Psalm 33:12: "Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the
people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance."
Everything good that we have been blessed with in our society here in the U.S.A., comes
directly or indirectly, from God's grace and the Bible's influence. You may think
this a bold statement to make but I am prepared to defend it. One of the things that
I am sure that grieves the heart of God, is the fact that instead of people being grateful
for all the blessings God has bestowed upon mankind, many blame Him and His followers for
the problems in the world.
In our society it seems popular to criticize Christians and blame them for things that
really are not their fault. They are even lumped in the same category with cults and weird
sects. People should realize there are things that are said and done in the name of
Christianity that are not Christian at all. The Bible even warns us of people like
that who actually hurt the cause of Christ. In this article when I speak of Christian
or Christianity, I am referring to the true believer and the true followers
of Christ.
Many people do not realize what the Bible and Christian influence has accomplished for
the betterment of our lives, especially here in the United States. They walk around
enjoying the good life with its abundance here in free America, without understanding they
owe it all to a book they have been taught by many to despise -- the Bible. Even some
countries who have embraced false religions are blessed in aspects of their societies
where they are practicing scriptural principles. The keeping of God's Word always brings
blessing.
It is a well-known fact that our founding fathers in the USA were, for the most part,
godly men who took the Bible's principles to construct our Constitution and the
Declaration of Independence. Any unbiased historian knows that the Bible has had a much
greater influence in the shaping of the foundation of this nation than is being
currently taught in our schools Let us look at some of these influences that we
could lose if we fail to acknowledge God and bring Him back in the national life.
The Bible and Its Effect on the Judicial System of the
United States
The United States has laws on the books that enforce punishment on those who would
assault and rape women, those who would murder, those who would steal and lie. You may be
surprised to know that the source of these laws came directly from the Bible and were
given for the protection of society. Many of them can be found in the Old Testament book
of Deuteronomy.
Other examples of laws taken directly from the Bible are our laws regarding bankruptcy,
laws in our courts that demand witnesses to a crime before one can be convicted, and laws
that demand just weights for commerce. Many of the past laws, like
our child labor laws protected children from being exploited. Even our government
Child Protection Agency was created to keep children from abuse. Although this
agency goes to the extreme at times and shields a rebellious child that is lying, its
original intent was to protect children from parental abuse. Our civil lawswere
established to keep order in our society, and because our founding fathers were
Christians, they created a structure that was based on moral laws taken from the Bible.
Most of the original laws that our judicial system upheld were taken directly from the
Bible. (Many of these down through the years have now been altered or abandoned to our
determent as a nation. In fact, scripture says we would live in such a day. (Daniel
7:25: "And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the
saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into
his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.")
Today, it is being exploited by many lawyers, as well as people who want to
use the legal system for personal gain beyond what would be a fair settlement. They
are seeking outlandish judgments that in the end all the people will pay for.
Through unfair settlements in these kinds of suits, the lawyers are the ones most
rewarded. Protection of the innocent, in many cases, has been overruled while
criminals are not justly dealt with. Quick punishment for the guilty has been
abandoned, as court appeals and delays stretch into costly and lengthy trials that last
for years at the public's expense. We need to return to Biblical principles and once again
shape our laws accordingly, if we desire to see justice in our land. 2 Samuel
23:3, "The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over
men must be just, ruling in the fear of God."
The Bible and Its Effect on Benevolent Practices in Society
Historically, when true Christianity came to any region, those who were
practicing Christ's commands would began to reach out to help the poor, the oppressed, the
sick, and needy. Most of our present day hospitals, charity centers, orphanages and rescue
missions were all founded by Christians in keeping with the Biblical commands of Christ to
demonstrate His love to a needy world. God has always been interested in helping the weak,
the feeble and afflicted. Ungodly societies destroy their weak, helpless and
burdensome members.
