Where is the Lord God of America?!
(loose reference to II Kings 2:14)
Where
has America gone? Where is the passion
for a nation that is the leader of the free world? Where is the nation whose strength in
morality and military prowess causes those who would dare defy her to think
twice before threatening her citizens? Where
is the America that finds cures for the world’s illnesses, protects those
unable to protect themselves, advances technology through the ‘firsts’ of space
flight and impresses into the young the dreams to achieve more than even their
greatest hopes could have imagined? And,
most importantly, “Where IS the God of America?”
A
space shuttle does not make America… but the drive to press further and achieve
greater things has been the heartbeat of the nation since its inception. Bold explorers traversed the great ocean to
their west to find and settle a wilderness in search of freedoms that they did
not know in their homelands.
A
proper study of the United States of America reveals the foundations of the
people and government of this great nation.
From the earliest visitation to the “New World” Christian missionaries
set to the task of bringing the truth of the Bible to its shores. The earliest settlements were founded with
Christian worship at their core. A
majority of those coming to establish their lives here were seeking a religious
refuge away from the imperious oppression of the state established churches of
their nations of origin across the waters.
The
charters obtained by these reflected their purposes and intentions as they
contracted to live with each other in spiritual freedom, serving the God of the
universe as they felt led to do so.
Nearly every document outlining the community organization of these
‘pilgrims’ set Christianity as their foundation, and the method of conduct to
be governed by that faith.
Today
we face a tremendous struggle for the identity of America. Are we, or are we not, a Christian
nation? Our counterparts throughout the early
and mid-history of this nation knew their answer. Yes…
yes we ARE a Christian nation.
President
George Washington stated in his farewell address:
“Citizens,
by birth or choice, of a common country, that country has a right to
concentrate your affections. The name of American, which belongs to you in your
national capacity, must always exalt the just pride of patriotism more than any
appellation derived from local discriminations. With slight shades of
difference, you have the same religion, manners, habits, and political
principles. You have in a common cause fought and triumphed together; the
independence and liberty you possess are the work of joint counsels, and joint
efforts of common dangers, sufferings, and successes.
In
this parting speech the President warned of the dangers of allowing minor
differences in ideals to drive a wedge between us as Americans. He stressed, in support of his view on these
matters, that we must realize that with “slight shades of difference” we, as
Americans, have the same “religion, manners, habits, and political principles”.
In
the early years of our Republic, as states formulated their individual
constitutions, Christianity and God were referred to freely. In fact, the Constitution of the Commonwealth
of Massachusetts states in its preamble:
"We, therefore, the people of Massachusetts, acknowledging,
with grateful hearts, the goodness of the great Legislator of the
universe, in affording us, in the course of His providence, an
opportunity, deliberately and peaceably, without fraud,
violence or surprise, of entering into an original, explicit, and
solemn compact with each other; and of forming a new
constitution of civil government, for ourselves and posterity;
and devoutly imploring His direction in so interesting a
design, do agree upon, ordain and establish the following
Declaration of Rights, and Frame of Government, as the
Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts."
"We, therefore, the people of Massachusetts, acknowledging,
with grateful hearts, the goodness of the great Legislator of the
universe, in affording us, in the course of His providence, an
opportunity, deliberately and peaceably, without fraud,
violence or surprise, of entering into an original, explicit, and
solemn compact with each other; and of forming a new
constitution of civil government, for ourselves and posterity;
and devoutly imploring His direction in so interesting a
design, do agree upon, ordain and establish the following
Declaration of Rights, and Frame of Government, as the
Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts."
This
constitution, drafted by John Adams, second President of the United States of
America, deeply and passionately involved in the processes of freedom in the
Continental Congress’ efforts to design the new nation, openly states that the
people of Massachusetts acknowledged thankfully the “great Legislator of the
universe” who had given them the opportunity to live as a free people and
design this document of government.
