"Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" is a well-known phrase from the United States Declaration of Independence. It was written by Thomas Jefferson, but the concept came in-part from a 17th Century English Enlightenment philosopher John Locke. The full statement reads:
"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."You can also find life and liberty in article seven of the Bill of Rights, as it nearly mirrors the phrase in the Declaration.
Terms Defined
The following meanings are commonly accepted for these three terms:
- Life - The right to life protects the individual’s ability to take all those actions necessary for the preservation and enjoyment of his life. The Right of Life means that Man cannot be deprived of his life for the benefit of another man nor of any number of other men.[1]
- Liberty - Liberty means freedom from government coercion. The right to liberty protects the individual’s ability to think and to act on his own judgment.[2]
- Pursuit of Happiness - The right to the pursuit of happiness means man’s right to live for himself, to choose what constitutes his own private, personal, individual happiness and to work for its achievement, so long as he respects the same right in others.[3]
Origin of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness
Since Thomas Jefferson used John Locke's ideas for this part of the Declaration, we'll look at Masonic writings that will explain why this phrase was so important. The origins of fundamental rights can be found...
"...in 1689, in John Locke’s publication Two Treaties of Government, but it can be found much earlier. Among the ideas of Stoicism, from the early 3rd century BC, Stoics advocated the brotherhood of humanity and the natural equality of all human beings well before the rise of Christian thought. Stoicism held that a rational being lived in accordance with order established by the Natural Law, which an individual could follow by the dictates of being virtuous. In turn, these ideas appeared in Deism. Ideas of natural law, inalienable rights of the individual, God as “Great Architect of the Universe” - all served as the requirements to be accomplished through “governance,” for both the American Revolution of 1776, and the French Revolution of 1789. Being able to trace the idea of having fundamental rights to “individual liberty,” from Stoicism."[4]The Stoic doctrine, that every man is part of God and that all men form a universal brotherhood, helped to break down national, social and racial barriers, and to prepare the way for the spread of a universal religion.[5] If you recall, the brotherhood of man and the desire for a universal religion are foundational to Freemasonry.
The key that unlocks all of these ideas that Freemasonry and the Stoics have in common are the metaphysical Gnostic occult practices of Plato and the Hebrew Kabbalah, which have been passed down from generation to generation within secret societies. As part of these ancient practices, initiated Masonic members are encouraged to practice Transcendental Meditation.
TM at sunset. Traditionally, the beehive is the focal point for Masons meditation.[6] The hive is also tied to the one world religion.
They learn and use TM,[7] just as those in Theosophy and so-called Christian meditation.[8] From this common experience comes their common goal for a single universal religion and brotherhood of man.
America: The Devil's Workshop
Right of Life
If you use the wording of the first point: "The Right of Life means that Man cannot be deprived of his life for the benefit of another man nor of any number of other men," it may be referring to collectivism. But there is an instance when our life can be given up for the benefit of other men.
"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13
"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers." 1 John 3:16Though this is rare, now we know how far self-sacrifice should extend to a righteous brother in Christ.
Liberty
Liberty is a word commonly used in this country, but do we know why it was so important to our Masonic Founding Fathers? In Albert Mackey’s Encyclopedia of Freemasonry and Its Kindred Science, he defines liberty as the liberty of thought.(pg. 531)
From a Masonic site, a Mason writes that the concept of liberty allows Freemasons the ability to practice their craft:
"Liberty was clearly conceived of as something different from the custom of the guild to confer on its members the freedom and privileges of practicing their craft."[9]Were we called to a life without boundaries? Would the God of the Bible endow us to this type of liberty? The Bible has this to say about freedom of thoughts:
"Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." 2 Cor. 10:5What about the occult practices behind closed doors?
Artwork depicting 18th Degree initiation ceremony
"When thou art come into the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch. Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord: and because of these abominations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee." Deut. 18:9-12Where can true liberty be found? Rom. 6:16-18 says that every man is the servant of the master to whose commands he yields himself. You are either a servant to sin or a servant to righteousness.
"Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are in whom ye obey, whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness."
"For the law of the Spirit of life, in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death." Rom. 8:2
"Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage." Gal. 5:1Pursuit of Happiness
Albert Pike describes his type of happiness in Morals and Dogma:
"A Masonic Lodge should resemble a beehive, in which all the members work together with ardor for the common good. Masonry is not made for cold souls and narrow minds, that do not comprehend its lofty mission and sublime apostolate. Here the anathema against lukewarm souls applies. To comfort misfortunes to popularize knowledge, to teach whatever is true and pure in religion and philosophy, to accustom men to respect order and the proprieties of life, to point out the way to genuine happiness, to prepare for that fortunate period, when all the factions of the Human Family, united by the bonds of Toleration and Fraternity, shall be but one household,--these are labours that may well excite zeal and even enthusiasm."In short, this statement says that genuine happiness will be when the different people of the world are bound together into a universal family, which will be united in toleration and brotherhood. Pursuit of happiness is a blanket statement that gives license to their concept of happiness - anything goes.
Where is that in the Bible? God calls us to holiness and to deny ourselves.
"Because it is written, 'Be ye holy; for I am holy.'" 1 Pet 1:16
"Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:" Col. 3:5-10Freemasonry teaches virtue and morality, but they are worshiping Lucifer at the same time. An unregenerate man would only find happiness in that list above.
Modeling Freedom to the World
Freemasons have done such a good job at propagating their deception, that the right of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness is being used in other similar mottos worldwide. Wikipedia states that variations can be found in:
- France - (liberty, equality, fraternity)
- Germany - (unity, justice and freedom)
- Canada - (life, liberty, security of the person)
- Japan - (life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness)
- Vietnam - (life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness)
- The United Nations within the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (life, liberty and security of person)
"and ye shall be as gods." Gen. 3:5This is all about thinking and doing whatever man wants in defiance of God. Making our own life, liberty and happiness apart from a life in Him, is a misdirected life. Even if those are "good" and moral things, "...whatsoever is not of faith is sin" Rom. 14:23b. And see Matt. 7:21-23 about good works:
“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."Final Thoughts
So we see, that "freedom" and it's relative "democracy" are worldly systems, just as evil as any other. Man was created to live in fellowship with the God of the Bible through repentance and faith in Christ, walking in obedience by the Spirit, loving and serving Him alone. Anything else is 'anti-Christ.'
Regardless of what the Dominionists and Reconstructionists are saying, the government’s main purpose is external, that of protecting its citizens’ right to life, liberty and property. The purpose of the Church is “internal,” the salvation of their souls. As these two organizations serve two different purposes, they were to be separate institutions and should not interfere in each others business.[10]
To say America was founded by Christians, is completely misleading. The Church has long lended an ear to it, and they are being led astray.
Related Posts
The Subtle Lies of Democracy - Part 1
Comment Received
J. said: In reality, each of those characteristics are not found in scripture. Paul said , "I die daily". The scriptures repeatedly proclaim that we are to die to this world and find our life only in Christ. We are also admonished to be slaves of Christ. The only true liberty is found in Jesus and not a government. Happiness is never promised in scripture. I have always made a distinction between happiness and joy. Happiness is conditional upon circumstances. Joy rises above adverse situations. Jesus desired that our joy would be full and never said anything about happiness. For the Christian this world is not our home.