MEMORIAL DAY 2018
Our Nation Was Founded On The Precepts And Principles Of God's Word
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Some people say that America is not a Christian nation. We are certainly a
nation of Christians - and have been since the days of our founding fathers.
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Psalm 33:12, "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he
chose for his inheritance."
Genesis 12:3, "I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you."
- The description of America as "A Christian Nation" makes sense if you're talking about American history.
- The original American colonies were also overwhelmingly Christian. In fact, most started as Christian charters.
The First Charter of Virginia (granted by King James I, April 10, 1606)... "We, greatly commending, and graciously accepting of, their Desires for the Furtherance of so noble a Work, which may, by the Providence of Almighty God, hereafter tend to the Glory of his Divine Majesty, in propagating of Christian Religion to such People, as yet live in Darkness and miserable Ignorance of the true Knowledge and Worship of God..."
William Bradford...Wrote that they [the Pilgrims] were seeking:
(1) "A better, and easier place of living"; and that "the children of the group were being drawn away by evil examples into extravagance and dangerous courses [in Holland]"
(2) "The great hope, and for the propagating and advancing the gospel of the kingdom of Christ in those remote parts of the world."
The Mayflower Compact, 1620... "Having undertaken, for the glory of God, and advancement of the Christian faith, and honor of our King and Country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia, do by these presents solemnly and mutually, in the presence of God, and one of another, covenant and combine our selves together..."
John Adams, SIGNER OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE; SECOND PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES... "The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were the general principles of Christianity. I will avow that I then believed, and now believe, that those general principles of Christianity are as eternal and immutable as the existence and attributes of God."
- "I have examined all religions, and the result is that the Bible is the best book in the world."
- "The hope of a Christian is inseparable from his faith. Whoever believes in the Divine inspiration of the Holy Scriptures must hope that the religion of Jesus shall prevail throughout the earth."
- "The name of the Lord (says the Scripture) is a strong tower; thither the righteous flee and are safe [Proverbs 18:10]. Let us secure His favor and He will lead us through the journey of this life and at length receive us to a better hereafter."
Congress, U.S. House Judiciary Committee, 1854... "Had the people, during the Revolution, had a suspicion of any attempt to war against Christianity, that Revolution would have been strangled in its cradle... In this age, there can be no substitute for Christianity... That was the religion of the founders of the republic and they expected it to remain the religion of their descendants."
Benjamin Franklin, SIGNER OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE; SIGNER OF THE CONSTITUTION.
- "As to Jesus of Nazareth, my opinion of whom you particularly desire, I think the system of morals and His religion as He left them to us, the best the world ever saw or is likely to see."
"I call on the entire state to pray that universal happiness may be established in the world [and] that all may bow to the scepter of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the whole earth be filled with His glory."
Patrick Henry, REVOLUTIONARY GENERAL; LEGISLATOR; "THE VOICE OF LIBERTY"; RATIFIER OF THE U. S. CONSTITUTION...
"Being a Christian... is a character which I prize far above all this world has or can boast. The Bible... is a book worth more than all the other books that were ever printed."
- "This is all the inheritance I can give to my dear family. The religion of Christ can give them one which will make them rich indeed."
"The doctrines of Jesus are simple, and tend all to the happiness of man."
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"I am a Christian in the only sense in which He wished anyone to be: sincerely
attached to His doctrines in preference to all others."
- "I am a real Christian - that is to say, a disciple of the doctrines of Jesus Christ."
"May I always hear that you are following the guidance of that blessed Spirit that will lead you into all truth, leaning on that Almighty arm that has been extended to deliver you, trusting only in the only Savior, and going on in your way to Him rejoicing."
Benjamin Rush, SIGNER OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE; "FATHER OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS UNDER THE CONSTITUTION"...
"The Gospel of Jesus Christ prescribes the wisest rules for just conduct in every situation of life."
- "The Bible contains more knowledge necessary to man in his present state than any other book in the world."
- "The Bible... should be read in our schools in preference to all other books because it contains the greatest portion of that kind of knowledge which is calculated to produce private and public happiness.
George Washington, PRESIDENT OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION; FIRST PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES; "FATHER OF HIS COUNTRY"
- "You do well to wish to learn our arts and ways of life, and above all, the religion of Jesus Christ. These will make you a greater and happier people than you are."
- "While we are zealously performing the duties of good citizens and soldiers, we certainly ought not to be inattentive to the higher duties of religion. To the distinguished character of Patriot, it should be our highest glory to add the more distinguished character of Christian."
Abraham Lincoln, Upon proclaiming a National Fast Day (30 March 1863).
- "We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of Heaven. We have been preserved, these many years, in peace and prosperity. We have grown in numbers, wealth and power, as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace, and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us; and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us!"
- After an important decision concerning the country's future, a counselor to the President, Abraham Lincoln, said... "Mr. President, I hope that God is on our side." Mr. Lincoln calmly replied, "What I am worried about is, not if God is on our side, but if we are on God's side."
- Abraham Lincoln said, "I have often been driven to my knees in prayer because I had nowhere else to go."
Once upon a time when our politicians did not tend to apologize for our country's prior actions, here's a refresher course on how some of our former patriots handled negative comments about our great country.
- JFK'S Secretary of State, Dean Rusk, was in France in the early 60's when DeGaulle decided to pull out of NATO. DeGaulle said he wanted all US military out of France as soon as possible. Rusk responded, "Does that include those who are buried here?" DeGaulle did not respond.
- When in England , at a fairly large conference, Colin Powell was asked by the Archbishop of Canterbury if our plans for Iraq were just an example of 'empire building' by George Bush. He answered by saying, "Over the years, the United States has sent many of its fine young men and women into great peril to fight for freedom beyond our borders. The only amount of land we have ever asked for in return is enough to bury those that did not return."
- A U.S. Navy Admiral was attending a naval conference that included Admirals from the U.S., English, Canadian, Australian and French Navies. At a cocktail reception, he found himself standing with a large group of officers that included personnel from most of those countries. Everyone was chatting away in English as they sipped their drinks, but a French admiral suddenly complained that, whereas Europeans learn many languages, Americans learn only English. He then asked, "Why is it that we always have to speak English in these conferences rather than speaking French?" Without hesitating, the American Admiral replied, "Maybe it's because the Brit's, Canadians, Aussie's and Americans arranged it so you wouldn't have to speak German."
I am proud to be an American
It's the Military, not the politicians, that ensures our right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
It's the Military who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag.
Over the graves of George and Martha Washington is this Scripture: "I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die." John 11:25-26.
Actually, the verse is not complete...the actual verse states, "And Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die." Do you believe this?"
Jesus was not only asking Martha (Lazarus's sister) if she believed this, He was asking the whole world this question... "Do you believe that there is an afterlife in which all who believe that Jesus was the resurrection and the life will live even though he or she dies...and, once in heaven, we will never die?"
Jesus was asking the key question for every man, woman, boy and girl...
Do you believe I can resurrect the dead? Trust Me!
