Well, maybe it’s NOT such a bad idea, after all…my favorite definition of RELIGION is “A box built by humanity to keep GOD in-particularly when HE becomes inconvenient”. Doing away with such barriers would do us ALL good…
Beginning in earnest in the early 1960’s, the first serious battle in the War on Christianity was the banning of prayer in public schools. This flew in the face of over 300 years of history and tradition, as from the very first, the settlers of North America based their governance on Biblical principal, and constantly sought the favor and direction of GOD through singular and communal prayer[1]. The prayer in question[2], not particularly Christian in nature; was found offensive by the Supreme Court because it had been written by a government official, to be recited by school children at the beginning of their day. Rather than rectify the error by allowing a prayer written by civilians to be used, the court preferred the nuclear option, and banned sanctioned school prayer altogether.
Though few seem to notice any more, a major tenet of Judeo-Christian belief is FREE WILL. Nowhere in the Bible are believers directed to impose their faith on others against their will. To the contrary, the Christian faith and the doctrine of salvation and eternal life through Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior must be believed and freely accepted (Romans 10:9-10); not institutionalized by law. Conversely, our GOD is a gentleman…HE will not stay where HE is not wanted. Through such legal decisions, we as a people have told GOD to go away…and I believe HE has accommodated us in this.[4]
FIFTY YEARS LATER, it’s not too hard to see the results. Morality in our society is virtually unknown, along with any conception of absolute right and wrong - “whatever works for you” is the universal moral battlecry. Right alongside the “sexual revolution” of the 1960’s & 70’s came the inevitable “reproductive rights” movement; which is now bathing our nation in a river of blood-which we are forcing on developing nations by tying their acceptance of “reproductive health services” to continued financial aid. There is also the stuff that lives in all our neighborhoods, and is simply frightening: almost all CRIME RATES in the United States have doubled –in some cases tripled- since 1960[3]. Through the 1970’s the United States was the worlds’ biggest lender…now we are the worlds’ biggest debtor; on the threshold of national bankruptcy.
Need we go further? If you can step back and take a long, careful look at our national fiber from the 1950’s until now, it would seem rather obvious that SOMETHING has changed…? GOD showed us the blessings that would be showered on those who love HIM, but HE made it very clear what would happen to a people that followed HIM, but then turned away[5].
SO…IS IT NOW TOO LATE? Absolutely not! Our Father in Heaven is the GOD of Forgiveness and Restoration; and always makes things very simple for us:
“…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]
HE may have turned from us, but HE didn’t go too far…please; just pray…HE is waiting to hear from you...
Footnotes...
[1] There are a wealth of official government records, writings and quotes of statements made by those involved in the birth and early years of English-speaking settlements in North America; far too many to list here. If you wish to discuss this further, please email us at [email protected] [2] "Almighty God, we acknowledge our dependence upon Thee, and we beg Thy blessings upon us, our parents, our teachers and our Country." From Engel v. Vitale
[3] Statistics as reported on http://www.disastercenter.com/crime/uscrime.htm [4] See Matthew 10:14; Mark 6:11 and Luke 9:5 for precedent
[5] Deuteronomy 28:1-14 summarizes HIS blessings, and Deuteronomy 28:15-68 explains the curse of HIS absence.
[6] LAST, but not LEAST: My thanks to the photographer who originally took the photo above. I stumbled upon the image many years ago on the ‘net; but have never known their name. If you read this, I would be blessed if you would contact me.