Very few of us who are of any age are unable to acknowledge that our nation is changing in its moral values and civil polices. Even fewer can read our history and not recognize the same.
This is not however something new or unexpected among nations. It is common in world history for civil and societal changes to take place, however, there is a uniqueness to the American Experience.
A book published 1998 by Authors Gary Amos and Richard Gardiner (Never Before In History) chronical the uniqueness of the American experience in world history. Within it, Harry V. Jaffa is quoted saying, "There are rare times and places, in the long human story, when outbursts of human genius supply human civilization with the supreme wonders of human greatness. It is the contemplation of these that raises the mass of mankind to levels not unworthy of the divine image in which we were created. Such moments of supreme achievement are to be found in Periclean Athens, in the Florence of Medecis, and in the London of Elizabeth and Shakespeare. However, never before or since has political genius burst in such profusion on the human seen, as in the British colonies in America, in the latter part of the eighteenth century. The period of the American Founding, from the Revolution to the Framing, Ratification, and Inauguration of the Constitution, saw political thought and action in the service of human freedom, of a wisdom and power unsurpassed even by the glory of Greece to the grandeur of Rome. Every human good we enjoy today is, directly or indirectly, is a legacy from what the Founders wrought, and Lincoln preserved." ~ Harry V. Jaffa.
Very seldom do we as Americans consider such thought as Jaffa is describing. Our founders and the following generation had a much keener understanding of the value and rare opportunity we are afforded. It has become to commonplace for us to be able to understand in the magnitude of which they did. We have come to expect too much from a worldly system, seeking for a utopia of which does not nor can ever exist in a world such as ours. By doing so we find fault in a system that is of such genius, its uniqueness is unmatched. Yet we find it unsatisfactory and dream of political change and give great criticism to this great system. The Scripture speaks of men who, "Rom 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools," I fear we may be falling among such men.
All is different now, our political speech is cheap and we take the words every so lightly for the character of those that speak carry little value with us. Even our ministers carry different words than those in our beginning. Today they speak of our prosperity, our success, and victories. Very little is said of character and sacrifices.
Samuel Langdon spoke very differently in 1775 than our ministers speak today. Their understanding of the separation of church and state was completely adverse to our understanding today.
Speaking concerning "Isaiah 1:26, And I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counselors as at the beginning: afterward thou shalt be called the city of righteousness, the faithful city." Langdon began, "Shall we rejoice, my fathers and brethren, or shall we weep together, on the return of this anniversary, which from the first settlement of this colony has been sacred to liberty, to perpetuate that invaluable privilege of choosing, from among ourselves, wise men, fearing God, and hating covetousness, to be honorable counselors, to constitute one essential branch of that happy government which was established on the faith of royal charters?" Do you feel the weight in his words? Rejoice or weep, the contrast between the two immediately demands ones attention. Sacred to liberty, a word commanding a high price for purchase, followed by perpetuating that invaluable privilege. He has just begun to speak and the hearer already knows something of immense value permeates the moment. Wise men, fearing God, hating covetousness, honorable, royal charters! These words carry great force when spoken by men of character and conviction.
Today we not only lack the words, but we are also bankrupt for wise men of character and conviction who truly view and understand the term royal charters! Langdon continues, "Let us consider, that for the sins of a people God may suffer the best government to be corrupted, or entirely dissolved; and that nothing but a general reformation can give ground to hope that the public happiness will be restored, by the recovery of the strength and perfection of the state, and that Divine Providence will interpose to fill every department with wise and good men."
Today, we mistakenly look to our own wisdom to create this utopian government we are continually told we deserve. We have forgotten the doctrine of Divine Providence of which our founders were so keenly aware. Our thoughts and actions are only good and wise or sinful and foolish depending upon Gods graciousness upon our society. On March 30, 1863 President Lincoln in calling for a nation day of prayer and fasting stated, "We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace, and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us; And we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us!"
The value of preseeding generations is rarely spoken of in our society today except when selectively phrasing them in a fashion that supports our own agendas. This leaves us ignorant of who we were and what we as a nation and people are to be about. If one is moved by such words as these, the question must arise, "what can we do?" There is a sad reality, there may be nothing we can do to turn and find our way back as a nation. There is a point where God says their iniquity is full, and no repentance will be granted. This is what so concerned such men a Langdon and Lincoln, a concern that is seriously depleted in our society today. However, if you are moved by such words, you are not relieved from your responsibility to repent and strive for reformation in your own life and family.
I have heard it said, just because you cannot win is no reason not to fight. There are things of such value to give one's life for, if not for success, for the honor. (That quote might fly well with the Klingons). One does not refuse to preach the Gospel because a nation will not repent, all the more reason to preach the Gospel. It is incumbent upon each of us, to conform our lives to the law of God regardless of a nations moral condition. We cannot do this perfectly nor in a manner acceptive of His demands of righteousness, therefore the Christian puts his faith in Christ to bring him into justification with God. However, all society will not look in faith to Christ for redemption, therefore, the infusion of right principles and understanding of justice must be maintained in a society. A sense of moral value and a high level of understanding of justice can be exerted within a society when the culture is supported by such foundations. We must arm ourselves with this understanding, and make out defense and offense in prayer, first for our own virtue, then for our leaders, then for our nation. In doing so we place our trust in Gods Providence and in hope of His granting repentance to a nation.
Langdon would continue with words which weigh heavily upon our time some 244 years later, "When a government is in its prime, the public good engages the attention of the whole; the strictest regard is paid to the qualifications of those who hold the offices of the state; virtue prevails, everything is managed with justice, prudence, and frugality; the laws are founded on principles of equity rather than mere policy, and all the people are happy. But vice will increase with the riches and glory of an empire; and this gradually tends to corrupt the constitution, and in time bring on its dissolution. This may be considered not only as the natural effect of vice, but a righteous judgment of heaven, especially upon a nation which has been favored with the blessing of religion and liberty, and is guilty of undervaluing them; and eagerly going into the gratification of every lust."
We may never return to America's beginning as a nation, but let it not be said, it was not worth the living in our own individual lives.
May the Grace of God be upon each of you,
David
