Websters 1828 dictionary of American English ~ NATION, n. [to be born]
1. A body of people inhabiting the same country, or united under the same sovereign or government; as the English nation; the French nation. It often happens that many nations are subject to one government; in which case, the word nation usually denotes a body of people speaking the same language, or a body that has formerly been under a distinct government, but has been conquered, or incorporated with a larger nation. Thus the empire of Russia comprehends many nations, as did formerly the Roman and Persian empires. Nation, as its etymology imports, originally denoted a family or race of men descended from a common progenitor, like tribe, but by emigration, conquest and intermixture of men of different families, this distinction is in most countries lost.
Generally speaking, we all have a special affection for the land in which we were born. We often think ourselves superior to those born elsewhere. In rare instances, one is able to be involved in the formation of a new nation. This may inspire one to greater affections for that land because of the hardships and sacrifices that have been personally felt or witnessed. As we consider our history from where ever we are in the world, we must recognize nations rise and nations fall. I will suggest in this post, that rise and fall can at times be so subtle its people don't even recognize it's demise.
Paul tells us in Rom 6:22 (But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.) Freedom from one thing must mean willing servanthood to another. Otherwise, freedom without law is not true freedom but anarchy. American freedom was the putting off of one rule and the putting on of another. The new government that was established embodied a particular world view and ideas of freedom that was derived for the most part from the religious principles by which they the people then desired to live. Much concerning these principles have been written about on this blog over the past decade, one can peruse through those if interested, for the moment I want us to consider a specific perspective.
We must I think, consider the quote above from President Wilson a present reality. We as Americans, for the most part, have forgotten what we were about as a nation. We don't know where we came from nor what we have been about. We are confused about the remnants of our history and the shadows of the original government that remains.
I would suggest the nation that then was no longer exists, it has fallen and another one has risen. I say this because the people of that America would not recognize the government that is now. And the people that are now, have no desire to be ruled by the principles that governed Americans then. We are casting off all we have been about and embracing that we know not what. The early American system thrived with its Christian influence and religious values.
President John Adams rightly observed: "It must be felt that there is no national security but in the nation’s humble acknowledged dependence upon God and His overruling providence."
His son, John Quincy Adams later would state on July 4, 1837: "In the chain of human events, the birthday of the nation is indissolubly linked with the birthday of the Savior. It forms a leading event in the progress of the Gospel dispensation. The Declaration of Independence first organized the social compact on the foundation of the Redeemer’s mission on Earth [and] laid the cornerstone of human government on the first precepts of Christianity.”
It can be summed up by the words of Alexis de Tocqueville, “I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her commodious harbors and her ample rivers – and it was not there . . . in her fertile fields and boundless forests and it was not there . . . in her rich mines and her vast world commerce – and it was not there . . . in her democratic Congress and her matchless Constitution – and it was not there. Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits aflame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because she is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, she will cease to be great.”
That America has but all been stripped away, we as a people now are clothing ourselves with values entirely different. Freedom rings to a different note than it rang for us in early America. It is a difficult time for us as a people; the social, moral, and religious issues divide us greatly. We have taken opposing sides and all to often see each other as enemies.
Enemies we are not, but simply a fallen people who have lost their way and forgotten what they have been about. I think Tocqueville missed the point slightly in his statement, "America is great because she is good," America was great because the Gospel had born fruit, and the people did not feel bound by our laws but kept by them. Our jurisprudence was conducive to our religious values. It cannot be denied that the influence of the Gospel upon our people from the very beginning gave us a very unique ability to govern ourselves. It set standards of behavior in human affairs that gave us our understanding of justice and right government. It formed our society and the way we were expected to live and work and raise our families. This was all an effect upon the heart of our people. The definition of all these things have now changed and thus we are in great conflict. Unless there is a revival of our former spiritual affairs, an entirely different nation will emerge. One nation will have fallen and another will have arisen. It is my desire that the God of Providence will be pleased to once again turn our hearts to the Gospel.
God bless each of you,
David
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