The Secret of America’s Greatness

America is celebrating 250 years of Independence. While there are those within our borders who are trying to change it, we recognize that people all over the world desire to come here. To mark this momentous anniversary, Jim read the preamble of our Declaration of Independence and also the Preamble to our Constitution: Declaration of Independence (1776): 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.–That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, –That whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness. Preamble to the Constitution (1787): We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this constitution for the United States of America. These two paragraphs, outlining the foundational principles for our nation, also point to the secret of America's greatness. Joining Jim to expound more on this was Randy Melchert. Randy is a college debate national champion who earned a Master's Degree in Church History from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School ...