We are praying for all nations that practice abortion because this
practice does not show the love of God toward babies. Rather, it is an unloving act
that is adversely affecting all of society. Men and women are hardening their hearts
to the idea of protecting the sanctity of a human life. Regardless of what those who
believe in abortion rights claim, most abortions are not done to protect the mother's life
or some other so-called valid reason, but, rather to allow the mother and father to
escape their responsibility of caring for the little life they had a part in
creating. Most abortions are done out of pure selfishness. The mother and father
simply do not want a child to interfere with their plans. The Bible teaches we are
to overcome selfishness, not encourage it. We need to reverse the law in our land that
allows abortions so freely, as the soul of our nation has accepted a practice that we will
all regret. The consequences of murder is "a life for a life" and this will mean
the loss of much life in our nation unless we repent.
Numbers 35:33: "So ye shall not pollute the land
wherein ye are: for blood it defileth the land: and the land cannot be cleansed of the
blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it."
In regard to abortion, another thing the U.S. is facing, is the fact that
our nation's workforce is hitting middle age. Along with this comes the threat of a
long-term labor shortage. When abortion first became legalized no one foresaw this
problem. Because people are living longer (Our current average life span in the U.S.A. is 76 years according to recent statistics), the senior population will need to be
supported by younger workers in the social security program. Where will these
workers come from? Since we have now murdered over 10,000,000 of our potential new
workers, we are left with an enormous shortage of younger workers. Baby
Boomers are turning 50 at a rate of 11,000 people per day.¹ Their impending
departure from the labor pool is creating a shortage of workers leaving not enough younger
workers to fill their place. Eleven percent fewer Americans were born from 1966 to 1985
than those born in the two decades after World War II. Because of lower birth rates,
coupled with job expansion, employers will have no choice but to fill their payrolls with
those over 60 who are willing to continue to work. If our nation ever needed to reverse a
law that is destroying us it is the law that is allowing abortions.
Other nations like China, who limit their population expansion through
abortion are also running into problems. Because each family is only allowed one
child, many parents are electing to keep their sons while destroying their daughters, so
they will have a male heir. The population in China is now out of balance with more men
than women. Where will Chinese men be able to find a female mate for marriage? This could
create severe problems in the social structure of a nation that could lead to rape,
jealousy, etc. For an in-depth look into abortion click here:What Does the Bible Says About Abortion?
Christianity's Influence in Education
Contrary to popular opinion, Christians are not anti-education. The Bible
instructs us to teach our children. The real issue is not eliminating education, but
rather seeing that the information being taught is accurate and is not against the Word of
God. Most of our well known universities, such as Harvard, Princeton and Yale, were
founded by Christians. In fact, the first 126 colleges and universities in the
U.S.A. were built for the glory of Jesus and the advancement of the gospel.²
Christians took the Bible seriously when the Word of God commanded them to teach and train
their children in the way of the Lord.
Deuteronomy 6:6-7: "And these words, which I command thee
this day, shall be in thine heart:
And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou
sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and
when thou risest up."
How sad it is now that our laws now forbid Christian students to pray
publicly in the classrooms of our schools. Instead, violence stalks
the halls of our education centers and children are murdering in the classrooms.
Each law that eliminates God and His influence from our society, allows evil to fill its
place. Disallowing public prayer in our schools is another law that needs to be
reversed.
How the Bible and Christianity Has Influenced the Family
Unit
The Bible is very supportive of the family unit as God created the first
family. The family unit in America was the strongest when the national life of the
nation upheld laws and principles that protected it. As the judicial system relaxed
divorce laws with no-contest rulings, divorce increased. When our society
became tolerant of the homosexual lifestyle, the family unit took another downward spiral.
(Notice, I said tolerant of the homosexual lifestyle, not the
homosexual. God loves the homosexual and wants to change them and give them a normal
life. However, He hates the sin of homosexuality as it is destroying many lives and
families.) When laws are established that encourage sin, then the fruit of that sin
brings confusion to society. Laws in our nation that are trying to gain acceptance
for gays to marry will further escalate destruction to the family. For more
information on homosexuality click here:What Does the
Bible Say About Homosexuality?
