ONE NATION UNDER GOD
The federal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals says we can't pledge our allegiance to this "Nation under God." And, frankly, that is really the logical conclusion after all the other anti-God decisions made over the past 40 years.
It was 40 years ago this year when the Supreme Court reversed 160 years of precedents and declared that we could not utter even a generic, non-sectarian or even non-Christian prayer in school.
The 22-word prayer they threw out of the classroom was about as inoffensive as the Pledge of Allegiance. It read: "Almighty God, we acknowledge our dependence upon thee, and we beg thy blessings upon us, our parents, our teachers, and our country."
That was it. But, said the court, that was too much. So, the logical conclusion had to finally be reached that to pledge our allegiance to a "one nation under God" had to be unconstitutional, as well.
The real problem really began in 1962 when the Supreme Court threw out years of court rulings in favor of God and opened the doors to an onslaught of anti-God rulings. Prior to 1962, the federal courts had ruled in no fewer than 10 cases that this is a religious nation and that such acknowledgement was NOT unconstitutional.
In theory, the current judges should go back in historical documents and determine what the writers of the First Amendment meant when it declared that the federal government should not pass any "law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."
Historically, nearly every country in the world had its own state church, and it was considered treason to oppose that state church. With good reason the Founding Fathers prohibited such a state church -- and this was, in and of itself, a revolutionary concept.
Our wise Fathers guaranteed that we could think, say and worship as we want -- except, say the recent judicial legislators -- except when you're in school or some other similar public setting. Then you have to shut up about God.
In our church we believe that not only is this a religious nation, but that the Founding Fathers were inspired to establish this free nation under God. In case there is any confusion as to what the Founding Fathers thought about God's involvement with the founding and governance of this nation, let me share a few quotes:
Benjamin Franklin, who many scholars perceive as one of the least religious of the Founding Fathers, chastised the other delegates to the Constitutional Convention because they had not called on God enough in their deliberations. He said:
"In the beginning of the contest with Great Britain, when we were sensible of danger, we had daily prayer in this room for the Divine protection. … Our prayers, Sir, were heard, and they were graciously answered. All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of a superintending Providence in our favor. … [Now] in this situation … how has it happened, Sir, that we have not hitherto once thought of humbly applying to the Father of lights. … Have we forgotten this powerful friend? Or do we imagine we no longer need his assistance? … We have been assured, Sir, in the Sacred Writings that except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it. I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without his concurring aid, we shall succeed … no better than the builders of Babel."
With that reminder, the Constitutional Convention began regular prayer.
And the results? Another delegate, Benjamin Rush, wrote after the Constitution was concluded:
"I am perfectly satisfied that the Union of the States in its form and adoption is as much the work of a Divine Providence as any of the miracles recorded in the Old and New Testament."
Our first president, the Father of our Country, noted in his inaugural address the importance of God in the affairs of this country. He said:
"It would be peculiarly improper to omit in this first official act my fervent supplication to the Almighty Being who rules over the universe, who presides in the councils of nations, and whose providential aids can supply every human defect. … No people can be bound to acknowledge and adore the invisible hand which conducts the affairs of men more than the people of the United States."
In his Farewell Address 8 years later, George Washington reiterated the importance of religion in America:
"Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity -- religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness. … Observe good faith and justice toward all. … Cultivate peace and harmony with all. … Can it be that Providence has not connected the permanent felicity [or happiness] of a nation with its virtue?"
Our second president, John Adams, warned: "Our Constitution was MADE only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."
Truly our Founding Fathers understood that it would be GOD who would crown our good with brotherhood, with happiness, peace, justice, security and tranquility. Our free society would be vulnerable to wolves among the flock if we did not share the Judeo-Christian values taught in the 10 Commandments and in other Scriptures.
Let it be noted that before the 1962 Supreme Court decision throwing out prayer in school, social statistics relating to such things as teen pregnancy, divorce, and violent crime were quite stable. But within 10 years of that FIRST decision to throw God out of the classroom, all HELL literally broke loose.
And these statistics have gotten even worse since then. Was all of this coincidental? And what will be the results of the federal court's most recent efforts to kick God out of our classrooms and public meetings?
President Washington declared: "The propitious [or favorable] smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right which Heaven itself has ordained."
And Abraham Lincoln said: "The truth announced in the Holy Scripture, and proven by all history [is] that, 'Those nations ONLY are blessed whose God is the Lord.'"
President Lincoln's Gettysburg Address honored those who had given their lives for the cause of freedom for all men and the end of rule for the imperial few. President Lincoln concluded:
"It is for us, the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they have, thus far, so nobly carried on. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave that last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation UNDER GOD shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that this government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from this earth."
I do not mean to politicize this speech but to note, with Edward Burke: "All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing."
May God bless America, and may he use US among his tools, I pray in Jesus' holy name. Amen.