America The Beautiful Don Hatch In my youth the school system taught overwhelmingly that America was a Christian nation. We sang patriotic songs which spoke of God. We had what were called “National Assembles”, read “Weekly Readers”, and we had prayers in classes and at all types of school functions which honored our heritage as a Christian nation. Each week Christianity was reinforced in “History Classes” and programs which taught of our “Founding Fathers”. We learned of the enormous cost they paid to develop a land of the “free and home of the brave”. An overwhelming portion of Americans believed that the United States were Christian people. Believing that, they did not desire to persecute other beliefs. It was understood that people came here seeking freedom from religious persecution. They never believed that people needed to be forced to become Christians, nor did they believe one belief should be favored at the expense of another. There was no national religion and no state religion. We learned England and other nations had national religions, but America rejected paying taxes to support a “State Religion”. There was no question that “church and State were not at odds with each other”. Americans believed that Judeo-Christian principles were the best form of practices for a community to engage. Yearly there were parades, rodeos, fairs, civil sponsored events which always had songs, prayers, speeches and special programs which honored America as a Christian nation. I believed that the “Founding Fathers” set forth the principle in our documents upon which all proceedings were to be practiced. I never gave it a thought that such things would change. Yet, with time Christianity has been crowded out. The moral principles and undergirding laws of the United States now are being removed and replaced with a form of “tolerance” wherein virtually anything goes. In the past it was when practices of the communities came into conflict with Moral Law, Moral law was supreme. People could choose their beliefs, but when they ran contrary to morality they had to live by the Judeo-Christian principles of the United States of America. The Constitution is often cited as evidence against this historic understanding of the role of Christianity in American public life. “No test of religion was ever required but those who held office were required to support the Constriction” [The Constitution of the United States of America, Article 6]. “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances” (The Constitution of the United States of America, The Bill of Rights, Amendment I). This same Constitution reflects a Christian understanding: “If any Bill shall not be returned by the President within ten Days (Sundays excepted) after it shall have been presented to him, the Same shall be a Law, in like Manner as if he had signed it, unless the Congress by their Adjournment prevent its Return, in which Case it shall not be a Law” (The Constitution of the United States of America, Article 1, Section 7). Note Sunday excepted. That is Christian. The adoption of the 1st Amendment manifested the sentiment that America was considered a Christian nation. The aim of such an amendment was not to prostrate Christianity but deny a national ecclesiastical establishment. Words like “When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitles them . . .”, “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 . . .” “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”. Such were their beliefs and practices. What has changed is that there is a general lack of knowledge of God’s word. Progressive leaders quietly impeach the Bible. Teaching that Judeo-Christian principles are archaic and out-of-stride with America is in vogue. We must see that if Christianity is no longer a basis for society there is not long a basis for America. Fear not, Christianity has weathered greater trials. “Therefore let us also, seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising shame, and hath sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin…” (Heb 12:1-6).
Posted on: Tue, 06 Aug 2013 00:56:03 +0000