American Greatness Replaced by . . .

THOUGHT

          Where did American greatness come from - and where did it go? There are a lot of reasons why the US became the great nation it was in its early history. Few folks seldom seem to give thought to them so the greatness, like the reasons, is fading.  One of the reasons often given is the belief the US started as a Christian nation. For several decades now that belief has been suppressed completely or supplanted by the notion that many of the Founding Fathers were deists not Christians. Remember the quotes from the founding fathers over the last few weeks? Can any deny the US was founded on principles espoused in the Bible? Even those who held a belief in a Supreme Being but not Jesus cited the need for ethics and morals as espoused by the Bible and wanted the free exercise of religion as sought by the majority - which was comprised of a variety of groups claiming a base in Christianity. (See the Did You Know section below for proof.) Nowadays American greatness, like Constitutional rights and the Bible, is being suppressed by the US government.

          Religious freedom was being sought by many folks in many nations during the era of America’s founding so there had to be more to it for the US to achieve what it did. Interestingly another major facet of the birth of US greatness was due to a phenomenon related to Christianity as well - the growing literacy rate. The Bible was and is the most published book in the history of the world; and, it is safe to say that every school in the US prior to the 20^th Century used it as a primary reader. It would have been practically impossible for a child to learn to read without being exposed to the lessons taught in the Bible. Practically every institution of higher learning had a religious foundation too. This phenomenon was not restricted to the US but it was far more prevalent and institutionalized than elsewhere. Today the Bible is being banned by the US Government from the entire US educational system - an act akin to book burning, yet insidiously more subtle, that is as detrimental to greatness as it is to morals and freedom.

          Finally we come to yet another related issue that was and is a phenomenon that is more American than mom and apple pie - the public library. Books were primarily the domain of the rich and powerful prior to the era of the founding of the US. The Founding Fathers were well read men; but, ironically, many Kings were illiterate! The Protestant Reformation, and the subsequent battles fought to publish the Bible in the languages of the people, did lead to a boon in the number of privately owned Bibles but few folks could afford to own many other books. What few folks today realize is that most all America’s forefathers realized the need for knowledge to increase apace with freedom. The concept of educating the common man had a purpose; and, the recognition of this purpose continued for quite a time. Consider the following:

"It is no part of the duty of the municipality to raise taxes for the amusement of the people, unless the amusement is tolerably clearly seen to be conducive to higher ends of good citizenship, like the encouragement of patriotism, the promotion of public health, or the undermining of immorality." Trustees of the Boston Public Library, 23^rd Annual Report (SEE NOTE¹)

          So how does all this tie together? Notice that while religion is not mentioned in the preceding citation the issue of morality is; and, it was clearly tied to good citizenship. The freedom to choose comes with the resposinility to learn enough to make wise choices.

In modern day America the government considers a citizen good only if they are willing to accept immorality! The US government forces not only acceptance of immorality but support for it as well. When a baker refused to bake a wedding cake for an immoral couple the LGBT Mafia was ecstatic to see the Government take the lead and punish the baker. The same thing happened to a wedding photographer in a similar situation. Is it any wonder that the greatness is fading?

Many today call the US Constitution a living document yet the 1^st Amendment right to the freedom of religion AND the free exercise thereof is being treated as an infected appendage and is being amputated. Immorality is rampant and its acceptance and support is being mandated by law and enforced on pain of loss of life and liberty.

Like a stainless steel knife with the chrome and temper removed the US government has removed biblical principles and morality and the results are the same - tarnish and rust are setting in, the strength is gone, the once keen edge is fading.

NOTE¹ - What a wonderful concept too is the relationship between determining the expenditure of tax dollars and the forming of good citizenship. I for one will never understand the folks today claiming a “right” to a free, tax dollar funded, cell phone - or their getting it with ongoing free monthly service at taxpayer expense!

The lazy, the cowardly, and the morally bankrupt continue to surrender the “power of the people” to would be tyrants in exchange for access to the pockets and futures of those who try to lead a decent, productive, and moral life. There is a distinct dearth of those willing to risk the wrath of these tyrants to wrest back the rights our forefathers fought and died to bequeath to us.

America, once the “land of the free and the home of the brave” has become the land of the ungodly and the home of the coerced.

QUOTE

If people are good only because they fear punishment, and hope for reward, then we are a sorry lot indeed. -- Albert Einstein

COMMENT: In the spiritual realm true worshippers obey YHWH out of love, awe, and respect - not out of fear of punishment.

In the physical realm the US Government, afraid of the righteous indignant, punishes the moral and rewards the immoral - and is a sorry lot in deed! The American Justice (an oxymoron) system has become a farcical travesty largely administered by sycophantical degenerates serving immoral political factions (e.g. LGBT Mafia) and their agendas rather than justice.

DID YOU KNOW

A spouse behind on child support payments loses their passport but murders, rapists, etc., - even terrorists - can keep theirs.

