When I was in first grade, we began each class day by reciting The Pledge of Allegiance. We would stand and say…
Previous to 1954, the phrase under God did not appear. But in June of 1954 an amendment adding two words, under God, was made to the 1942 act of Congress establishing the Pledge of Allegiance in this Nation. Then President, Dwight David Eisenhower said this about adding "under God" to the pledge.
"In this way we are affirming the transcendence of religious faith in America’s heritage and future; in this way we shall constantly strengthen those spiritual weapons which forever will be our country’s most powerful resource in peace and war."
President Eisenhower recognized something that too many Americans have forgotten. That is that our heritage has been that we were, from our inception, ONE NATION UNDER GOD!
Our founding Fathers recognized the profound truth that rights, yea, freedoms comes from God. This truth is acknowledged in The Declaration of Independence…
"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."
Thrice more in The Declaration God is referred to! It says in the first paragraph, "the Laws of Nature and Nature’s God." Then, God is called "the Supreme Judge of the world." Finally, in the closing sentence it says, "And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor."
The leaders of this nation would do well to ponder carefully the words of Benjamin Franklin…
"I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth - that God Governs in the affairs of men…We have been assured, Sir, in the Sacred Writings, that ‘except the Lord build the House, they labor in vain that build it.’ I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without His concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better than the Builders of Babel: We shall be divided by our partial local interests; our projects will be confounded, and we ourselves shall become a reproach and bye word down to future ages."
Franklin was correct! Today, our Nation is divided by partial local interests, our projects are being confounded and we are becoming a reproach and a bye word. Our congress is succeeding no better than the builders of Babel. Why? Our leaders and many of our citizens have forgotten the truth that of Psalm 127:1 "Except the LORD build the house they labor in vain that build it..." Christian, be Salt and Light! Get busy sharing the Gospel, praying for our leaders and practicing biblical Christianity.
Amen, Pastor! We need to hear this! Keep it coming...
ReplyDeleteThe reason that this country has ever been great, and in deed it has been by Gods grace the greatest ever, is because of the fact that God has worked in a powerful way through Salt, and Jesus said that was us who know him, and our lights shining bright. But the lights are growing dimmer and the salt is losing it's savor all the time. Without a doubt one of the great reasons today is what Jesus spoke of in his explanation of the parable of the sower in Luke 8:14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. I am convinced there are literally thousands of God's people who have gotten mired up in these thorns today. God help me to stay out of the thorn patch and have my light burn brightly for Him. Our country is in a crucial time and the need for this kind of biblical, no nonsense Christianity has never been greater. Keep up the great commentary Parson Brown!
ReplyDeleteBill Blount