As fireworks light up the sky and flags wave proudly across the country, we have a chance to remember not just our nation’s birth, but also God’s guiding hand in the development of our great country. For homeschoolers, this is a meaningful time to teach our children about the deep connection between our liberties and our faith in the Lord.
A Nation Founded on Faith and Freedom
The American Revolution was not just a political uprising; it was a response to the desire for liberty—liberty that our forefathers believed was granted by God Himself, not by kings or governments. When the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776, its opening words declared these truths to be “self-evident”—that all men are “endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights.”
Our founding documents were steeped in a Biblical worldview. The Founders spoke often of Divine Providence and built a government designed to protect God-given rights. For many of them, freedom was not only political—it was spiritual. It was the freedom to live, worship, and raise families in accordance with God’s Word.
Two Founding Fathers of Faith and Courage
While the Founding Fathers were diverse in their personal beliefs, most were deeply shaped by faith in a sovereign God and biblical truth. Here are two leaders whose faith played a significant role in shaping our country:
Samuel Adams – The Father of the American Revolution
Samuel Adams is often referred to as the “Father of the American Revolution,” and for good reason. He put his trust in God’s sovereign plan for a free nation, supporting the Sons of Liberty and convincing his fellow congressmen to vote for Independence. His ideas about freedom developed long before the Revolution, as shown in an essay he wrote for the Boston Gazette on October 14, 1771:
The liberties of our country, the freedom of our civil constitution, are worth defending against all hazards: And it is our duty to defend them against all attacks.
Samuel Adams stood by his words, often putting himself in danger to live out his beliefs.
John Witherspoon – A Pastor Who Signed the Declaration
John Witherspoon was the only active clergyman to sign the Declaration of Independence. Witherspoon saw no contradiction between faith and civic responsibility. He believed Christians must be active in public life to preserve virtue and liberty. In a sermon titled “The Dominion of Providence Over the Passions of Men,” preached just weeks before signing the Declaration, he declared:
God grant that in America true religion and civil liberty may be inseparable, and that the unjust attempts to destroy the one, may in the issue tend to the support and establishment of both.
For Witherspoon, the Gospel and liberty went hand in hand.
Celebrating with Purpose
As we celebrate the 4th of July with family picnics, parades, and fireworks, let’s also take time to remember what we’re truly celebrating: the blessings of freedom and the goodness of our Heavenly Father.
Please enjoy these ideas for celebrating with purpose:
- Read the Declaration of Independence as a family.
- Watch this short 5-minute video on Independence Day—great for the whole family.
- Check out this full History of Independence Day video with Dave Stotts. This isn’t boring history—I promise!
- Looking for a patriotic dessert to make? How about this Blueberry Cheesecake Ice Cream recipe? Yum!
- Bring the family together. Try your hand at some patriotic crafts.
Keeping Gratitude Alive
Independence Day is more than a history lesson—it’s a call to remembrance and to gratitude. May we never take for granted the blessings we’ve inherited. Let’s raise children who not only love their country, but who understand that freedom is a gift—and a responsibility.
As you celebrate this 4th of July, may your home be filled with joy and thankfulness for the blessing of freedom. God bless you—and may God continue to bless America.
For more fun ideas, check out:
A Dose of Education and Fun for Independence Day.
True to the Old Flag – A Tale of the American War of Independence (1774-1781)