Saturday, December 17, 2011 "Christian Nation" Part IX

Saturday, December 17, 2011

"Christian Nation" Part IX

First From Julie's Keyboard:

As I was listening to Christian Radio this morning, the discussion came around regarding the things that stress folks during the Christmas Season.  This struck a chord with me in that previously my thoughts were focused on this question:  "Is Jesus, the Savior of the World, happy with the way we celebrate His Birthday?"

This made me answer with an "Ouch!"  When we think of birthdays as we like to celebrate them among our families and friends, just how enjoyable would they be if all the attention and effort was spent on everyone else at the party?  Do we mean what we say when we declare: "Jesus is the Reason for the Season?"

If we take a moment to study the cultural practices many of us hold to during this time, we might find it a bit concerning.  Look at things like the hours we spend flipping through catalogs (online) or walking through department stores hoping to see the "just right thing" that will suit some loved one we must endow with a gift.  Or how about the fact that we need a day planner calendar to schedule every festivity that we're required to attend during the month of Dec.  What about the times when someone unexpectedly blesses us with some nice gift (someone not on our Christmas list), then suddenly we feel the need to run right out and find something for them?  The list goes on.  As you know these are only a few of the areas regarding this special time that need consideration.

Each year as the Season is approaching, I seem to hear a call within to correct this cultural behavior.  Each year I determine within myself that this will happen.  Each year it seems that little has changed in the celebration of the "Greatest Birth of All."  Something tells me that other believers are hearing the same voice within.  What can we do to better honor the birth of our Lord?

Certainly the birthday individual should be bestowed the love, attention and honor of giving. Yet, we know that we can honor Him on this day with our gifts to others.  Indeed, it does please Him when we bless others as He teaches us in His Word.  But, we can be sure that He didn't mean for this giving to turn into a competition of who gives the most and the best, or who goes in credit card debt to buy things for folks that deem the gifts as so insignificant.  I heard a statistic on Christian Radio the other day saying that the average time for pay off of credit card debt accumulated at Christmas (for most folks) is Oct. of the following year!  Isn't this outrageous?

Shouldn't we turn this around?  We pride in our great Country and its colorful cultural traditions.  But, we must remember, there's a very real enemy among us that would like nothing better than to pervert the great truths that made this nation what it once was.  As a matter of fact, it seems this enemy has already had a measure of success.  We must change this.  We must make cultural practices line up with the truth of God's Word, not the other way around.

My plea today is that we search our hearts to see how we can better honor our Savior in the simplicity of Truth from His Word.  May this Christmas show forth the praises unto our worthy Lord and King!

Luke 2:11 "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord."

Blessings,

Julie



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"Christian Nation" Part IX

Continuing our trek across our religious history and working from the premise laid down for us by the United States Supreme Court in 1892, defining the United States as a Christian Nation and giving us the definition whereby we may continue to judge our nation and it's standing; we will continue to examine the evidence by which it obtained this understanding.

The Supreme Court in giving explanation for this declaration listed many references. Having done so they then stated, "These and many other matters which might be noticed, add a volume of unofficial declarations to the mass of organic utterances that this is a Christian nation."  It is from the volume of this many other matters that I want us to take notice.

When the Massachusetts legislature acted to form its own navy, the naval emblems they approved on April 29, 1776, reflected the faith the prevailed throughout the State.  They stated, "Resolved, that the uniform of the officers be green, and that they furnish themselves accordingly, and the colors be a white flag with a green pine tree and the inscription, 'Appeal to Heaven'" - - - - House Journals, 1775. A Journal of the . . . House of Representatives (Watertown, MA: 1776), pp. 196 - 197, April 29, 1776.

It is most unlikely that a nation without Christian sentiment, and who's leaders were of Deist understanding would make an "Appeal to Heaven" as it's ensign upon it's naval flag. 

At the national level, the Congressional proclamation for a national day of prayer and fasting, May 17, 1776, declared: "The Congress . . . . desirous . . . to have people of all ranks and degrees duly impressed with a solemn sense of God's superintending providence, and their duty to rely . . . on His aid and direction . . . do earnestly recommend . . . a day of humiliation, fasting, and prayer; that we may with united hearts confess and bewail our manifold sins and transgressions and, by a sincere repentance and amendment of life, . . . and through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ, obtain His pardon and forgiveness." - - - - Journals of Congress (1905), vol IV, pp. 208 - 209, May 17, 1776

A Congressional proclamation such as this would undoubtedly not have come from a people without Christian sentiment or government leaders who were of Deist thought.  But in this we see not only the true nature of the American spirit, but also the true understanding of what developed into the First Amendment of the Constitution that would later be framed.  For in the Christian understanding, faith cannot be coerced, only encouraged and offered.  Thus you find in this proclamation the words "duly impressed with" and "earnestly recommend" 

This giving understanding to the First Amendment of the Constitution, where government is not to impose a religious faith by law, but is to encourage it by protecting its freedom to be defused by the people.  Today of course we see the exact opposite being instituted by an entirely new interpretation of the First Amendment.

As we now turn to the Declaration of Independence, July 2, 1776, Congress approved in principle the separation from Great Britain, on July 4th it was approved and signed by John Hancock and Charles Thomson, the others later adding their signatures.

I want us to notice some of the wording in this Declaration, such as "appealing to the Supreme Judge of the World," which in their mind would be Jesus Christ.  Also "with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence,"

This simply stated their foundation for the justice of their actions, appealing to Christ who was in their mind the ultimate Judge of their cause and then laying their firm reliance upon that judgment to be protected by Him.  Such thought and wording for a foundational document could not have come from a none Christian people or a Deist minded leadership.

It is interesting to note when John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin were appointed to draft a seal to characterize their new nation:

Benjamin Franklin proposed (Moses lifting up his wand, and dividing the Red Sea, and Pharaoh in his chariot overwhelmed with the waters.  This motto: "Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God.") - - - - John Adams, Letters, Vol. I, p. 152, to Abigail Adams on August 14, 1776.

And Thomas Jefferson proposed: (The children of Israel in the wilderness, led by a cloud by day, and a pillar of fire by night.) - - - - John Adams, Letters, Vol. I, p. 152, to Abigail Adams on August 14, 1776. 

Neither of which were drafted, but it gives us insight into the mind and understanding of the moment during the formation of these United States.

Perhaps we will continue our trek next week,

May God bless each of you,

David