Self-Evident Truth

In June of 1776, Thomas Jefferson wrote the following in the Declaration of Independence;

“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….”

“We hold these Truths to be self-evident”. Almost 250 years ago it was crystal clear and so obvious that the truth needed no proof or explanation. Today we do. What happened?

Why isn’t the truth self-evident anymore?

Jesus brought truth into focus and definition. He brought judgement to truth so man could understand it.

“Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law” (Isaiah 42:1-4).

Jesus also simplified truth for us all. He made it “self-evident” and obvious. He made it Him.

“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me….Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:1, 6).

Truth was found in Jesus Christ.

Our founding fathers knew Jesus and Christianity to be the rock in which all truth rests, so they built a government upon that foundation; Christ.

George Washington said, “Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, Religion and morality are indispensable supports”.

John Adams said the same thing, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”

Patrick Henry identified the “great pillars of all government” as “virtue, morality, and religion” and added, “This is the armor, my friend, and this alone, that renders us invincible.” (H/T Jim Denison)

Even Thomas Jefferson, who many credit as the principle behind separation of church and state knew that Christianity was what was “self-evident” to the American way.

“The religion of Jesus is founded in the Unity of God, and this principle chiefly, gave it triumph over the rabble of heathen gods then acknowledged. Thinking men of all nations rallied readily to the doctrine of one only God, and embraced it with the pure-morals which Jesus inculcated.”  (Thomas Jefferson).

Jesus Christ why, “We hold these Truths to be self-evident….”

But combine sin, time and man and it can add up to some very dangerous results.

“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables” (2 Timothy 4:3-4).

Sin is but one thing, self-centered. It is concerned with only self. The acts of sin such as theft, murder, debauchery, etc are all acts of self-gratification.

A just government cannot be self-centered. In fact, a just government must be the exact opposite. A just government must consider all men as created equal. The purpose of a just government is to ensure each person’s unalienable rights that include, but not limited to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.

A just government also understands that these things are granted by God, and that the governments responsibility is not to create rights and virtues, but rather to enforce and defend these unalienable God given rights and virtues that man already possess.

So, back to the original question. What happened? What we once held to be obvious and self-evident when written, is now obscure, ill-defined or even worse, redefined when read today.

What happened is rather self-evident too. If truth and righteousness was first established and then something changed, then only one thing could have changed. Sin. Sin was introduced into the system. Like Adam and Eve eating the forbidden fruit, the citizenry of the US has tread and engaged in things counter to God’s will and way.

Fortunately, we not only have truth in Jesus, we also have mercy and forgiveness through Jesus as well.

So let's repent. Put on Jesus and things will become self-evident again.

Bill Hitchcock