As Americans celebrate Independence Day this July 4th, one motto comes to mind—“Live Free or Die.” The phrase was adopted by New Hampshire in 1945 as the state motto and was included on the state emblem. But the words are traced back to the New Hampshire-born Revolutionary War hero, General John Stark.
General Stark led his Continental Army troops against the British in the battle of Bunker Hill on June 17, 1775. Later, on August 16, 1777, he led a rebel force of 2,000 militiamen, primarily from New Hampshire and Massachusetts in the Battle of Bennington, New York. The battle was a strategic success earning Stark the nickname, “The Hero of Bennington.”
Thirty-two years later, 1809, the veterans of the battle invited their distinguished general to an anniversary reunion. But Stark couldn’t attend due to poor health. He did, however, send a letter telling his wartime comrades he’d never forget them and their “astonishing victory” even though they as “undisciplined freemen” hadn’t been “trained in the arts of war.”
In the letter, he wrote,
“As I was then, I am now, the friend of the equal rights of men, of representative democracy, of republicanism, and the declaration of independence—the great charter of our national rights-and of course a friend to the indissoluble union of these States. I am the enemy of all foreign influence, for all foreign influence is the influence of tyranny. This is the only chosen spot of liberty—this the only republic on earth.” (Memoir and Official Correspondence of Gen. John Stark)
Here’s but a tiny taste of thought running through the general’s mind which reflected the appetite for freedom all those “sons of liberty” craved during the Revolutionary period of our country’s history. Their battle against the tyranny they fought to defeat was one of liberty at all costs—even to the point of dying for their freedom because of it. And so, General John Stark ended his sentiments when he closed his letter with this toast, “Live Free Or Die; Death Is Not The Worst of Evils.”
In hindsight, the old general hero voiced the sentiment of many before and after him. In fact, these words were echoed in one form or another throughout history. For example, Vivre libre ou mournrir translated, “Live Free or Die” was popular during the French Revolution. It’s thought that the expression could have been inspired by a 1771 French Novel titled, The Year 2440, that contains the words, “Choose then, man! Be happy or miserable; if yet it be in thy power to choose: fear tyranny, detest slavery, arm thyself, live free, or die!”
Interestingly, the phrase parallels Patrick Henry’s famous line when he addressed the Second Virginia Convention in 1775 boldly testifying, “I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!”
Similarly, it’s also said that a monument to the 1345 Battle of Warns in the Netherlands has a phrase inscribed on it that translates into English, “Better to be dead than a slave.” (Yankee Magazine)
I share this little history lesson to point out how serious the founders of our nation were about breaking the bonds of a tyrannical government and achieving the liberty that God intended—even if it meant sacrificing their “lives, fortunes, and sacred honor.” (Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776)
Move forward 247 years later. Question: What about that fervency and conviction today? Is the yearning for liberty as strong for Americans now as it was then? Is “Live Free or Die” still burning in the hearts and minds of our citizens like our forefathers in their day?
The whole crux of the matter, in my view, is it depends on where you believe your liberty comes from. If you think “live free” means free to do anything you please, pursue any pleasure you desire, and disregard anything having to do with the Almighty God and his Son, Jesus Christ, then you are only following an illusion. You can make up your own god, your own creed, and your own form of worship, but that won’t get you the freedom that truly sets you free (John 8:31-32).
The reality is, without God you are not free but a slave to your own lustful passions and pride. In essence, you are chaining yourself down, And it eventually destroys society. In effect, if you take this road, you are giving up the freedom to what you’re truly intended to have as one of God’s children, to be productive, useful, and genuinely content.
To really live free means to be submissive to God the Creator who, in turn, will bring the blessings that bring order, fulfillment, and lasting satisfaction. Indeed, the freedom that comes from the God of the Scriptures builds rather than destroys society.
The early founders recognized the true Source of living free with such references as—“the laws of nature and nature’s God,” and we are “endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights.” To live free is to pursue those rights within the frame of God’s truth and his teachings, not within our own whims and wants.
It’s his righteousness that enables us to live free. “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns any people,” (Proverbs 14:34, New International Version, NIV). Perversion, corruption, and immoral living of any kind are sins that do not lead to freedom but condemnation. On the other hand, doing what’s right, just, and moral according to God’s standards will exalt a nation and make it strong and prosperous.
Those who want to tear down America or make it weak just to satisfy their own misconceived ideas bow to their sinful nature to try to accomplish their aims. On the other hand, those who know to do right according to God’s Word, and strive to do good according to God’s will, will reap the benefits which freedom brings.
God wants everyone to enjoy the freedom he offers. As a matter of fact, God is so serious about this that he sacrificed his own Son on the cross to give us that freedom. It puts me in the mind of the “or die” part in the motto. John 3:16 says,
“For God so loved world [so cursed with sin—1 John 2:15-27], that he gave his one and only Son [Mark 1:9-11], that whoever believes in him [Acts 16:31] shall not perish [the final death at judgement] but have eternal life [to be given to all believers at Jesus’ second coming—Revelation 22:12],” (NIV).
True liberty is possible only because Jesus died on the cross, and was raised to life everlasting by God our Father. The Apostle Paul pointed out that through Christ Jesus we have freedom but not for the purpose of pleasing our carnal desires, a.k.a. “the flesh.” Instead, we’re to use our freedom in Christ to serve one another through God’s love (Galatians 5:1; 13-15). Thus, the fruit of the Spirit in Christ is guaranteed to produce positive results as opposed to being enslaved according to the deeds of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-24).
As Christians, we cannot afford to allow ourselves to be led astray by those who threaten our God-given freedom. We cannot ignore the fact that our sick, sinful world is in perilous condition, infested with those who want to take away our liberty under the guise of change. Our forefathers had to confront it in their day and overcome it and so do we in our day. We must remember that “live free or die” is not just a motto but our way of life as Christians as well as Americans.
Good News to YOU!
And Happy Independence Day!
Also, to our friends in the North….Happy Canada Day!
Pastor Michael
P.S. Here’s a tribute in song to General John Stark and the words he made famous, “Live Free or Die,” featuring Cal Meese, https://youtu.be/PKSrCOvSbSc