You do not have to have ID to vote for who will have their hand on the buttons to launch nuclear weapons but you do to exercise your Constitutional right to keep & bear arms!

A driver who has two drinks and drives without hurting anyone will be punished harsher than an adulterer, a sodomite, and even many burglars, robbers, child molesters, etc.

Illegal aliens, felons by definition, are given “rights” a citizen just accused of a felony is not allowed to keep - even though those are rights are constitutionally guaranteed to the citizen.

Native born Islamic terrorists are being tried as criminals (e.g. charged for workplace violence) while many American citizens are being arrested for protesting abortion and are being charged for terrorism!

Foreign born Islamic terrorists are being given the full rights and protections of the US Constitution and tried in civilian courts as criminals rather than enemy combatants in military tribunals.

That a Christian, exercising their constitutionally protected right to the free exercise of religion, can be arrested and imprisoned for telling their own child that the actions of a homosexual adult are an abomination to God according to the Bible; yet, the homosexual, can tell any child, including yours, that you are an abomination of nature and an ignorant bigot and then proceed to give children sexual material (e.g. condoms) and encourage them to try homosexual acts; and, the homosexual is not only protected by the US Government but encouraged to commit such acts! It is even possible the Government will force you to make financial payments to any homosexual offended by overhearing your words - as restitution for hate speech!

There is no mention of a separation of church and state mentioned in the US Constitution. In fact practically every State originally had a State supported Religion - Christianity:

Virginia Declaration of Rights 1776

"That religion, or the duty which we owe to our Creator and the manner of discharging it, can be directed 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."

New York Charter of Liberties and Privileges 1683

"THAT No person or persons which profess faith in God by Jesus Christ Shall at any time be any ways molested punished disquieted or called in Question for any Difference in opinion or Matter of Religious Concernment"

Massachusetts Constitution 1780

Chapter VI. Article I. Any person chosen governor, lieutenant-governor, councilor, senator, or representative, and accepting the trust, shall, before he proceed to execute the duties of his place or office, make and subscribe the following declaration, viz:

'I _______, do declare that I believe the Christian religion...'"

Maryland State Constitution 1776

Article XXXV. That no other test or qualification ought to be required, on admission to any office of trust or profit, than such oath of support and fidelity to this State, and such oath of office, as shall be directed by this Convention or the Legislature of this State, and a declaration of a belief in the Christian religion."

Delaware State Constitution 1776

"Article 22. Every person who shall be chosen a member of either House, or appointed to any office or place of trust... shall take the following oath:

'I _______, do profess faith in God the Father, and in Jesus Christ His only Son, and in the Holy Ghost, One God, blessed for evermore; and I do acknowledge the holy scriptures of the Old Testament and New Testament to be given by Divine Inspiration.'

Connecticut Constitution 1818

Article VII. Section 1. It being the duty of all men to worship the Supreme Being, the great Creator and Preserver of the Universe, and their right to render that worship in the mode most consistent with the dictates or their consciences, . . . "

New Hampshire Constitution 1784

Senate. Provided, nevertheless, That no person shall be capable of being elected a senator who is not of the Protestant religion...

House of Representatives. Every member of the house of representatives... shall be of the Protestant religion...

President. [H]e shall be of the Protestant religion."

Georgia Constitution 1777

"Article VI. [R]epresentatives... shall be of the Protestant religion...

North Carolina Constitution 1776

Article XXXII. That no person, who shall deny the being of God or the truth of the Protestant religion, or the divine authority of the Old or New Testaments, or who shall hold religious principles incompatible with the freedom and safety of the State, shall be capable of holding any office or place of trust or profit in the civil department within this State.

Article XXXIV. . . . Provided, That nothing herein contained shall be construed to exempt preachers of treasonable or seditious discourses, from legal trial and punishment."

South Carolina Constitution 1778

1st. That there is one eternal God, and a future state of rewards and punishments.

2d. That God is publicly to be worshipped.

3d. That the Christian religion is the true religion.

4th. That the holy scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are of divine inspiration, and are the rule of faith and practice.

5th That it is lawful and the duty of every man being thereunto called by those that govern, to bear witness to the truth."

Pennsylvania Constitution 1776

Section 10... shall each [representative] before they proceed to business take... the following oath or affirmation:

'I do believe in one God, the creator and governor of the universe, the rewarder of the good and punisher of the wicked. And I do acknowledge the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be given by Divine inspiration.'

New Jersey Constitution 1776

XIX. That there shall be no establishment of any one religious sect in this Province, in preference to another; and that no Protestant inhabitant of this Colony shall be denied the enjoyment of any civil right, merely on account of his religious principles; but that all persons, professing a belief in the faith of any Protestant sect, who shall demean themselves peaceably under the government, as hereby established, shall be capable of being elected into any office of profit or trust, or being a member of either branch of the Legislature, and shall fully and freely enjoy every privilege and immunity, enjoyed by others their fellow subjects."