THE DAY AFTER THE FOURTH

AND OUR PRESENT REVOLUTION

It’s the day after the Fourth of July. The spectacular flashes of light and booming have ceased. Short of some meaningful prayer and spirited family oration of epic quotes on the day's significance, right now, I’m fighting to retain the meaning—something more than that of my Weber grill still proudly perched just off the deck, gloating at its triumph of award-winning wood-smoked burgers and chicken.

So, again, it's the day after the Fourth. Ironically, in this moment, I’ve been suddenly struck by my captivity to entitled vacation brain. And I’m challenged: What should matter to me? What did we just celebrate? What did it cost? What does it mean? Particularly in light of our present ecclesial, political, cultural, and moral tumult, with so many signs of human brokenness, what do these times demand of me? What is our revolution?

For a moment, please go there with me. In the sweltering heat of July 1776, fifty-six men gathered in the Pennsylvania State House, now known as Independence Hall, to sign a document that would irrevocably alter the course of history: the Declaration of Independence. These men, representing the thirteen American colonies, boldly declared their separation from British rule, an act of profound courage and conviction.

What they had done. By signing the Declaration of Independence, they didn't just call it a day. Life didn't just continue as it had been. These men committed an act of treason against the British Crown. They articulated a vision of a nation founded on the principles of liberty, equality, and self-governance, asserting that all men are created equal and endowed with unalienable rights. Their signatures symbolized a unified stand against tyranny and an unwavering commitment to these ideals.

What was at stake. The day after the Fourth, and each day following, the stakes could not have been higher. Each signatory knew that, should the revolution fail, they would face execution for treason. They risked their own lives and the safety and security of their families and fortunes. Many of them were affluent and respected members of society—lawyers, merchants, planters—but in this moment, they chose to pursue liberty above their interests. The following war would be long and brutal, testing their resolve and the principles they had pledged to uphold.