Good Word

To begin, I would like to share this retort openly to all of you in response to a comment that was posted on my first protest that I blogged a couple weeks ago.  I had to respond to this persons comment, because it demanded one.  His original comment is below.  So here it is:

We can also quote people, which I’m about to do, to support each of our stances.  I will begin with John Adams. Who stated in 1765 that he considered America to be “the opening of a grand scene and design in Providence for the illumination of the ignorant and the emancipation of the slavish part of mankind all over the earth” and in 1813, he wrote that the “general principles on which the Fathers achieved independence were…the general principles of Christianity”

George Washington said in his farewell address in 1796, “Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports.”

The words “under God” were from the Gettysburg address given by Abraham Lincoln in 1863.  The Knights of Columbus added it and the President of the United States “agreed” and enacted that it be added to the Pledge in June 14, 1954 “Flag Day” as it is known.  President Eisenhower also stated on that day and paraphrasing in his own words a sermon that he believed in, “These words [“under God”] will remind Americans that despite our great physical strength we must remain humble. They will help us to keep constantly in our minds and hearts the spiritual and moral principles which alone give dignity to man, and upon which our way of life is founded.”

In my humble opinion, the above names of our forefathers, are all pointing to the God of Christianity, being proof that each was a believer.  I think those are pretty powerful names of the original writers of all important documents written of the day.  I would also state that Jesus dealt with the same type of issues as we do here in America today.  In Jesus’ day, if you’re familiar with the 4 Gospels, Jesus had to overcome the Sadducee’s and Pharisees of His day.  The issue of ‘Legalism’ in regards to the  Old Testament Law, rather than the ‘Spirit’ of the Law.  An example of that was when there was a crippled man whom Jesus healed on the Sabbath.  According the the OT ‘Law’ there was to be no work done on that day.  But, Jesus, acting in the ‘Spirit’ of the Law realized that this man needed to be healed that day-immediately when he saw him-not wait another day because the ‘Law’ said so.  The Constitution, Bill of Rights, The Amendments, etc. are written as ‘Law’, but the Spirit of the ‘Law’ is different.  Our Forefathers were trying to give rights to all, without giving away our need to praise and worship Jesus.  They realized the intolerance and bigotry that drove them and the original settlers to the New World.  It wasn’t about not being a Christian country…it was about independence and freedom to worship God without fear of persecution or ridicule.

According to you, if we were to analyze the United States of America and listened to your thoughts and views on it, we would be considered the Cold War Soviet Republic of the 21st century, with no churches or mosques or temples to speak of.  This is not a clear view of today’s society in America at all.  Sure it["the 10 Commandments"] has ’some’ good things?  What about coveting your neighbor’s house?  What about adultery?  What about honoring your father and mother?  Are those not sound words for those without religion?  What’s wrong with respecting the first 3 commandments anyway?  Is it a bad thing? 

Thank God for what He has given to us and thank God that we do have the 1st Amendment to the Constitution that gives us the right to free speech, free to exercise religion.  What about flag burning, is that OK too?  We might as well act like those who hate our country and burn the flag as well?  Have you forgotten 9/11?  Have you been outside of the United States?  Not North or South of the border either, but really been around the world and seen poverty?  Where poverty in the US would be considered middle class compared to some places around the world.

Let’s thank God together that we have a Great country that was built in the Spirit of Christianity and protected those rights and the rights of those who don’t want to believe as well.  But, nonetheless, were Believers themselves!

Original comment: