At church yesterday, our congregation celebrated the 4th of July. Every church I have belonged to has taken America’s independence very seriously. Patriotic hymns, special music, and sermons based on the foundation of this Country seem to always take place in Baptist churches. I wonder if true reflection on the formation and continuation of this experiment in democracy takes place in the hearts and minds of our citizenry.
There is so much that can be written when we consider the truly precious gift of our individual freedoms. When I think about our Country and the prosperity we enjoy, the first thing I do is thank God for his providence and blessings. Then I remember, that is exactly what the Founding Fathers did. Each session of the Continental Congress started with prayer. Anyone who believes that we would have the freedoms we enjoy without the framer’s trust in God is mistaken. Luckily we have their writings to reflect on.
President John Adams was commenting on the Constitution when he said:
“Our Constitution was made only for a religious and moral people. It is wholly inadequate for the government of any other.”
President Adams realized that our concept of freedom and liberty must be rooted in something more than just a legalistic view of the language in the Constitution. Without the moral fiber required of us, the Country will fall apart. President Adams also cautioned of this outcome:
“Statesmen, my dear Sir, may plan and speculate for liberty, but it is religion and morality alone, which can establish the principles upon which freedom can securely stand. The only foundation of a free Constitution is pure virtue, and if this cannot be inspired into our People in a greater Measure than they have it now, they may change their rulers and the forms of government, but they will not obtain a lasting liberty.”
Prior to the 1940’s, the term “separation of Church and State” was used in just 2 court cases. In the last 60 years, it has been referenced many, many times. Maybe you think that the disintegration of the moral fabric of this Country is a normal progression and an acceptable change to a secular government. I heartily disagree. I believe we experience problems, social ills, economic troubles, and political discourse because we have, as a whole, turned our collective backs on the principles that made this Country great. Our Founding Fathers would be disgusted with the America we have created. Our leadership today is weak.
I am on the mailing lists of all my congressmen/women. All I get from them is how wonderful they are. Their priority is getting re-elected. It is a shame that “Mr. Smith” no longer is able to go to Washington. Even if an outlier did make it in, the political parties would never allow real change. Seniority rules and the requirements of political parties to vote as the leadership dictates, mutes any real and meaningful debate. You cannot get elected without party assistance and blessing.
One of the tenants of the recent political campaign by President Obama was a concept of “change.” The “change” we got with this socialist is not what we need, or what the 65 million of my misguided fellow citizens thought was coming. Did you know that the socialist didn’t participate in any event on the National Day of Prayer on May 7? I guess he believes that there is nothing to be gained by participating. But let’s remember, socialism frowns on religion.
This march to socialism with President Obama leading the charge has got to stop. This “change” is not what freedom loving people want. Protect your rights and speak up when the government steps over their boundaries. Write your elected representatives. Express your opinion and be heard. Get informed and then do something. Our freedom depends on it! The two biggest threats to our freedom are ignorance and apathy. The pastor had a funny joke about these two attributes…A man was walking down the street when he was asked about what needed to change in Washington to make things better. He answered, I don’t know and I don’t care. That certainly rings true.
You forget the new religion that has swept our nation since the Warren Supreme Court:
Secularism (noun)
Definition:
1. exclusion of religion from public affairs: the belief that religion and religious bodies should have no part in political or civic affairs or in running public institutions, especially schools.
2. rejection of religion: the rejection of religion or its exclusion from a philosophical or moral system.
Yes, despite the roots of our democracy, the solid foundation based on a common faith in a Supreme Being, we must contend with the “Secularists” who will do all in their power to re-write history to eliminate God from our daily lives.
Unfortunately for them, 100% of the evidence presented shows our democracy is based upon Natural Law, rights endowed upon us by our Creator and the precepts that came to us from the Ten Commandments – the Word of God. You really have to work hard at lying to yourself and others when you try to exclude religion from our American philosophical and moral system.
We don’t have a “State Religion.” We have always had and continue to have a healthy tolerance for all religions. There have been lots of rough edges made by proponents of various creeds and sects, but we have reached an equilibrium. That is what makes this nation great.
When a local High School forbade a benediction at their Commencement ceremony, the Secularists were proud of their ability to cow the school board with pages of recent legal precedent.
The students, those actually commencing their journey onto another level of life, were smarter than the Secularists . . . as each speaker approached the microphone, he or she sneezed, and the entire audience rose to say “God Bless You!” and cheered.
Faith has a funny way of rising to the surface.
God Bless America!
Allen,
Thanks for your thoughtful reply. I certainly hope others read your words.
Steve
You write an excellent blog. I have just one question for all the Christians that voted for President Obama. Where were you on May 7th, 2009, the National Day of Prayer? This man has insulted many of his voters and I don’t hear a thing from them. They probably are not even aware that he was absent on this day. President Obama however has found the time to entertain the Gay and Lesbian Crowd in the White House.