The Lord desires for the family unit to once again thrive with the husband
as the head of the family who loves and nurtures his wife and children. Christian
homes that are in God's order will produce happy and loving families. Many cultures
throughout history made women mere chattels or property of the man. When Jesus came,
He truly liberated women to be restored to their proper place in a marriage. The Biblical
model for marriage is a partnership between a husband and wife, where both parties love
and respect each other. Cultures and societies without the Bible's influence usually
repress and use the women and even the children.
However, our culture has, in many ways, swung in the opposite direction
with many woman dominating and lording it over the man and trying to rule him. Many women
in the United States do not have a submissive attitude toward their husbands, but rather,
want to do their own thing. Many women in our nation have abandoned their husbands
and children for the excitement of the marketplace. Being in this arena has further
divided the home and left a whole generation of children without their mothers or fathers.
It is not always wrong for women to be in the workplace, but generally it is better for
the mother to be at home with the children when they are young. Children no longer are
being mentored by their parents, but by daycare workers, baby sitters, humanistic school
teachers, and the wicked influences of the media that have brainwashed them with the evil
ideas of the day. The Bible is just old-fashioned enough to advise parents to teach and
raise their children. (We realize 50% of homes in America are single parent homes and some
of these never wanted to be in that situation. In those cases, they must make the
best of the situation they are in and pray for the Lord to help them.)
Ephesians 5:21-25: "Submitting yourselves one to
another in the fear of God. 22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto
the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of
the church: and he is the saviour of the body. 24 Therefore as the church is subject unto
Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. 25 Husbands, love your
wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it."
Our homes are being battered from many different sources. Pornography is another area
where our laws need tightening and enforcing. Our nation also has laws on the books
against this evil. However, we have allowed evil to prevail in the name of freedom.
Without a Christian influence against this kind of evil, more women and children will be
exploited, and lust will destroy the intimacy of our marriages. Keeping the
commandments of the Bible is all that stands between us and this flood of evil. Those who
produce pornography for greed and those who want their lustful and sinful desires
satisfied are responsible for this evil remaining in our nation. Click here
for more information onWhat Does the Bible Says About
Pornography?
It is only the "salt and light" of Christianity that keeps us
from total destruction. Again, Christianity's effect on the family unit is demonstrated as
people follow the Lord's plan for a happy marriage with the husband loving and caring for
his wife as the Lord cares for His bride, the church.
The Bible's Influence in the Market Place
If you have a day off during the week you can attribute it to the
influence of Christianity. The Bible lists as one of the Ten Commandments, the
keeping of the Sabbath rest.
Exodus 20:8-11: "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9
Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: 10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of
the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter,
thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy
gates: 11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them
is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed
it."
Nations that do not allow their people a day off during the week for rest, end up
working their people and their animals to death. They have shorter life spans in
nations who do not observe the Sabbath rest.
Other influences of Christianity and the Word of God in the market place
are the establishment of just and fair wages, the negotiating of honest deals and
production of quality products. For a detailed look at how a Christian business should be
run you can go to this link: What
Does the Bible Say About Business?
Christianity's Influence on Animal Rights and Ecology
The Bible gives us guidelines in the handling of the earth's resources and
Christians are taught in the Word of God to manage them properly. The scriptures are
not silent in regard to these things. Proverbs 12:10 says, "A
righteous man regardeth the life of his beast; but the tender mercies of the wicked are
cruel."
We can also see from the scripture's below that the Bible teaches ecology
by allowing the mother bird to go if you eat the eggs she has lain.
Deuteronomy 22:6-7: "If a bird's nest chance to be before
thee in the way in any tree, or on the ground, whether they be young ones, or eggs, and
the dam sitting upon the young, or upon the eggs, thou shalt not take the dam with the
young: 7 But thou shalt in any wise let the dam go, and take the young to thee; that it
may be well with thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days."
