Blessed is the nation

No one can review the last four hundred years of world history without acknowledging that of all the nations of the earth, the United States has been among the most blessed. Even with our many trials, hardships, setbacks, wars, depressions and failures, we are a nation incomparably blessed, truly the envy of the world.

The Bible says, "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord." [Psalm 33:12] For the formative years of our national history, and really until the last few years, our country has been at least nominally dedicated to the God of Holy Scripture. Our currency declares "In God We Trust." Even the atheists among us gladly carry money around! Our pledge of allegiance to the flag includes the phrase "one nation under God." Unfortunately, public school children can no longer be required to salute their flag in this fashion, since the name of God is mentioned. Our congress continues to begin its daily work with prayer to the Almighty, and various government officials often close their public remarks by saying "God bless you, and God bless America." But that there is a powerful movement against our identification as a Godly or a Christian nation cannot be doubted. When the day comes that we no longer acknowledge the God of heaven, what will happen to our blessings, I wonder?

Our nation was not conceived to be a theocracy in the sense that Israel was in Bible times, a nation ruled exclusively by divine command. But it was certainly originally planned to be a nation of law which had its basis in the law and righteousness of the biblical teachings. To fail to teach and understand the biblical mandates of righteousness is to remove the foundation from much of our own legal and governmental system. It invites lawlessness, immorality, and anarchy.

As we commemorate the beginnings of our nation this week-end, let's remind ourselves once more of our spiritual roots, our need to affirm that we are indeed a nation under God, a nation reverencing the commands of God, a nation -- even in our diversity -- responding to the upward call of God.