Calvin Synod Herald, 2001 (102. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2001-11-01 / 11-12. szám
CALVIN SYNOD HERALD 7 “God Bless America!” - Now, Really? “For the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of the Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other, our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor. ” Declaration of Independence Since September 11th, signs are all over bridges and buildings, cars and trucks, all with the same words: “God Bless America!” Somehow it seems less like a prayer than a statement, which God is fully expected to hear and heed. When a country is tolerant of immoral ways, allows its innocent unborn creations of God to be butchered, fills the movie and television screens with lurid sex and violence, elects leaders with agendas contrary to biblical standards, can it expect the God it ignores - or even despises - to bless America? Where did it go wrong? The history of this great nation tells us of its roots in the Christian faith, and most of it from the Reformed principles underlying the early Dutch, English, French and German colonists. A brief look at early American records relates how much the first settlers looked to God for His providential care and recognized the essential role of the churches as they established new governments according to the Christian principles of equality and the consent of the governed. The Mayflower Compact, one of the earliest from 1620, is recorded by Gov. Bradford: “In the name of God, Amen. We... solemnly and mutually in the presence of God, and of one another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil body politic... The 11 of November... Anno Domine 1620.” The first written constitution, without reference to royal or other sovereign authority, created a government and is a prototype of the Federal Constitution some one hundred and fifty years later. Representatives of three towns signed it on January 14, 1639, at Hartford, Connecticut. It said: “Forasmuch as it has pleased Almighty God by the wise disposition of his divine providence... we... well knowing where a people are gathered together the word of God requires that to maintain the peace and union of such a people there should be an orderly and decent government established according to God,... do therefore associate and conjoin ourselves to be one public State or Commonwealth;... to maintain and preserve the liberty and purity of the gospel of our Lord Jesus which we now profess, as also the discipline of the churches, which according to the truth of the said gospel is now practiced among us; as also in our civil affairs to be guided and governed according to such laws as may be made, ordered and decreed... and for want thereof according to the rule of God... and that the Governor be always a member of some approved congregation...” When the meeting to write the Constitution of the United States was stalled, with no progress for several weeks, Ben Franklin arose in Independence Hall to face its confusion and spoke: “In the beginning of the contest with Britain, when we were sensible of danger, we had daily prayers in this room for Divine protection. Our prayers, Sir, were heard and they were graciously answered. All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of a superintending Providence in our favor... Have we now forgotten this powerful Friend? Or do we imagine we no longer need His assistance?” The eighty-one year old statesman continued, “I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth: that God governs in the affairs of man. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the Sacred Writings that except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it. I firmly believe this... I therefore beg leave to move that, henceforth, prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven and its blessing on our deliberation be held in this assembly every morning.” The motion passed, and the document is in the National Archives in Washington. revawk After Sixty-five Pamper the body, Prod the Soul; Accept the limitations But play a role. Withdraw from the front, But stay in the fight; Avoid isolation, Keep in sight. Beware of reminiscing (Except to a child), To forgetting proper names, Be reconciled. Refrain from loquacity, Be crisp and concise; And regard self-pity As a cardinal vice. Bertram Sathmary