Caring hearts will take care of the animals and the land. The Bible
even instructed man to allow the land that crops were raised on to rest every seventh
year. Our crops are suffering from depleted vitality because we do not heed this
admonition today. Farmers should rotate their crops so that every portion of their
land could rest every seven years. Exodus 23:10-11: "And six years thou shalt
sow thy land, and shalt gather in the fruits thereof: 11 But the seventh year thou shalt
let it rest and lie still; ... In like manner thou shalt deal with thy vineyard, and with
thy oliveyard."
The Bible's Influence in the Culture and Traditions of
Society
When the Bible's influence is strong in a society, it will affect all
aspects of that culture in a positive way. The opposite is also true -- when a
society turns its back on God, it will begin to reflect evil in its cultural choices. We
see this today as we watch our young and old people embrace things that are totally
unbiblical. How we dress, what we eat, what music we listen to, and what we choose
for entertainment, are all reflections of how strongly or weakly we embrace the Word of
God. Rebellious, anti-Christ music has become firmly established in our society
today in spite of the dangerous influence it has had on our young people. This music has
encouraged lust, sex, suicide, rebellion against authority, etc. Even physically, it has
damaged the hearing of a whole generation of young people who listen to loud music and
live bands constantly. There are those who are deaf or going deaf from this
exposure.
Many of our young people today don't realize how unbecoming, and in some
cases even vulgar, the latest clothing trends and fads appear on them. They look strange
with their body piercings, tattoos, and extreme oversized baggy clothes that show their
underwear. Others wear extremely tight shorts and other revealing clothes with nude
portions of their bodies showing. Our culture has stamped its approval because so many
young people have embraced these things. Older people have embraced many of the same
things. They think it is the trendy thing to do. However, Praise God, we do
have a remnant of young people who are seeking to be like Jesus as their motto is
"What would Jesus Do?" What would He do? I personally can't picture
Jesus with nose rings, tattoos, underwear showing, and His hair dyed purple. Praise God
for the young people who are taking a stand against the ungodly trends of our
society. We are regressing in our culture when we watch our youth defile their
bodies and express themselves in ways that are unbecoming as Christians.
We could address many more cultural trends and traditions that do not
glorify God or are against the Word of God. However, at this time, we will address only
one more; the tradition of Halloween. (Click here for more information on What The Bible Says About
Halloween.) The
celebration of this holiday has its roots in witchcraft. Although this holiday is an
Satanic celebration, the influence of Christianity in our nation has established the
celebration of some true "holy-days." Christmas, Thanksgiving and Easter
are all Christian celebrations that we enjoy even if some people celebrate them in the
wrong way.
Keeping God's Laws in the Earth Brings Blessings to Mankind
People that come against true Christianity don't realize they are coming
against the very influences that make life pleasant in this earth. (Please note that
everyone who claims to be a Christian may not truly be one, as many come in Christ's name
but are not keeping His commandments.) The laws and commandments that God
gives us to live by are given to us so that we might live a good life in this earth.
The keeping of these laws do not get us to heaven; only faith and a relationship
with Jesus Christ will do that. However, the keeping of God's laws brings harmony to
the earth. If we are a true Christian we will be striving to keep the rules of the
Bible to please God. All men want to be free, but many mistakenly think that keeping
God's laws will bring them into bondage, when the exact opposite is true. The Bible
says in John 8:31-32, "Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on
him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the
truth, and the truth shall make you free."
The Bible teaches responsibility. Laws establish people's rights. However,
many of our laws are now being changed to establish individual rights, while infringing
upon the rights of the whole. We must pray for this to cease or we will all soon lose our
true freedoms. We must also stand against the sin of tolerating every evil in
the name of allowing that person the freedom to do things that do not agree with God's
Word. Freedom has its responsibilities and guidelines. Those are defined by the Bible.
