Our Declaration of Independence is one of the greatest documents ever written. The light of freedom emanates from its words to all those who are oppressed and suffer under cruel and tyrannical leaders. The right of mankind to throw off the yoke of oppression with God's help is central in its theme.

The Declaration begins with rights endowed by the Creator and ends with a "firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence." It is a political declaration and a statement of faith in almighty God.

That the declaration is a statement of faith is no surprise. Of the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence, 24 held seminary or Bible school degrees.

Lyman Hall, one of three signers from Georgia, held a divinity degree from Yale and served a church in Connecticut before moving to Georgia. George Walton and Button Gwinnett were men of faith, too. Gwinnett was the son of a Welch clergyman. Walton was active in the Anglican Church.

These men put their faith into action. They pledged to pme amother their "lives, fortunes, and sacred honor" to support the Declaration.

It was a costly faith. The signers bore physical pain and lost possessions for their beliefs. The British confiscated Hall's property when they took possession of the Georgia coast. He and his family fled north for their lives. Gwinnett's plantation on the coast was destroyed by the British. Walton was wounded during the Battle of Savannah and taken prisoner to Florida. We stand today in debt to the faith and actions of such patriots.

As Georgia Sen. Saxby Chambliss said, "On this day we should pray for those brave men and women who wear the uniform of the United States of America who have fought and paid the ultimate sacrifice so we can continue to live in a safe and free country. God bless America."

Today, amid fireworks, watermelon-cutting and barbecue, pause to give thanks to our Creator in protecting our nation through his divine providence and to those who continue the pledge to offer "our lives, fortunes, and sacred honor" for freedom's holy light.

THE REV. DAN WHITE IS THE PASTOR OF NORTH COLUMBIA CHURCH IN APPLING.