His
intricate involvement in drafting the Declaration of Independence is well
known. In our nation’s founding
document, declaring our separation from Great Britain and the reasons supporting
such an action, God is primary within the reasoning. First, in order to declare such an action, the
right to exist independent of the Mother Country came by way of the “Laws of nature and nature’s God”. In respect to others, they rendered the motives
behind the movement. Second, the very
freedoms granted were “self-evident”. In
fact, “all men are created equal” and
are “endowed by their Creator with
certain unalienable Rights”. Among the
rights given them are “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness”.
Our
founders had no difficulty proclaiming that the God of the Bible was not only the
prevailing option for religious practice in their day, but the essential reason
behind the United States’ right to exist.
They concluded their expression of freedom by appealing to the “Supreme
Judge of the world” and stating that they did so “with a firm reliance on the
protection of divine Providence”.
I
have dealt with the truth that these were men of Christian conviction in my
book, God Shed His Grace On Thee. In its pages I explain that even those
considered the least religious of the
Founding Fathers believed in a God who was active in the affairs of men.
In
fact, when the idea of Christianity’s involvement in government was challenged,
those whose place it was to review the challenges (the Supreme Court and
Judiciary Committees from both the House and Senate) declared that it was appropriate
to declare Christianity as our national faith.
Specifically, the House Judiciary Committee findings released March 27,
1854 stated:
"Had the people, during the revolution, a suspicion of any
attempt to war against Christianity, that revolution would have
been strangled in its cradle... At the time of the adoption of the
Constitution and its amendments, the universal sentiment was
that Christianity should be encouraged, but not any one sect...
In this age, there is no substitute for Christianity... That was the
religion of the founders of the republic and they expected it to
remain the religion of their descendants."
"Had the people, during the revolution, a suspicion of any
attempt to war against Christianity, that revolution would have
been strangled in its cradle... At the time of the adoption of the
Constitution and its amendments, the universal sentiment was
that Christianity should be encouraged, but not any one sect...
In this age, there is no substitute for Christianity... That was the
religion of the founders of the republic and they expected it to
remain the religion of their descendants."
Today
the morals, ethics and values proclaimed in the Bible are under attack. Even some who call themselves “Christian”
have undertaken movements which drive contrary to absolute biblical truth. We call ourselves “enlightened”, yet live in
the darkness of corruption and abased lifestyles. In the midst of this depravity the cry
erupts, “Where is the God of America?”!!!
In II
Kings 2:14 Elisha asks a similar question while standing at the Jordan River. Elijah, his mentor, had just been caught up
into Heaven in a whirlwind, riding a chariot of fire. Elijah had just previously parted the Jordan’s
waters and they had crossed on dry ground.
Elisha, picking up Elijah’s mantel from the ground where it had fallen,
received a “double portion” of God’s Spirit which had worked through
Elijah. Now returning to the river,
Elisha asks the question and, as Elijah had, strikes the water with the
mantel. Once again the power of God
parted the water for him to pass across.
The
answer to the question is, “God is exactly where He has always been:
unchanging.” The better question is, “Where
have WE gone?” God is still here. His presence and power are unchanged. It is we who have drifted (or ran) from the
place where He will use us. He is
unwilling to force Himself upon us. But
we CAN operate in the same authority as our forefathers in national matters as
well as in faith.
Where
is the Lord God of America? He is right
here. He has never moved. He is looking for men and women to return to
Him and present themselves for service.
Some
will be called to run for office in various capacities of government. Some will be chosen to be a voice in the
crowd, to the crowd. Some will be driven
to be involved in other ways which effect society. Some will reach out through service in their
family and among their friends. All are
called to “teach- them to observe all things (He) has commanded you” in one
capacity or another. (Matthew 28:20)
I
encourage you to find His will in your life and pursue it will all you can
muster. These are perilous times, and
you have been chosen to be here for this moment. Press on, faithful warrior!
In His Service,
Rex
Louth
Author, God
Shed His Grace On Thee (2013) Westbow Press
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