We must get back to the one standard of God's Word and the worship of the one true
God named in that Word. It is only by keeping God's laws that we as people in all
societies will be truly free and enjoy the blessings of God in the earth.
Psalm 67:1: "God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause
his face to shine upon us; Selah.
2 That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations.
3 Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee.
4 O let the nations be glad and sing for joy: for thou shalt judge the people righteously,
and govern the nations upon earth. Selah.
5 Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee.
6 Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us.
7 God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear him."
__
End Notes:
¹Orange County Register, Arizona Republic Newspaper Article
(March 3, 1999)
² The Bible and Civilization, D. James Kennedy, Ph.D., Coral Ridge
Ministries, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
In prayer, we encourage you to declare these over the your states and
the states of this union.
ALABAMA 1901: We, the people of the State of Alabama, in order to
establish justice, insure domestic tranquility and secure the blessings of liberty
to ourselves and our posterity, invoking the favor and guidance of Almighty God, do
ordain and establish the following Constitution and form of government for the State of
Alabama. ARIZONA 1912: We, the people of the State of Arizona, grateful to
Almighty God for our liberties, do ordain this Constitution. ARKANSAS 1874 :
We, the people of the State of Arkansas, grateful to Almighty God for the privilege
of choosing our own forms of government, for our civil and religious liberty, and desiring
to perpetuate its blessings and secure the same to ourselves and posterity, do ordain and
establish this Constitution. CALIFORNIA 1879: We, the people of the State of
California, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, in order to secure and
perpetuate its blessings, do establish this Constitution. COLORADO 1876: We, the
people of Colorado, with profound reverence for the Supreme Ruler of the Universe,
in order to form a more independent and perfect government; establish justice; insure
tranquility; provide for the common defense; promote the general welfare and secure the
blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity; do ordain and establish this
Constitution for the "State of Colorado." CONNECTICUT 1818: The people of
Connecticut acknowledging with gratitude, the good providence of God, in
having permitted them to enjoy a free government, do, in order more effectual to define,
secure, and perpetuate the liberties, rights and privileges which they have derived from
their ancestors, hereby, after a careful consideration and revision, ordain and establish
the following Constitution and form of civil government. DELAWARE 1897: Through
Divine goodness, all men have by nature the rights of worshiping and serving their
Creator according to the dictates of their consciences, of enjoying and defending life
and liberty, of acquiring and protecting reputation and property, and in general of
obtaining objects suitable to their condition, without injury by one to another; and as
these rights are essential to their welfare, for the due exercise thereof, power is
inherent in them; and therefore all just authority in the institutions of political
society is derived from the people, and established with their consent, to advance their
happiness; and they may for this end, as circumstances require, from time to time after
their Constitution of governments. FLORIDA 1887: We, the people of the State of
Florida, grateful to Almighty God for our constitutional liberty, in order to
secure its blessings and to form a more perfect government, insuring domestic tranquility,
maintaining public order, and guaranteeing equal civil and political rights to all, do
ordain and establish this Constitution. GEORGIA 1887: To perpetuate the principles
of free government, insure justice to all, preserve peace, promote the interest and
happiness of the citizen, and transmit to posterity the enjoyment of liberty, we, the
people of Georgia, relying upon the protection and guidance of Almighty God, do
ordain and establish this Constitution. IDAHO 1890: We, the people of the State of
Idaho, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, to secure its blessings and
promote our common welfare, do establish this Constitution. ILLINOIS 1870: We, the
people of the State of Illinois, grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political
and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy, and looking to Him for
a blessing upon our endeavors to secure and transmit the same unimpaired to succeeding
generations in order to form a more perfect government, establish justice, insure domestic
tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the
blessing of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this
