Are we a nation under God? The question is not whether we were founded as such a nation, but whether we wish to continue as one.
Our nation’s form of government is not a theocracy, but a Constitutional Republic. As such, its structure is typically considered to be secular. This is a misleading extrapolation of facts, however. One could take the wisdom sayings from the book of Proverbs and fashion it in a secular way, yet the source of that wisdom still remains in God.
In our nation’s first official document, the Declaration of Independence, God is specifically mentioned four times—in the first sentence as the God of nature, in the second sentence as our Creator, and later as the Supreme Judge of the world, and as Divine Providence. In total, our nation officially recognizes a God Who is Creator over humans and nature, the Source of our morality and justice, and as being active in the affairs of men. The last reference of God as Divine Providence completely refutes the notion the most of our Founding Fathers were Deists as Deists do not believe in a God that is involved in worldly affairs.
Further, we have Jesus Christ mentioned in our Constitution where it states in the last paragraph that it is signed “in the year of our Lord”. That’s not a reference to Lord Cornwallis or Lord Darth Vader beckoning us to “come to the dark side.” Note also that it is not an objective reference—it states year of “our” Lord not year of “the” Lord. Using basic grammar, that means that Jesus Christ is officially our nation’s Lord!
Furthermore, in the signing of the peace treaty with England, the document begins, “In the name of the most Holy and Undivided Trinity…”. This is an obvious reference to the Christian concept of God in three persons of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
These are not statements of religion, but statements of truth. This is the official viewpoint of truth of our nation.
The wisdom of our Founding Fathers in the framing of our Constitution and the First Amendment is that we the people are not required to share this official viewpoint. We have the freedom to speak and to believe whatever we wish. However, it is undeniable that our nation conforms to a traditional Judeo-Christian worldview.
The question now is, “Do we wish to keep it?”
President Trump wants to make America great or his new slogan for 2020 is to keep America great. His opponents may have differing views on America’s greatness and what the definition of great is. One thing is certain:
America can never be great without God.
“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord” – Ps 33:12
When politicians say, “God bless America”, do they mean it, or do they honor God with their lips while their heart is far away? Does it matter?
This is the pressing question we must answer. We claim to be a nation under God. If we still believe this, then we need to start acting and living like it. As Ronald Reagan once said, “If we forget that we are a nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under.”
To “Americanize” 2 Chronicles 7:14: If we the people who are called by His Name will humbly ourselves and pray and seek His Face and repentance of our wicked ways; God will hear our prayer, forgive our sins, and restore our land.
This is the correct answer if we the people have the will to do it.
