From the Editor: Endowed By Their Creator

When Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence, he shared the views of the other founders that our rights originated in “the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God.” He continued, “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.”

Our founding fathers did not believe that rights are bestowed by governments. Rather, they understood that our rights are given by God our Creator, and that “to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men…” In other words, our God-​​given rights are to be protected by our government. Our rulers are not to take the place of God but are to protect our inherent rights which are bestowed by “the Supreme Judge of the world,” as Jefferson referred to Him.

The American and French Revolutionaries differed greatly in their views of the ultimate source of rights. While both believed in natural rights of a sort, the Americans acknowledged “Nature’s God,” who endowed humans with their rights. The French made no such appeal. The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen of 1793 states, “All men are equal by nature and before the law,” without reference to a Creator. We all know that the outcomes were very different, as the French Revolution and its guillotine degenerated into The Terror and led to the dictatorship of Napoleon. Dostoyevsky was right when he wrote, “If there is no God, then all things are permissible.”

Many of the ruling elites today ignore our history. They acknowledge no higher authority than the politicians and judges in power. They feel that only they can determine which rights we may enjoy, and which rights we must surrender for our own “safety and security” or for the “good” of society. It is not their place to determine which of our God-​​given rights we may enjoy. They need to recall these words by Jefferson: “God who gave us life gave us liberty. And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure if we have removed their only firm basis: a conviction in the minds of men that these liberties are the gift of God?”

As we celebrate Independence Day on July 4^th, let us take time to reflect on the source of our rights. Remember the sacrifices of the heroes and patriots who signed the Declaration with these concluding words: “…with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.” Let us thank our Creator for our rights and be grateful for those who have defended those rights. May we also follow their example and pledge to defend our rights today against over-​​bearing government with our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.

A publication written by "We the People," The Constitutionalist Today is comprised of articles from a range of writers, journalists, and bloggers. As such, the opinions herein may not reflect the opinions of our staff, management, or editorial board.