America: A Christian Nation

Scripture: “…if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”  2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV

Observation: At the temple dedication, Solomon recounts some of the words God spoke to David when he vowed to give Israel the promised land.

Application: This article is taken in part from “Twelve Powerful Prayers for America” by Steve Krotoski.

“Looking at America’s founding, we see America was dedicated to God for His glory. America was founded as a Christian nation. As George Washington, Jon Jay, Samuel Adams, Patrick Henry, Benjamin Franklin and the founders of America sought God, we also must seek Him today.  The Delaware Constitution required faith in God the Father, Jesus Christ, God’s Son, and the Holy Spirit as a prerequisite to serve in public office. It also required government officials to state that they believed the Scriptures of the Old and New Covenants were given by Divine inspiration. The Bible is inscribed in America’s government buildings. There are crosses on our hills. Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address is quoted on the Lincoln Memorial and says, ‘this nation, under God…’ Today, Congress has our national motto, ‘In God we trust,’ engraved above the Speaker of the House’s platform. Many have taken into hand to document America’s Christian conception, founding and covenant to God.  George Washington said, ‘It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible.’ George Washington was an American. He followed God and the Bible.  The Bible was the first text book in American schools and the foundation of education and American life. George Washington also said, ‘What children would learn in American schools above all else is the religion of Jesus Christ.’ Even the three branches of the United States of America government were taken by our founders as they studied Isaiah 33:22.  John Adams, signer of the Declaration of Independence and second president, testified, ‘The Declaration of Independence laid the cornerstone of human government upon the first precepts of Christianity.’ Because our founders followed God, God blessed America. Historical accounts show that our founders prayed and sought God together and God answered them. This faith in God through Jesus Christ was how America fought, was protected and governed. The United States government paid Christian chaplains for their services in government, starting with George Washington as president.  Abraham Lincoln followed the Bible’s teachings and said, ‘But for it [the Bible] we could not know right from wrong.’ So, how can anyone desiring to follow God or our founders suggest removing the Bible from America? To do so, would go against our Constitution, America’s founders and what they fought so hard for.”

My words:  There is no doubt in my mind that America was founded as a Christian nation and that our God-ordained, constitutional, rule-of-law [not rule-of-men] form of government was intended to always look back to the Lord and his bible for guidance.  America has strayed so far from where our founders wanted us to be that it can only be saved by a promise.  God promised David and Israel and his promise is true for America today, “…if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”  2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV I believe that we should continue to hold our country up in pray. That’s our responsibility and that’s what our founders would have expected of us.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, America doesn’t deserve your grace or protection any longer, we have forsaken you. For my part in that I apologize. Help me to live a more deserving and pleasing life before you that sets the right example for my neighbors.  I pray that we, as a group, see our wickedness and turn back to you.  I pray that then our nation will be healed just as you promised in 2 Chronicles.  I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen

Doug