Constitution for the State of Illinois. INDIANA 1851: To the end that justice be
established, public order maintained, and liberty perpetuated: We, the people of the State
of Indiana, grateful to Almighty God for the free exercise of the right to choose
our own form of government, do ordain this Constitution. IOWA 1857: We, the people
of the State of Iowa, grateful to the Supreme Being for the blessings hitherto
enjoyed, and feeling our dependence on Him for a continuation of those blessings, do
ordain and establish a free and independent government, by the name of the State of Iowa,
the boundaries whereof shall be as follows: KANSAS 1863: We, the people of Kansas, grateful
to Almighty God for our civil and religious privileges, in order to insure the full
enjoyment of our rights as American citizens, do ordain and establish this Constitution of
the State of Kansas, with the following boundaries, to wit: KENTUCKY 1891: We, the
people of the Commonwealth of Kentucky,grateful to Almighty God for the
civil, political and religious liberties we enjoy, and invoking the continuance of these
blessings, do ordain and establish this Constitution. LOUISIANA 1974: We, the
people of Louisiana, grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political, economic,
and religious liberties we enjoy, and desiring to protect individual rights to life,
liberty, and property; afford opportunity for the fullest development of the individual;
assure equality of rights; promote the health, safety, education, and welfare of the
people; maintain a representative and orderly government; ensure domestic tranquility;
provide for the common defense; and secure the blessings of freedom and justice to
ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this constitution. MAINE 1820 and
1876: We, the people of Maine, in order to establish justice, insure tranquility,
provide for our mutual defense, promote our common welfare, and secure to ourselves and
our posterity the blessings of liberty, acknowledging with grateful hearts the goodness
of the Sovereign Ruler of the Universe in affording us an opportunity, so favorable to
the design; and imploring His aid and direction in its accomplishment, do agree to form
ourselves into a free and independent State, by the style and title of the State of Maine,
and do ordain and establish the following Constitution for the government of the same. MARYLAND
1867: We, the people of Maryland, grateful to Almighty God for our civil and
religious liberty, and taking into our serious consideration best means of establishing a
good Constitution in this State for the sure foundation and more permanent security
thereof, declare: MASSACHUSETTS 1790: We, therefore, the people of Massachusetts,
acknowledging, with grateful hearts, the goodness of the great Legislator of the
universe, in affording us, in the course of His providence, an opportunity,
deliberately and peaceably, without fraud, violence, or surprise, of entering into an
original, explicit and solemn compact with each other; and for forming a new Constitution
of civil government, for ourselves and posterity; and devoutly imploring His direction
in so interesting a design, do agree upon, ordain, and establish the following Declaration
of Rights, and Frame of Government, as the Constitution of the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts. MICHIGAN 1909: We, the people of the State of Michigan, grateful
to Almighty God for the blessings of freedom, and earnestly desiring to secure these
blessings undiminished to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this
Constitution. MINNESOTA 1857: We, the people of the State of Minnesota, grateful
to God for our civil and religious liberty and desiring to perpetuate its blessings
and secure the same to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this
Constitution. MISSISSIPPI 1890: We, the people of Mississippi in convention
assembled, grateful to Almighty God, and invoking his blessing on our work, do
ordain and establish this Constitution. Missouri 1945: We, the people of Missouri,
with profound reverence for the Supreme Ruler of the Universe, and grateful for His
goodness, do establish this Constitution for the better government of the State. MONTANA
1889: We, the people of Montana, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of
liberty, in order to secure the advantages of a State government, do in accordance
with the provisions of the enabling act of Congress, approve the twenty second of February
AD 1889, ordain and establish this Constitution. NEBRASKA 1875: We, the people, grateful
to Almighty God for our freedom, do ordain and establish the following declaration of
rights and frame of government, as the Constitution of the State of Nebraska. NEVADA
1864: We, the people of the State of Nevada, grateful to Almighty God for our
freedom, in order to secure its blessings, insure domestic tranquility, and form a more
perfect government, do establish this Constitution. NEW HAMPSHIRE 1784: Every
