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Grateful Greetings, July 4, 1993
This day we hallow the memories of our forbearers who, through the Declaration of Independence in 1776, made possible the "Miracle at Philadelphia." Following eleven years of war and political strife,1 the Constitution of the United States was adopted on September 17, 1787. It is not the source of our freedom, but it is the most successful political document ever devised to provide order with freedom for the individual.
When the Constitution was ratified, the USA was the only nation where "We the people..." had the right to choose our ruler. The founders further provided for freedom by separating and limiting political, economic and theological power. Each power has a primary responsibility.
Political power to maintain the peace (order).
Economic power to produce goods and services.
Theological power to develop and maintain the nation's moral base.
Note in the diagram, God is not in the church any more than He is in the private sector or the state. God is in each of these powers as He is in the hearts and minds of those who exercise power in the church, private sector and the state. Our legal national motto recognizes that God is over all and it is "In God We Trust" that we have our freedom. This is a confirmation of the fact that he basis of a free society is morality which cannot be legislated.
1 For the drama read Miracle at Philadelphia
by Catherine Drinker Bowen
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