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With God, one man is a majority
The Author of life has plans for this nation. What character are you in His book? Apathy and apostasy, the twin threats to Christian civic engagement.
A few years ago, I thoroughly enjoyed visiting the old churches of Saint-Sulpice and Notre Dame’s Cathedral in Paris. Architecturally brilliant, it was notable that very few faithful were actually attending services. France officially became a secular nation in 1905 after a long history of tensions between the state and the Catholic Church, dating back to the French Revolution in the late 18th century.
The disturbingly flagrant mocking of Christianity during the Olympic opening ceremony, once considered sacrilege, is now deemed "artistic," "weird," and "that's just how the French are." This shows how far this former cornerstone of Christendom has eroded. Clearly, they decided to provoke those who would pray for them while steering clear of those more apt to burn buildings or behead them if given a chance... but I digress. Instead, let's ponder God's role in the United States of America. What is God to this country?
From its inception, the Pilgrims who bravely crossed the Atlantic with other Mayflower voyagers entered an agreement amongst themselves. The Mayflower Compact is historically significant because it was the first document to establish self-government in the New World. Here it can be seen that God is prominently mentioned in its first paragraphs:
“In the name of God, Amen. We, whose names are underwritten, the Loyal Subjects of our dread Sovereign Lord King James, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, defender of the Faith, etc.:
Having undertaken, for the Glory of God, and advancements of the Christian faith, and the honor of our King and Country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the Northern parts of Virginia;”
The Declaration of Independence states in its opening paragraph, “equal station to which the laws of nature and of Nature's God entitle them.” The second paragraph famously declares that “all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights.” We therefore conclude that God’s presence is a foundational principle. Notably, in signing this declaration, all of the founding fathers understood they would be tried for treason.
The US Constitution is a secular document and does not explicitly mention God. However, the Pledge of Allegiance clearly states “one Nation under God.” All U.S. printed dollars and coins currently feature the phrase "In God We Trust." This phrase was first added to U.S. coins during the Civil War and later became the official motto of the United States in 1956. I present these examples to establish that God was present in America’s formation since its inception.
George Washington, who brilliantly led the War of Independence, openly acknowledged, “I have only been an instrument in the hands of Providence.” In 1770, when he returned to the Pennsylvania woods where he once battled the French and Indians, an old Indian chief traveled to meet him. Ancient and leather-faced, the chief revealed he had been a leader in the battle against Washington 15 years earlier. He recounted that during the battle, he had instructed his braves to single out the officers and shoot them down, knowing if the officers were slaughtered, the troops would scatter and could easily be hunted down later. Washington had been specifically singled out.
The chief explained that his rifle, never known to miss before, failed 17 times when he personally fired at Washington. Concluding that Washington was under the care of the Great Spirit, he instructed his braves to stop firing at him. He then told Washington, “I have traveled a long and weary path so that I might see the young Warrior of the great battle. I come to pay homage to the man who is the particular favorite of heaven and who can never die in battle.”
Providentially, 59 miles from that same spot, another great lion of history was grazed by a bullet intended to assassinate him. God preserved Trump for His purposes in history. All born in these historic times are assigned to this hour. What character will each one of us be in the book of the great Author who clearly has plans for America?
At the upcoming Primaries and on November 5th, we have the power to elect representation with the Constitution as our guarantor of freedoms. As a voting bloc, Christians are the most powerful force in America. Everyone who believes that Jesus Christ died for our sins and resurrected from death is, by definition, a Christian. Thus, Evangelicals, Catholics, Protestants, LDS, and even Messianic Jews are slices of the powerful Christian voting pie. However, even though Evangelicals are the most politically active, only one-third of them actually vote. The other denominations surely trail behind because if Christians voted according to their values, America would not be at this crucible.
Surly, despondent and complaining conservatives do not conserve anything. We must not be a population paralyzed by fear but certain that we worship a God who knows His way out of the grave. Casting a ballot is not enough. Making sure that five people are enrolled and vote is a good first step. If God is with us, we will surely win. But if we don’t fight—Fight, FIGHT—we will surely lose.
God has plans, but He accomplishes them through the actions of His people. In this Jericho moment, if we stomp and blow horns, He will tear down the walls that will allow us to take back our country and truly make America great again.
"The one taste of paradise on this earth is to fight a losing battle and not lose"
Attributed to G.K. Chesterton, Christian apologist and creator of fictional detective, Father Brown
Almighty Father,
We pray for Your guidance and wisdom in electing representatives who will uphold the Constitution and safeguard our freedoms. We ask that You awaken the hearts of all Christians to recognize the strength we possess as a united voting bloc.
Lord, help us to overcome the apathy and fear that paralyze so many. Remind us that despondent and complaining spirits do not conserve the precious values we hold dear. Instead, fill us with the courage and conviction to act. Let us not only vote but also encourage others to do the same, ensuring that our collective voice is heard loud and clear.
We trust in Your mighty power, knowing that You are a God who conquers the grave and leads us to victory. Strengthen our resolve, Lord, and guide us in this crucial endeavor.
In Jesus’s name,
Amen.
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Ignorance is bliss but information is power. I write to share so your loved ones start asking questions and seek answers for themselves. I mostly cover Election Security (or lack thereof) but sometimes the Lord points me elsewhere.
Beautiful, thanks for this.
Another interesting listen, thank you. So many sacrificed so much for our freedoms, yet today’s “give me” society don’t choose to give back. Maybe they will when their favorite Netflix series are canceled.