individual has a natural and unalienable right to worship God according to the
dictates of his own conscience, and reason, morality and piety, rightly grounded on
evangelical principles, will give the best and greatest security to government, and will
lay, in the hearts of men, the strongest obligations to due subjection; and the knowledge
of these is most likely to be propagated through society by the institutions of the public
worship of the Deity. NEW JERSEY 1947: We, the people of the State of New Jersey, grateful
to Almighty God for the civil and religious liberty which He hat so long permitted us
to enjoy, and looking to Him for a blessing upon our endeavors to secure and transmit the
same unimpaired to succeeding generations, do ordain and establish this Constitution. NEW
MEXICO 1912: We, the people of New Mexico,grateful to Almighty God for
the blessings of liberty, in order to secure the advantages of a State government, do
ordain and establish this Constitution. NEW YORK 1895: We, the people of the State
of New York, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, in order to secure its
blessings, do establish this Constitution. NORTH CAROLINA 1876: We, the people of
the State of North Carolina, grateful to Almighty God, the Sovereign Ruler of
Nations, for the preservation of the American Union and the existence of our civil,
political and religious liberties, and acknowledging our dependence upon Him for the
continuance of these blessings to us and our posterity, do, for the more certain security
thereof and for the better government of this State, ordain and establish this
Constitution. NORTH DAKOTA 1889: We, the people of North Dakota, grateful to
Almighty God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, do ordain and establish
this Constitution. OHIO 1851: We, the people of the State of Ohio, grateful to
Almighty God for our freedom, to secure its blessings and promote our common welfare,
do establish this Constitution. OKLAHOMA 1907: Invoking the guidance of Almighty
God, in order to secure and perpetuate the blessings of liberty; to secure just and
rightful government; to promote our mutual welfare and happiness, we the people of the
State of Oklahoma, do ordain and establish this Constitution. OREGON 1859: We, the
people of the State of Oregon, to the end that justice be established, order maintained,
and liberty perpetuated, do ordain this Constitution. PENNSYLVANIA 1874: W, the
people of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, grateful to Almighty God for the
blessings of civil and religious liberty, and humbly invoking His guidance, do ordain and
establish this Constitution. RHODE ISLAND 1843: We, the people of the State of
Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, grateful to Almighty God for the civil and
religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy, and looking to Him for a
blessing upon our endeavors to secure and to transmit the same unimpaired to succeeding
generations do ordain and establish this Constitution of Governments. SOUTH CAROLINA
1895: We, the people of the State of South Carolina, in convention assembled, grateful
to God for our liberties, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the
preservation and perpetuation of the same. SOUTH DAKOTA 1889: We, the people of
South Dakota, grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious liberties, in
order to form a more perfect and independent government, establish justice, insure
tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare and preserve to
ourselves and to our posterity the blessings of liberty, do ordain and establish this
Constitution for the State of South Dakota. TENNESSEE 1870: That all men have a
natural and indefeasible right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of
their own conscience; that no man can of right, be compelled to attend, erect, or support
any TEXAS 1876: Humbly invoking the blessings of Almighty God, the people of
the State of Texas, do ordain and establish this Constitution. UTAH 1895: Grateful
to Almighty God for life and liberty, we the people of Utah, in order to secure and
perpetuate the principles of free government, do ordain and establish this Constitution. VERMONT
1793: That all men have a natural and unalienable right, to worship Almighty God,
according to the dictates of their own consciences and understandings as in their opinion
shall be regulated by the word of God: and that no man ought to or of right can be
compelled to attend any religious worship, or erect or support any place of worship, or
maintain any minister, contrary to the dictates of his conscience, nor can any man be
justly deprived or abridged of any civil right as a citizen, on account of his religious
sentiments, or peculiar mode of religious worship; and that no authority can or ought to
be vested in, or assumed by, any power whatever, that shall in any case interfere with, or
in any manner control the rights of conscience, in the free exercise of religious worship.
