[Live] as free people, [yet] without employing your freedom as a pretext for wickedness; but [live at all times] as servants of God. 1 Peter 2:16
Just like in 1776 we’re sweltering in 90 degree plus heat, there is division along party lines, and we can’t agree on what seems to be, well anything, including dates. That is correct, did you know there are three dates that we could celebrate our independence from the British Crown.
The first is July 2, 1776 the day the Continental Congress voted to separate from England by approving a resolution submitted by delegate Richard Henry Lee of Virginia, declaring “That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved.” And if you could ask John Adams he would say this is the day we should celebrate on, with parades, bells, fireworks and festivals according to a letter written to his wife Abigail.
The second is July 4, 1776 it took two days after the July 2 vote for the Committee of Five (John Adams, Roger Sherman, Robert Livingston, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson) to write a draft of the document explaining the reasons for the separation from the Crown was read for the Congress to agree on the edits. On July 5, it was printed to be handed out to all 13 Colonies bearing only the names of John Hancock, President, and Charles Thomson, secretary.
The third is August 2, 1776, when the original final document was signed by the delegates to be sent to King George.
So why was July 4th picked? The Declaration has the words, “IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776,” at its top, because that is the day the approved version was signed in Philadelphia. Later there was no question when in an 1826 letter – the last he ever wrote — Thomas Jefferson spoke of the importance of Independence Day. “For ourselves, let the annual return of this day forever refresh our recollections of these rights, and an undiminished devotion to them.” Jefferson and Adams both passed away two days later, on the Fourth of July. Most historians don’t believe this was a coincidence but another Providential move in the making of America. And so we still celebrate our Independence on July 4.
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