As Independence Day approaches I am prompted to consider why it was that our founding fathers, Christian by a very great majority, would establish a decidedly secular form of government. Our Constitution, crafted by Christian lawyers, farmers and others, does not mandate Christian religion, or any other.

There is this phrase in the Declaration of Independence that reads in part “a decent respect to the opinions of mankind” And while the fuller sentence shows the purpose of the Declaration, that a proper reasoning be given for such revolutionary action, that sentiment can also legitimately be repurposed to show that a “respect for human conscience” is core to the nature of this new American nation.

By showing a respect for human conscience the creators of our nation imitate God himself when creating man. God was the first to show respect to human conscience by leaving man with free will, the means to choose. God did not impose upon man a particular way that man would relate to God. The choice was left to man that in his choosing, man would be sincere.

I am convinced that our founding fathers created a secular, non-religious government not that we would be absent the Christian faith, but that we would choose it in sincerity and free will.

Mike Settles, Pastor, Claypool United Methodist Church