With the 2020 election in mind, I began pondering our nation’s founding which led me to re-examining our American foundation. When the delegates were wrestling with our country’s formation, Benjamin Franklin declared, “How has it happened, Sir, that we have not…once thought of humbly applying to the Father of lights to illuminate our understanding? …except the Lord build they labor in vain that build it.”
Every good and perfect gift is from God
He was quoting James 1:17, “Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow” and Psalm 127:1, “Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman keeps awake in vain.”
There are many nations older than the United States of America. Our age always makes me think of Lady Justice holding her set of scales suspended from one hand. Isaiah 40 says, “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom.”
It amazes me that the God of the Universe who oversees the nations, chooses to be intimately acquainted with all of our ways. He knows the number of hairs on our head and the number of days we will live. It is stunning!
God weighs the nations
God is the Ancient of Days, the Everlasting Father, and the Righteous Judge. He weighs the nations in the balance, and yet, “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
God says, “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.” So in this light, it’s not about a party or a system, it’s about God. Are we pleasing God or grieving His heart as a people and as a nation?
So building on the fact that government is about God, let’s look how man looks at government.
Man’s view of government affects our overall perspective
The Pagan View of government has the state over man and it has the state over the church. The Modern “Christian” View has God over the church and it has the state over the state. The Biblical View has God over man; then man is over the home; man is over the church; and man is over the state. [Beliles and McDowell 30]
The Declaration of Independence proclaims, “…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.”
When the Pilgrims arrived in America with their Mayflower compact, it “was the first expression of civil government that recognized the Christian idea of man and government.” [Beliles and McDowell 75]
Patrick Henry stated, “It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religions, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ!”
God’s perspective of our nation includes the posture of our hearts
God says, “If My people, who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” There is hope in God!
“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance.”
As we examine our nation’s foundation, we have to examine if we are affected by the Pagan View, the Modern “Christian” View, or the Biblical View. After examining ourselves, we turn our hearts toward God.
Let the Bible be our guiding light of wisdom
America has a unique foundation and it is worth examining and keeping that which is beneficial to our nation and discarding that which is harmful to us, but let us use the Bible as our guiding light of wisdom as we move forward in our nation’s journey.
Prayer
Lord, we thank you for being the Father of lights and for guiding our nation through the years. You have given us godly men and women who have sought Your face and who have walked in Your wisdom as they guided this nation. We are thankful for them!
We have also chosen those who have not feared Your name, and they have grieved Your Spirit and they have harmed this country. We ask Your forgiveness for turning away from You in our hearts. We ask forgiveness where we have looked toward a man, instead of toward You. We receive the cleansing of our hearts and the healing our land. You alone, O Lord, are God!
Lord, we humble ourselves before You and ask that You would remember our righteous foundation. And anywhere unrighteousness was mixed into our foundation, we ask You to purify it. And anywhere through the years that we have grieved Your Spirit, wounded our people, and injured our nation; we ask You to heal our hearts, our conscious and unconscious minds, and our spirit man.
Let us be a people who walk in wholeness! Let us be a people who call upon You, Lord, and experience Your answer through the restoration of our hearts and our land.
Recommendations:
Praying for the Nations – Strength with Dignity
Scriptures:
James 1:17; Psalm 127:1; Isaiah 40:28-31; Proverbs 14:34; Psalm 139:1-3; 2 Chronicles 7:14; Psalm 33:12.
References:
Beliles, Mark A., and McDowell, Stephen K. America’s Providential History. Virginia: Providence Foundation, 1989. Print.
“Declaration of Independence: A Transcription.” NARA – Founding Documents – National Archives. [Online version, https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration-transcript, National Archives and Records Administration (the document on display in the Rotunda at the National Archives Museum), October 19, 2020.]
Evans, T. [Tony]. [Pinterest Post – Patrick Henry Quote]. Pinterest. Retrieved October 19, 2020, from https://www.pinterest.com/pin/120049146305111243/
https://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/benfranklin.htm
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation
World English Bible (WEB) by Public Domain. The name “World English Bible” is trademarked.
Recommended Audiobooks:
Collier, Christopher and James Lincoln. Decision in Philadelphia – The Constitutional Convention of 1787. Narrated by Bronson Pinchot, Audible, 2012.
Franklin, Benjamin. The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. Narrated by Fredd Wayne, Audible, 2006.
McClanahan, Brion. The Founding Fathers Guide to the Constitution. Narrated by David Cochran Heath, Audible, 2012.
McElroy, Wendy. The Ratification Debates. Narrated by Walter Cronkite, Audible, 2006.
8 thoughts on “Examining Our Nation’s Foundation”
Thank you for these thoughts. Watching current events as an American who is not living in America, it is difficult at times to understand. I have thoughts and opinions, but I need to check and see if I am applying that here in the community where I am living.
Thank you, Beth!
Lisa, I appreciate the different mindsets you shared here. It’s sad to understand how far we have drifted both from our founders’ intentions, as well as from God. Thanks for sharing these thoughts!
Thank you, Jeanne!
Praying for our nation to turn and seek His face.
Yes, Lauren!
If this country (the government) doesn’t straighten up and act right then I don’t see good things down the road, it’s only getting worse 🙁 Thanks so much for linking up with me at the Unlimited Link Party 29. Pinned!
Thanks Dee!