God Bless the USA!

             249 years ago today, the Declaration of Independence was signed. Two days later, a Pennsylvania newspaper published the document, making it public knowledge for the first time. At the time of its adoption, the colonies had been at war with Great Britain for over a year. During that time, there had been several victories by the American forces, including the Battles of Lexington and Concord, but the Founding Fathers knew that the British were a formidable foe. They also knew that their mere signature on the Declaration was sufficient to convict them of treason, and they never dreamed that it would be almost 7 more years before the Americans would be completely free of British rule. Still, they adopted the Declaration, pledging “to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”

            It was not until 1787, a little over eleven years after the signing of the Declaration, that the Constitution was approved. Even then, the Constitution did not become final until it was ratified by at least nine of the thirteen states, a process that took almost a year. In March 1789, the government of the United States of America became official. It had been a long, tumultuous road, but at last, the government they had first envisioned back in July of 1776 had become a reality. The Founders designed it to be a government that derived its powers from “the consent of the governed,” which is known as a Republic. Was it or is it perfect? No. However, when compared to all the other governing bodies of the world, past and present, it is by far the best.

            The Founding Fathers were not perfect, but they recognized the role that God plays in the “course of human events.”  In the Declaration, they referred to Him as “Nature’s God,” “Creator,” “Supreme Judge of the world,” and “divine Providence.”  That is the one thing that has made the United States of America different from all other nations. Judeo/Christian values are at the very foundation of the nation—something no other nation has ever been able to replicate.

            In 1858, as the Republican candidate in the Illinois Senate race, Abraham Lincoln gave his famous “house divided” speech, quoting the words of Christ, that a house divided against itself cannot stand (Matthew 12: 25). He went on to say, “I do not expect the Union to be dissolved -- I do not expect the house to fall -- but I do expect it will cease to be divided. It will become all one thing or all the other.” 

            Today, we are once again a house divided. We have done our best to remove God and His values from every aspect of our society. As Christians and as citizens of this great country, perhaps it is time that we begin to speak up for God and His values. We do not have to scream or yell or call each other names or even riot. We simply need to speak the truth in love. If we remain silent, Lincoln’s words may once again come true. This nation may become all one thing, but it may not be the “thing” that we hold dear.

May God bless the United States of America!