America's God

The Declaration of Independence defines what it means to be an American. It is a creedal statement that sets forth our civil religion: “We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal; and that they are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights, among these the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” No matter what religion or irreligion a person officially professes, if he is an American, native or naturalized, this is what he believes. It is probably why, among a host of reasons, we seem to do a better job of integrating immigrants (among which I am one – from Egypt) than Europe.

For example, while I may profess belief in historic Christianity and attend a “bible believing” church, my personal belief is likely to be that which is articulated in the Declaration. The dilemma is that the god of the Declaration does not actually bear a reasonable relationship to Israel’s God, the Lord of heaven and earth, revealed in the God-man Jesus Christ. He does not descend, cajole, pursue, forgive sins, threaten, redeem, transform, rescue, suffer, dwell with, cry out, speak tenderly, execute justice, die on a cross and rise from the dead. He is not holy, loving, angry, gracious, just, merciful, righteous, kind, filled with fury, patient and faithful. The god of the Declaration is a generally beneficent deity who gives us rights – life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness – as we define them. Most affirm the deity, some even saying that he is the God of the Bible, while others do not. Regardless, most important are our rights.