Saturday, November 19, 2011 "Christian Nation" Part VI

Saturday, November 19, 2011

"Christian Nation" Part VI

First From Julie's Keyboard:

Have you been in the stores lately and noticed how the merchants have a tendency to take us from the "Halloween holiday" directly to Christmas without even a hint at, one of the most important that we'll celebrate, "Thanksgiving"?

This is tragic when you think on it.  The very actions that established this nation and the celebration of them are being swept away amidst the hustle and bustle of this "great American style of living."  Could it be that such a neglection attributes to the trouble we see all around in this age?  Have we failed to return thanks to our Father for all the many freedoms we enjoy?

I was reminded this week when talking with a woman dearest to my soul, my mom, how important it is to honor this celebration, not only on the holiday, but always.  In the course of our conversation, she told me that she was putting up her tree.  Immediately I responded with, "You're already putting up your Christmas Tree?"  But, " no," she said.  She was putting up a tree with items reminding us to be thankful, things promoting conversation with anyone who would stop by and bring the moment to a time of thanksgiving.

This set my mind thinking.  While fully preparing for the time of "Thanksgiving" with my family, I'm guilty of having spent more thought on Christmas preparations already.  Needless to say, my convictions say that this shouldn't be true.  What can we do to make changes?

Well, there's always that little cop out thing that we can say of how we should be thankful everyday, and we should.  But, God has so richly and abundantly blessed our families and our land, He is worthy of special times of honor.  We shouldn't cheat Him at Thanksgiving, even if it is so close to Christmas.  Actually, we shouldn't "cheat Him" at all! Ever!

In the days ahead,  may we consciously think of what we can do as His children to remind our nation of the great price paid for our freedom.  May we honor our God with worthy supplications, thanksgivings, and praise.  We can't out give Him.  But, what would it say about us if we at least tried?

I leave these thoughts with you for meditation.  May your families have a special time of fellowship in Christ this Thanksgiving.

Scripture References:

Philippians 4:6 "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be  made known unto God."

Ephesians 5:20 "Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;"

Psalm 95:2 "Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms."

Psalm 100:4 "Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, nad bless his name."  KJV

Have a blessed week,

Julie

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"Christian Nation" Part VI

As we continue our trek across the History of our spiritual heritage of these United States we find that this people from one governing document to another continue to covenant themselves to each other and to God.  From the James town disaster to the Pilgrims at Plymouth colony and then to the Puritans arrival in New England, covenant after covenant was established between themselves and God.  You cannot take this trek across our history and not see that its development was an agreement between a people and their God.

In 1629 aboard the Arabella, John Winthrop stated: "Thus stands the cause between God and us.  We are entered into covenant with Him for this work.  We have taken out a commission.  The Lord hath given us leave to draw our own articles.  We have professed to enterprise these and those accounts, upon these and those ends.  We have thereupon besought Him of favor and blessing.  Now if the Lord shall please to hear us, and bring us in peace to the place we desire, then hath he ratified this covenant and sealed our commission, . . . ."  John Winthrop (In the name of God, Amen-Rediscovering Biblical and Historic Covenants. Daniel J. Ford. p.153.

Obviously, God ratified this covenant in the eyes of this people.  As they continued to expand in their civil government, each time God was involved in their Covenants with each other and with Him.  They knew God expected out of his covenant, laws and government that were just and fair, such as were conducive to His demands of righteousness and justice.  Thus the reason we have the influence of Christian principles resting upon our Constitutions of government. 

James Otis declared in 1766; "Has it [government] any solid foundation? any chief cornerstone. . . ? I think it has an everlasting foundation in the unchangeable will of God, the Author of Nature whose laws never vary. . . ." - - - - James Otis. Original Intent-The Courts, the Constitution, & Religion. (David Barton) p.86. James Otis, The Rights of the British Colonies Asserted and Proved (Boston: J. Williams 1766), pp. 11,12,13,98.

They also had the understanding, their governments being thus founded, as long as they meet this criteria, they could expend God's intervention in their affairs.

After finally making the decision to separate from Great Britain, a decision which also was weighed heavily by purpose of God, Samuel Adams wrote in a letter to British officials; "There is One above us who will take exemplary vengeance for every insult upon His majesty.  You know that the cause of America is just.  You know that she contends for that freedom to which all men are entitled. . . . We again make our solemn appeal to the God of heaven to decide between you and us. . . . and that the merciful Saviour of the world may forgive our oppressors."  - - - - Samuel Adams. Original Intent-The Courts, the Constitution, & Religion. (David Barton) p.88 The Writings of Samuel Adams, harry Alonzo Cushing, editor July 16, 1778.

Every act of civil government was weighed against their Covenant with God.  Their success was weighed against their ability to fulfill His purpose in their lives.  We will continue to follow this pattern across our history, many times we failed at great cost both to ourselves and to the purpose to which we were called.  But we can see that this people would repent, reset the tracks and start again. 

This was a Nation living a Covenant life, its civil government established on the principles of God's Word, yet this was not by religious demand such as you see in theocracies, but a Christian Nation coming forth out of the heart of a people living in their Covenant with God by a desire and a purpose to which they felt called. 

So I think at least, up to this point, using the Supreme Court definition of the term, America qualifies as a Christian Nation. 

Perhaps we will take another trek next week,

May God bless each of you,

David