Sermon Notes, July 3, 2016 AM
AMERICA’S
CHRISTIAN HERITAGE
Steve
W. Reeves
INTRODUCTION:
A. John
Winthrop was the first governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony and a leader
of the Puritans who came to New England
four hundred years ago. In 1630 aboard
the ship Arbella, Winthrop preached a
sermon to the future colonists in which he
expressed his desire that their settlement
be, "as a city upon a hill", watched by the
world. Winthrop’s challenge was based on
the words of Jesus in Matthew 5:14 when
he said, “You are the light of the world. A
city set on a hill cannot be hidden.”
Winthrop then went on to say if the
Puritans failed to do this they would be made, “a
story and a by-word” in history.
1. We are witnessing the re-writing of
American history in which historical accounts
like this are being eliminated from our
national conscience.
2. In the past sixty years there has been a
gradual dismantling of the religious
structures in American life. We have
seen monuments depicting the ten
commandments removed from courthouses.
We have had prayer removed from
public assemblies. We have had the words
“One nation under God” threatened by
Federal judges and the phrase, “In God
we trust” removed from our currency.
3. Secular historians would have us believe
that those who founded this country did
not possess any spiritual principles and
that faith in God played no role in the
shaping of our nation. The tragedy is
that they are succeeding. We have become a
nation like Israel in Judges 2:10 when,
after the death of Joshua, “there arose
another generation after them who did
not know the Lord, nor yet the work which
He had done for Israel.”
B.
Tomorrow, July 4, 2016 we will observe the 240th anniversary of the
signing of the
Declaration of Independence. That precious document
made the bold assertion, “We
hold these truths to be self-evident: that
all men are created equal; that they are
endowed by their Creator with certain
unalienable rights; that among these are life,
liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
That document goes on to speak of “Nature’s
God,” “Divine Providence,” and “the Supreme
Judge of the world.”
1. What is the real story of America’s
spiritual heritage?
2. Did the constitution establish a wall of
separation between church and state?
3. The First Amendment of the United States
constitution reads as follows: “Congress
shall make no law respecting an
establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free
exercise thereof; or abridging the
freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of
the people peaceably to assemble, and to
petition the government for a redress of
grievances.”
4. The phrase, “Separation of church and
state,” is not in the constitution. It was
used in a letter written by Thomas
Jefferson to the Danbury Baptist Association as
assurance that the government would not
infringe on their free expression of faith.”
5. The late Chief Justice of the Supreme
Court, William Rehnquist (in Wallace vs.
Jaffree), labeled the phrase “a
misleading metaphor,” insisting that it ought to be
“frankly and explicitly abandoned.”
C. I
would not seek to persuade anyone to believe that each founder of our nation was
a
devout Christian. However, an examination
of the evidence will show that throughout
our history until recent times God, the
Bible and the Christian faith have played an
important role in our national conscience.
I. OUR NATIONAL HERITAGE
A. Our first president, George Washington,
took the oath of office by placing his hand
upon the Bible. After being sworn in he
bowed and kissed the Bible. As the first
act of his presidency participated in a
worship service that lasted two hours.
B. Early in our nation’s history it was
determined that sessions of congress would be
opened with prayer led by a chaplain who
would be supported by tax dollars.
C. In 1777 the Continental Congress voted to
spend $300,000 to buy Bibles for
distribution throughout the nation.
D. 94% of the writings of the founding
Fathers contain Biblical references. The state
constitutions of all fifty states
contain references to God.
E. Consider our National Monuments:
1. The Liberty Bell is inscribed with
the words of Leviticus 25:10 – “Proclaim liberty
throughout the land unto all the
inhabitants thereof.”
2. In the U.S. Capital in the House
chambers there is a carving of Moses on the
wall directly across the chamber
from the Speaker of the House.
3. When the President takes the oath of
office he completes it with these words,
“So help me God.”
4. The Supreme Court begins each session
with the proclamation, “God save the
United States and this honorable
court.”
5. Speaking of the Supreme Court – who
is pictured in sculpture engraved in the
very center of the Supreme Court
building above the entrance? Moses – with the
books of law. When you enter the courtroom the Ten
Commandments are
engraved on the huge Oak Doors that
lead into the room.
6. As you visit the monuments (at least
the older ones) you will find references to
scripture. Our ancestors did not
intend to leave God out of our national life.
II. ADMONITIONS FROM WELL-KNOWN AMERICANS
A. At the Constitutional Convention in 1787
Benjamin Franklin said, “God governs in
the affairs of men and if a sparrow cannot
fall to the ground without his notice is it
probable that an empire can rise without
his aid?”
