Happy Birthday America

            As many of you know I am a self-proclaimed history dork/junkie.  (Grin)  In light of the fact America is getting ready to celebrate another birthday; I thought I’d step up on my soap box for a moment. 

            On July 4, 1776 the Declaration of Independence was signed establishing America would be separated from England.  The pilgrims came to America to get away from religious persecution going on in England.  I realize that many history books that are being printed today have tried to take this fact out of the books, but truthfully America was in fact founded on the Bible.  People try to toot the notion of ‘separation of church and state’.  But the concept wasn’t formed to kick any form of God out of the government, but to limit the governments control on what religious practices a person would adhere.  Meaning, a person had the freedom to have their own beliefs, not to be forced to believe what the government wanted them to believe.  I believe we dance over this on a consistent basis today when people are forced to go through government mandated ‘sensitivity training’ (smh) I highly recommend a film that Kirk Cameron was a part of called “Monumental”.  It highlights the motivations of the founding fathers beautifully. 

            Abraham Lincoln in the Gettysburg address emphasizes that America was “founded for the people and by the people”.  The idea was that the government would reflect the people morals and values.  The idea was that the government would remember that it was employed for the people and not the other way around. 

            I was raised to love my country, and as I have written in blogs before I have found myself at an impasse.   I have struggled to come to the conclusion that no longer can the terms Christian and American be said in the same breath.  It seems that gradually at an alarming rate my religious freedoms are being trampled upon.   Our morality in this nation has strayed further and further from its Biblical roots, and it seems to me that the government has forgotten that it’s supposed to work for the people.  Time and time again the people are voting one way and the court systems are overriding the people that they are supposed to represent.  It’s seems unfathomable that certain Administrations keep trying to overrule what the people want. 

            I believe for many years because America was founded upon the Bible and upheld that for the most part we have experienced favor and protection as a nation.  However, it seems to me as of recently more and more America seems to be kicking God out of our policies and practices.  I am not going to prophesy doom and gloom on the nation, but we cannot continue to violate the Bible and think the same favor and protection will last.  I believe that God will take care of and protect His people even if the nation has strayed. 

            Thomas Jefferson wrote, “"When government fears the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny."  Ronald Regan once said that, “If we forget we are a nation under God we will be a gone under.”  Abraham Lincoln once said, “America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.”

            While I am very upset and concerned with where it seems our country seems to be headed, I am encouraged that this week the Supreme Court did over turn certain policies that was violating to religious freedom.  It was a victory.

            I understand that there are people trying to destroy America.  I understand that there is evil in the world and not everything America has done has been godly.  However I write this blog today pleading with the Christian American’s to wake up from their slumber.  I write this blog today to tell you all to remember why this nation was founded.  I write this blog today not to encourage riots, hate crimes, or stupidity.  I want to encourage a proactive approach to our nation.  We need righteous people running for office who will represent the people of this nation.  We need to stop thinking that speaking about politics in church is somehow wrong.  It’s not.  Someone needs to take a stand to the evil that’s trying to overwhelm this country.  We need to stop squabbling over unimportant issues and focus on unity.  There is power in unity.  We’ve become so afraid to offend people that we aren’t standing up for righteousness anymore.  As Billy Graham has so eloquently and truthfully said, “Our society strives to avoid any possibility of offending anyone-except God.”  We need to realize that it will be God that we will have to answer to one day and not our society.  We need to stop giving mere lip service to saying we’re praying for the nation, and actually get on our knees and cry out for this land. 

            2 Chronicles 7:14 (ESV)

If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

            I believe in the America that God saw when the Pilgrims risked life and limb to build a better land for their legacy.  I believe in the America that the Founding Fathers saw when they signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776.  I believe in the America that upholds the Constitution and doesn’t try to keep changing it.  I believe that we are at a crossroads in this nation.  We all have choices to make.  My voice is only one. People rise up and begin to pray, call your senators, congressmen, VOTE, and refuse not to be heard. Let us shake off the bonds of tyranny and begin to use all of the voices we’ve been given.  Together we can raise a shout that will be heard around the world.  Together we can boldly declare “We are One Nation under God!”  Happy Birthday America, I still believe in the Jesus in you.

            Remember God has awesome plans for your life.  Get excited.