History and the USA

The United States of America, once a haven of peace, prosperity and power (no wonder Ellis Island was busy and that peoples from all over the world have flocked here), is today beset by a host of problems.

So, what has happened?

My argument is that our problems are not because we have failed to adequately address racism or social injustice but due to something far more important and for most people, unseen.

Furthermore, the answer is not primarily because we have allowed abortion, same-sex marriages, open immorality, run-away debt and broken homes – although these are certainly markers of the core problem.

What is the core problem – let us let history teach us.

Humm?  “History!  You mean the story of old people in old times with old ideas?”  YES!  To not learn from history is to purposely desire to be unwise and arrogant, for in rejecting or rewriting history we are declaring that we can do better and we are smarter!

So, History!  First make this note: God is about history!

Over and over God was giving history lessons:

Deuteronomy 1:5-3:22, Psalm 77:14-20, Psalm 78:12-72, Psalm 104:3-30, Psalm 105:8-45, the book of Hebrews and many more.

And what does history report and teach over and over?  God!  History boldly declares that there is a God and He is not distant, distracted, dark, defeated or defeatable!  Such is why many today reject history (it is that we are about today – eat, drink and be merry – the past and the future only hinder the party).

So, what about the history of the United States that we today want to forget or change?

1. How about the Mayflower Compact signed in 1620 aboard the Mayflower?  “…by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, &c. Having undertaken for the Glory of God, and Advancement of the Christian Faith…”
2. Or what Presidents said in Bibles given to troops?
   a. Theodore Roosevelt: “May the God of justice and mercy have you in His keeping.”
   b. Woodrow Wilson: “The Bible is the Word of Life.  I beg that you will read it and find this out for yourselves.”
   c. FDR in January 1941 (before Pearl Harbor): “I take pleasure in commending the reading of the Bible”
3. What Washington said in his farewell address: “Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports… And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion… Can it be that Providence has not connected the permanent felicity of a nation with its virtue?”
4. And A. Lincoln said, “The purposes of the Almighty are perfect, and must prevail, though we erring mortals may fail to accurately perceive them in advance” (Sept 4, 1864) and “All the good the Saviour gave to the world was communicated through this book.”

And should we wonder why we were blessed over the past decades?

We, at one time, were a prosperous, strong and good nation, and the envy of nations.  At one time.

Today and over the past few years we have become a laughing-stock, a failure, and a nation awash in troubles that cause others to scratch their collective heads.

So, what has happened?  We took our eyes off of Providence.  We have rejected “One nation under God” and “In God we trust.”  Oh, we still have that language, but in talk only.  We have pushed God aside – NO – we have pushed God out.

We have focused our eyes on ourselves believing we are great and can do any and all.  We have failed to study history, to learn from history, and to be blessed by history.  And the history of the United States verifies this truth, “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.” (Proverbs 14:34)