I. I
love America because the Founding Fathers had the right vision
A.
I particularly appreciate the wisdom in the
second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence:
1. We
hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they
are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these
are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights,
governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the
consent of the governed.
2. Where
did that vision come from?
B.
The founding fathers envisioned a nation with
Christ in the center
1. Daniel
Webster said, “[T]he Christian religion – its general principles – must ever be
regarded among us as the foundation of civil society.”
2. George
Washington said, “You do well to wish to learn our arts and ways of life, and
above all, the religion of Jesus Christ. These will make you a greater and
happier people than you are.”
3. Benjamin
Rush said, “I do not believe that the Constitution was the offspring of
inspiration, but I am as satisfied that it is as much the work of a Divine
Providence as any of the miracles recorded in the Old and New Testament.”
II. I
love America because it was founded with the right virtues
A.
In modern times we have been called first, a
post-Christian nation; second, a post-modern society
B.
Our own president has claimed we are not a
Christian nation
1. He
said on
a recent presidential trip to Turkey that Americans “do not consider ourselves
a Christian nation.”
2. The
truth of the matter is that most who agree with this are ignorant of the facts
of the foundation of this nation
3. That
is not surprising, given the rabid race to revise our history and remove all
vestiges of Christianity from its pages
C.
Please let me quote a few of founding
fathers
1. John Adams said, “[I]t is religion and
morality alone which can establish the principles upon which freedom can
securely stand. The only foundation of a free constitution is pure virtue.
2. John
Quincy Adams said, “There are three points of doctrine the belief of which
forms the foundation of all morality. The first is the existence of God; the
second is the immortality of the human soul; and the third is a future state of
rewards and punishments. Suppose it possible for a man to disbelieve either of
these three articles of faith and that man will have no conscience, he will
have no other law than that of the tiger or the shark. The laws of man may bind
him in chains or may put him to death, but they never can make him wise,
virtuous, or happy.”
3. Fisher
Ames, who framed the first amendment said, “There are three points of doctrine
the belief of which forms the foundation of all morality. The first is the
existence of God; the second is the immortality of the human soul; and the
third is a future state of rewards and punishments. Suppose it possible for a
man to disbelieve either of these three articles of faith and that man will
have no conscience, he will have no other law than that of the tiger or the
shark. The laws of man may bind him in chains or may put him to death, but they
never can make him wise, virtuous, or happy.”
4. Charles
Carroll, who signed the Declaration of Independence said, “Without morals a
republic cannot subsist any length of time; they therefore who are decrying the
Christian religion, whose morality is so sublime & pure, [and] which
denounces against the wicked eternal misery, and [which] insured to the good
eternal happiness, are undermining the solid foundation of morals, the best
security for the duration of free governments.”
III. I
love America because we have the possibility of the right victory
1. Barton
said, “There must be two reversals, the first and most obvious one must occur
in our national public stance toward God: the Supreme Court's current ban on
the acknowledgment of God and the use of His principles in public is a direct
challenge to Him and has thus triggered the law of national accountability,
subjecting the nation to severe consequences. Therefore, our current national
public stand against God must be set aside.”
2. Barton
continued, “The second reversal must center on the restoration of the personal
benefits derived from living by Godly principles”
B.
Here are some of the steps Barton recommended
1. Pray
– if my people who are called by my name shall humble themselves and pray…
2. Teach
your children and grandchildren both to pray and the truth of the foundation of
this nation
3. Pray
devout Christians will run for public office
4. Christians
need to be involved in public media
May God give us a little more time before he brings judgment on this nation that I love.
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