Thinking this morning about how America got so far away from the truth and love of God, and wondering why pastors don’t also teach about ‘politics’ (America’s Constitution and government failings) from their pulpits, encouraging men to take positions in government – it came to me that the church came to believe the lie about this part of the First Amendment of our Constitution: “separation of church and state.”
In America’s early days almost all government leaders were born-again Christians, and the few who were not at least believed in biblical principles and God’s commandments, having a good conscience about good and evil.
The American church has always thought it obedient and noble to send their sons to other nations to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and start churches, and it is obedient to do so, but not at the expense of one’s own country falling apart lacking the godly leadership it needs.
When our president’s agenda is, “America First,” This really ticks off people who really don’t see what has happened to America. They consider our president to be arrogant and uncaring because they don’t understand the truth, having believed the lies. I believe President Trump means that before we can be a blessing/help to other nations we must first take care of America; restoring what has been ruined and stolen by others. This is called common sense/wisdom. And let me just say that any nation can be free to prosper as a people, to thrive and enjoy the fruits of their own labor – that trusts in God as the God over them; the One True God that is. “The nations belong to the Lord our God.” No nation belongs to its King or Queen, Prime Minister, or President. Leaders of nations are all accountable to God for how they rule, and will be ultimately judged by God in how they ruled over people.
My husband talks about why so many men don’t like “going to church,” even though they go probably thinking it is what they should do as a Christian. Churches have become more of what women want; not what men need. Pastors can fail to see that the Gospel is more than leading people to the Cross of Jesus for eternal life, because of what He said here:
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20
When Jesus uses the word “nations,” I believe He is also referring to the ‘governments’ of the nations as well as the ‘people’ living in a nation. Governments are made of people with their own beliefs about God and ideas about governing. As we look out into the world of many nations and the kind of condition each nation is in today – I’d have to say that none are conducting themselves ‘rightly/godly’ so that God is pleased to bless and help them prosper so they can benefit others. That really what a nation is for: to be a blessing in the world, instead of a threat or curse.
America’s original governing body was founded on biblical principles for government and God’s Ten Commandments. When men and women failed to worship God with their obedience to Him ‘at home’ with their family, the demise of the Family began. Then God’s men failed to go after and hold seats in government branches (Legislature, Executive and Judicial), the demise of America began. As the family goes – so goes a nation!
The ungodly then started to rule, and Christians started believing the lie that “Christianity has no place in government.” The ungodly twisted Jefferson’s statement about “separation of church and state.” Thomas Jefferson wrote,
“Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between Man & his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, & not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should ‘make no law respecting an establishment of RELIGION, OR PROHIBITING the FREE EXERCISE thereof,’ thus building a wall of separation between Church & State. Adhering to this expression of the supreme will of the nation in behalf of the rights of conscience, I shall see with sincere satisfaction the progress of those sentiments which tend to restore to man all his natural rights, convinced he has no natural right in opposition to his social duties.”
It’s about the government not being allowed to elevate one religion (denomination, cult, etc.) as the nation’s religion to adhere to. So why is our American Constitution/Independence/Bill of Rights rooted in the Bible? Because all “denominations” (or religions according to Jefferson) are God-fearing and biblically rooted. None of the early settlers’ were atheists, nor Satan worshippers, nor of any religion (cult) that denied that Jesus Christ is God’s only Son and that He died on the Cross to save sinners from the wrath of the Creator Father on all evil rebellion towards Him. God led them to this land as they were escaping the king’s religion of Roman Catholicism – and his government dictating rules and regulations for worship.
Jefferson never meant that our government should reject God and the Bible, just not proclaim one denomination (religion) for the whole nation to live under with its rules and regulations for worship. Thus, we have in our Constitution: “Freedom of religion.” Meaning that all ‘peaceful’ religions are free to worship according to their own convictions. Peaceful religions do not threaten the lives of others, as we’ve seen with the worship of Islam, Satanic worship or even the worship of one’s own self (humanism) with the (false) freedom of abortion.
Over time America’s Christians have been slowly pushed out of leadership positions in our government, as Christians became more and more worldly/carnal. We see Christ’s rejection of churches in His letters to the angels of churches. Revelation 2 and 3 where He rebukes 5 out of 7 and warns them to repent or lose what they thought they had with Him. He ends each letter with, “Hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches.” This day calls for wisdom.
The Bible teaches that if a man is unable to rule with godliness over his own home/family – then he is disqualified to rule over the Lord’s church, or a state, or even the nation. So, as we consider the mess America is in right now, let us remember that it is the Lord’s own people who have failed America, because God calls out to His own people living in any nation:
“If My people who are called by My Name (Jesus Christ) will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their own wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.” 2 Chronicles 7:14-15