by Pastor Lem Niere
July 4, 2026 is a historic anniversary of America. Two hundred and fifty years since the founding of our great nation, the United States of America!
it is worth remembering that America’s founders were not only brilliant statesmen, but men deeply influenced by biblical truth. While they studied the great civilizations of Greece and Rome, they understood that our rights did not come from kings, governments, or legislatures. They came from God.
That conviction is woven throughout the Declaration of Independence. In the very first paragraph, our founders appeal to the “Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God.” In the final paragraph, they express their “firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence.” And at the heart of the declaration stands the sentence that has guided our nation for 250 years:
“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.”
Those words changed the world. They established a revolutionary idea—that every human being possesses inherent dignity because each person is created in the image of God.
Our liberties are not granted by government; they are gifts from our Creator. This truth has inspired generations of Americans to defend freedom, pursue justice, and preserve the blessings of liberty for their children and grandchildren.
You may have heard the story of Benjamin Franklin emerging from the Constitutional Convention in 1787. When asked what form of government the delegates had created, Franklin reportedly replied, “A republic, if you can keep it.”
For 250 years, generations of Americans have accepted that responsibility. Farmers, teachers, pastors, parents, soldiers, business owners, and public servants have all played a role in preserving the American experiment. Today, that responsibility belongs to us.
On its walls of the Lincoln Memorial are engraved some of Abraham Lincoln’s most important words. In his Second Inaugural Address, delivered as the Civil War was drawing to a close, Lincoln repeatedly pointed the nation back to God. Despite the immense suffering of that era, he reminded Americans that “the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.”
Lincoln understood something that remains true today: National strength ultimately depends upon moral and spiritual strength. A nation cannot remain free if it loses the virtues that sustain its freedom. For freedom is not merely inherited; it must be understood, cherished, and stewarded. Every generation is called to preserve the blessings it has received and pass them on to those who follow.
This is why the work of strengthening families remains so important. Strong families produce responsible citizens. Responsible citizens sustain free institutions. And free institutions preserve liberty. The founders understood this connection. They knew that self-government requires self-discipline, moral character, and faith. These are values first learned in homes, churches, and communities.
As we celebrate America’s 250th birthday, we should certainly enjoy the parades, fireworks, and family gatherings. We should thank God for the extraordinary blessings He has bestowed upon our nation. We should honor the generations who sacrificed to secure and preserve our freedoms. But we should also ask ourselves what kind of nation we will leave to those who follow us. Will our children and grandchildren know the truths that guided our founders? Will they understand that freedom is a gift worth protecting? Will they have the courage to stand for faith, family, and truth in their own generation?
God bless America!