Letter to the editor: July 4, 1776 is a day of remembrance and celebration!
It was Franklin Roosevelt who said that December 7, 1941 is a day that will “live in infamy.” May I suggest that July 4, 1776 as a day that will “live in celebration” in the hearts and minds of all freedom loving people.
The reason for our lasting celebration of freedom is that as Abraham Lincoln said, we were “conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.” But even more important than that, history shows that the Sovereign hand of God has been in charge of our country from its very beginning. God’s Providence led Christopher Columbus as he sailed from Spain in 1492 in search of the new world. When he arrived, he named the new land San Salvador, “God our Savior,” in honor of God’s Providence.
When the Pilgrims arrived at Plymouth in 1620, before leaving the ship, the 41 adult male pilgrims on board signed the Mayflower Compact. It was clearly a religious document in that it held that the people observed their right of self-government from God as it laid the foundation for American democracy. The Puritans obviously believed that their covenants were not only between man and man, but also between God and man.
The founding fathers of our Declaration of Independence, signed on that memorable day of July 4, 1776, all acknowledged the providence of Almighty God in the foundation of our country. George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and all down the line, they acknowledged the “providence of Almighty God.”
Our 34th President, Dwight D. Eisenhour, said, “Without God there would be no American form of government, nor an American way of life. Recognition of the Supreme Being is the first, the most basic expression of Americanism. Thus, the founding fathers of America saw it, and thus with God’s help it will continue to be.” And Ronald Regan made it clear that, “If we ever forget that we are one nation under God, we will be a nation gone under.”
It seems that there was a time when we had every right to claim the Scripture, “If God be for us, who can be against us” (Romans 8:31). But a frank look at our last 60 years or so gives us pause to question whether God is really for us as He was in the beginning. Just look at how we have drifted away from our original foundation of being rooted in Godly Christian principles. How can God be for us if we no longer believe in (1) the sanctity of life and the value of a single individual; (2) the principle of the monogamous family as our country was built on family and home; (3) the principle of human decency; (4) the dignity and value of the work ethic; (5) free enterprise and private ownership of property; (6) God centered education (7) principle of divine institutions; and (8) the Christ centered church that was originally intended. Someone has said that as the church goes, so goes the nation. All of our problems could be solved in the context of a Christ centered, praying church.
It’s obvious that we have drifted far away from our founding Christian principles. How can God bless America when abortion is rampant, and family life has deteriorated. What used to be foreign to most of us is now common every day occurrence. Pornography is a 48-billion-dollar business. Obscenity, vulgarity, filth, lies in all areas of life. No wonder our nation is in trouble! Our once appreciated work ethic is now out the window. Now, in many instances you can make more money by staying home than you can by going to work.
Andrew Jackson, our 7th president, said it best: “Our republic rests on the rock of Scripture, and the day America decides that we don’t need God, that we don’t need the principles of the Bible, the day that America decides that we no longer are to commit ourselves to Christ and the Bible as the Word of God, that is the day that America begins to die!”
If God chooses to be against us rather than for us, it’s because we chose to be against Him. Is America headed to the grave yard of ancient civilization? In my opinion, yes, we are. But the good news is we still have time to turn the tide by heeding God’s Word:
“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sins, and will heal their land” (2 Corinthians 7:14). This is called repentance! And that is what we need.
“If My people” is referring to those of us who claim to be God’s children. If we are willing to humble ourselves and pray and seek His face and turn from our wicked ways, then He has promised to restore our land to its original greatness.
Folks, the answer to our problems is revival – full speed ahead – beginning this July 4th – a day of remembrance and celebration!
