In July of 1776, 56 men signed a document we now call the Declaration of Independence. The first 2 paragraphs explain their philosophy on government which was developed after many years of study and experience. They state that when government no longer fulfills its purpose, it is the duty of the people to find another government that does. This is not to be done "for light and transient causes". They took very seriously what they were about to do, and they understood the consequences. Ben Franklin said, "If we do not all hang together, we shall all hang separately." These were not just some rebellious rabble who wanted an excuse to riot and loot. They were taking a thoroughly deliberated and principled stand for freedom. They delineated 26 reasons why they were declaring independence, and explained that they repeatedly attempted to address their grievances to no avail. The last sentence of the Declaration is, "And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor."

You should read the Declaration and ask yourself some important questions. How does the list of 26 grievances the Colonists had against king George compare to modern government? If you could ask the Colonists which is worse, and if they could choose king George or the government you are under now, how do you think they would answer? How much tyranny are you willing to put up with? How far has the current government drifted from its foundation? The signers of the Declaration stated that "mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed"; but they continued, "But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security". What are you doing about it? This is a war of ideas and beliefs. What do you believe?

An even more important question to ask is, "How does this apply to me spiritually?" There are only 2 spiritual governments to be under - God and Satan. We are all under one or the other (Jn 8). Some people think they can exempt themselves, but then they are defaulting to the devil. There is no spiritual Switzerland. How much will you allow sin to rule over you? It is not God's choice. He already came in the flesh and died to free us from sin. It is our choice which spiritual government we are under. We have the right to vote and elect our government. The signers of the Declaration believed that all men "are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights". God gave us the authority to choose. How will you vote? Will you bow to the spiritual tyranny of sin, or will you declare your independence from it, and be saved and free?