 9

"Psalm 28 :: King James Version (KJV)". Blue Letter Bible, Last modified 2022.
https://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/psa/28/7/s_506007.

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https://scholarship.law.marquette.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?
referer=&httpsredir=1&article=5243&context=mulr.

"Jeremiah 29 :: King James Version (KJV)". Blue Letter Bible, Last modified 2022.
https://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/jer/29/11/s_774011.

"Psalm 8 :: King James Version (KJV)". Blue Letter Bible, Last modified 2022.
https://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/psa/8/6/s_486006.

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Constitutional Studies, Last modified 2022, https://nccs.net/blogs/articles/parallel-
concepts-between-the-u-s-constitution-the-bible.

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Biblicalchristianworldview.Net, Last modified 2022,
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