When I think of Independence Day, I can't help but remember all those brave men in my family who served our country in part because they believed these words from 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."
So what is the meaning of unalienable as pertains to rights given to all people by God? Here is a definition:
"Unalienable: incapable of being alienated, that is, sold and transferred." Black's Law Dictionary, Sixth Edition, page 1523:
You can not surrender, sell or transfer unalienable rights, they are a gift from the Creator to the individual and can not under any circumstances be surrendered or taken. All individuals have unalienable rights.
We take a lot for granted but in many countries slavery, oppression, lack of freedom of religion and free speech rule the day. Human life is seen as having little or no value and even in THIS country, the rights of the unborn are not fully considered under this protective banner. Did you know that in the U.S. abortion due to the sex of the child is LEGAL whereas even in China such a practice is restricted?
The point is that GOD ALMIGHTY has given all people such rights and even in the Bible, slavery was highly regulated with people being allowed to go free after a period of 7 years or at the Jubilee Year, whichever came first. If a slave was injured or otherwise mistreated, they could go free immediately with compensation.
We really can't criticize slavery's presence in the Bible when we condone abortion in modern times. The Bible in fact sees an unborn child as just that, a valued human life. Here is the penalty under Mosaic Law for harming or killing an unborn baby:
"If men fight and hurt a pregnant woman so that she gives birth
prematurely, and yet no harm follows, he shall be surely fined as much
as the woman's husband demands and the judges allow.
But if there is harm, then you shall pay life for life," Exodus 21:22-23 See what it says? Life for Life. So the Bible extends the unalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness even to the unborn and lays a heavy penalty to those who accidentally cause harm. Remember the men are fighting with each other, not the woman. Yah sees that life as precious as shown in this Psalm:
"For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb." Psalm 139:13
We need to remember that our unalienable rights can not be given or taken away by man or governments, no matter what laws they may pass or uphold. I can think of nothing so cruel as to deliberately hurt and kill an innocent child who had nothing to do with his or her own conception. Please pray for our country to live up to its creed this Independence Day. All people, including the unborn have inherent value as each is created in the image of God our Father.