B. George Washington: “It is impossible to
rightly govern the world without God and
the Bible. Of all dispositions and
habits that lead to political prosperity our religion
and morality are indispensable
supporters.”
C. In 1781 Thomas Jefferson wrote, “I
tremble for my country when I reflect that God
is just and His justice cannot sleep
forever.”
D. Our sixth president John Quincy Adams:
“No book in the world deserves to be so
unceasingly studied and so profoundly
meditated upon as the Bible.”
E. Abraham Lincoln’s comments with regard
to God and faith could fill an entire book.
1. “In regards to this great Book [the
Bible], I have but to say it is the best gift God
has given to man. All the good the
Savior gave to the world was communicated
through this Book. But for it we
could not know right from wrong. All things most
desirable for man’s welfare, here
and hereafter, are found portrayed in it.”
2. On the brink of the Civil War: “We
have been the recipients of the choices
bounties of heaven. But 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 of these blessings were
produced by some superior wisdom and
virtue of our own. Intoxicated with our
own 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. It
behooves us then to humble ourselves
before the offended power, to confess our
national sins and pray for
forgiveness.”
F.
Theodore Roosevelt, wrote in 1917, “A churchless community or a community
where men have abandoned and scoffed at
or ignored their religious needs is a
community that is in rapid decline.”
G. Calvin Coolidge, our 30th president said
concerning the Founding Fathers, “they
were determined to establish a Christian
commonwealth in accordance with the
principles of self-government. Who can
deny that our nation has been guided by
Divine Providence.”
H. Franklin Roosevelt, our longest serving
president led the nation in prayer over the
radio on June 6, 1944 as troops stormed
the beaches of Normandy. “Almighty God,
with thy blessings we shall prevail over
the unholy forces of our enemy. Help us to
conquer the apostles of greed and social
arrogance and lead us to the saving of
our country. Thy will be done Almighty
God.” Every American solder was given a
Bible with a message from the president
that read, “As Commander-in-Chief I take
pleasure in commending the reading of
the Bible to all who serve in the armed
forces of the United States. Throughout
the centuries men of many faiths and
diverse origins have found in the Sacred
Book words of wisdom, counsel and
inspiration. It is a fountain of
strength and now, as always, an aid in attaining the
highest aspirations of the human soul. Very
sincerely yours, Franklin D. Roosevelt.
I. Harry Truman: “If men and nations would
but live by the teaching of the sermon on
the Mount, problems which seem so
difficult would soon disappear.”
J. In 1954 President Dwight D. Eisenhower
urged congress to add two words to the
Pledge of Allegiance. The words were,
“under God.” Eisenhower said,, “In this way
we are reaffirming the transcendence of
religious faith in America’s heritage and
future; in this way we shall constantly
strengthen those spiritual weapons which
forever will be our country’s most powerful
resource in peace and war.”
K. Ronald Reagan: “If we ever forget that
we are “One Nation Under God” we will be
one nation gone under.”
III. WHAT CAN WE DO?
A. Pray
1. 1 Tim. 2:1-4 – “First of all, then, I
urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and
thanksgivings, be made on behalf of
all men, 2 for kings and all who are in
authority, so that we may lead a
tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.
3 This is good and
acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all
men to be saved and to come to the
knowledge of the truth.”
a. We need to pray that our leaders
might seek God’s wisdom.
b. We need to ask God to forgive
our nation’s sins. 2 Chron. 7:14 – “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 I will hear from
heaven, and will forgive their
sin and heal their land.”
B. Participate
1.
Each of us has a right to participate in our government. We have a right to
vote,
a right to run for office, a right
to attend meetings and voice our opinions.
2. Do you realize how many times in our
nation’s history one vote has made a
difference?
a. 1845 one vote admitted Texas to
the union.
b. 1868 one vote saved Andrew
Johnson from impeachment.
c. 1878 – Rutherford B. Hays became
president by one vote over Samuel Tildon.
d. 1960 – John Kennedy defeated
Richard Nixon by less than one vote per
precinct.
e. You CAN make a difference!
C. Proclaim.
1. The secularists are doing everything
in their power to erase any mention of God
or the Christian faith from our nation’s
heritage. Public school textbooks contain
little, if any, of the information I
have given you today.
2. If we do not teach our children and
grandchildren about out nation’s Christian
heritage it will be lost to any
succeeding generations.
CONCLUSION:
A. Proverbs 13:34 says, “Righteousness exalts
a nation but sin is a reproach to any
people.”
B. Righteousness
must begin somewhere – why not with us? Why not now? If you want
a better country build a better community.
If you want a better community build a
better family. If you want a better family
build a better you.
C. If
we may assist you in coming to Christ we invite you today.
