Monday, July 4, 2011

Happy 4th of July

I was privileged to preach in a church yesterday whose pastor was away on vacation.  I used that opportunity to remind the congregation of the Christian foundation on which this country was created.  So many of today's history books have been written by historical revisionists that I find that many people do not not realize the impact their Christian beliefs had on our founding fathers and how those beliefs influenced the writing of our earliest documents and our earliest laws.  Our founding fathers are often referred to as deists in much of today's writings, but even a brief look at their own words demonstrate that isn't the case at all.  The majority of these individuals were Christians who took seriously the teachings with which they had been taught.

There were a large number of young people and teenagers in the congregation yesterday, and I couldn't help but notice how many of them were listening intently to the message.  I would imagine that may have been the first time some of them had heard much of what I said yesterday.  I'm certain they would not have received that message in their American history classes.  Unfortunately, I fear it isn't a message many will hear in their churches either.  It seems that many pastors are reluctant to talk about the Christian foundations that led to the early greatness of this nation.  Perhaps they are afraid some will consider such messages as too political or not politically correct.  But, if our young people do not hear this message from the pulpit, where will they hear it?  They won't, and the historical revivisionists will have won.  Even worse, the Christian foundations of our nation will continue to erode until one day there is nothing left to define right and wrong.

After the service a few older members came to me with tears in their eyes and thanked me for bringing such a message.  They fear for their children and grandchildren, as I do, if we as a nation do not rediscover that we are truly one nation under God.

Whatever your plans are for the remainder of this holiday weekend, please take a few moments to thank God for this nation in which we live.  Thank Him for the foundations on which this country was founded and ask Him to once again pour out His Spirit upon us.  Also, if you are not aware of the role Christianity had on the beginnings of our nation, take some time this month to read one or both of the books I've referenced in this posting.  I believe you'll have a new appreciation for our founding fathers and for the values they brought to the birth of our wonderful nation.  May God bless America!

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