Nevertheless, every sect or denomination of Christians ought to observe the Sabbath or
Lord’s day, and keep up some sort of religious worship, which to them shall seem most
agreeable to the revealed will of God.VIRGINIA 1902: That religion
or the duty which we owe to our Creator, and the manner of discharging it, can be
directed only by reason and conviction, not by force or violence; and, therefore, all men
are equally entitled to the free exercise of religion, according to the dictates of
conscience; and that it is the mutual duty of all to practice Christian forbearance,
love and charity towards each other. WASHINGTON 1889 We, the people of the State of
Washington, grateful to the Supreme Ruler of the Universe for our liberties, do
ordain this Constitution. WEST VIRGINIA ( ): Since through Divine Providence we
enjoy the blessings of civil, political and religious liberty, we, the people of west
Virginia, in and through the provisions of this Constitution, reaffirm our faith in and
constant reliance upon God and seek diligently to promote, preserve and perpetuate
good government in the State of West Virginia for the common welfare, freedom and security
of ourselves and our posterity. WISCONSIN 1848: We, the people of Wisconsin, grateful
to Almighty God for our freedom, in order to secure its blessings, forms a more
perfect government, insure domestic tranquility and promote the general welfare, do
establish this Constitution. WYOMING 1889: We, the people of the State of Wyoming, grateful
to God for our civil, political and religious liberties, and desiring to secure them
to ourselves and perpetuate them to our posterity, do ordain and establish this
Constitution.
This preamble does not include Alaska or Hawaii.
[Editor’s note: This preamble was proposed by
House Joint Resolution No. 8, Acts, Regular Session,
1959 p 659: submitted by Acts, Regular Session, 1960, c.
4: and ratified November 8, 1950.]
America needs Christ–the rule of Christ, the truth of Christ, the
spirit of Christ, the gospel of Christ, and the men and women of Christ. It is well known
that America is the great cosmopolitan nation of the world; it is a fusion of
nationalities. Hence the eyes of all nations are upon it; hence all the nations claim
kinship with it.
The work of America . . . is different. Instead of sending out her
colonies to distant lands, and bringing other peoples under her sway by conquest, she has
opened her vast territory to be colonized. She has invited all nations to meet and mingle
here and make one composite family, forming a world’s republic, and illustrating the
world’s humanity. On her own soil, she gathers the children of the nations, and
in her homes and churches and schools she trains them to be teachers of the world. This is
an opportunity such as is given to no other nation on the face of the earth.
These polyglot populations are thrown upon her to be fused into one
nationality by one culture, one faith and one liberty. The responsibility laid upon
her, therefore, is a double one; first and supremely, to keep the fountains of her own
intelligence and virtue and religion pure for the sake of the native-born in the land;
and, second, to ply with all the forces of Christian learning and religion the thousands
of unevangelized who have come to her shores, that they may send back to their old homes,
in the form of letters and newspapers and earnest appeals, the blessed gospel of the Son
of God to work as a regenerating and converting power in the different fatherlands across
the sea.
All this being true, it is the veriest truism to say that America taken
for Christ means the nations of the world taken for Christ; America a Christian nation
means a mighty witness for God among all lands of the earth. My fellow men, our country is
the battleground on which the conflicts of the ages are to be fought and decided. It is
the valley of decision, filled with multitudes and multitudes. Every instinct of our being
ought to say, "Let that nation be saved, and saved at once, which carries the
world’s largest hopes and the world’s final destinies."
In the Christianizing of our nation the Republic has its life at stake,
society its order, labor its reward, home its happiness, and the world its future.
As patriotic Christian citizens there is only one cry in our souls, and that is,
"America for Christ! Christ for America!"
The above is taken from a series of lectures, Makers of the
American Republic, delivered by Dr. David Gregg and published in written form by E. B.
Treat, New York, in 1896. It is contained in Teaching and Learning America’s
Christian History, compiled by Rosalie J. Slater (c) 1965, published by the Foundation for
American Christian Education, third printing, July 4, 1973.
