Most of us are aware of some aspects of our original Thanksgiving story. There was the first thanksgiving with the Indians, then there was when President Washington set apart a day to give thanks to God for our nation, then later, it was established as an annually occurring national holiday.
These points are all important, and inspirational, but I wonder if we are effected, and inspired to our full capacity of patriotism if we do not choose to ponder the significance of these historical facts, as they pertain to us.
Often on Thanksgiving Day we think about the blessings we’ve received over the year passed, but do we think to remember the men and women who pledged their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor to fight the British for our independence?
Are we thankful for the Constitution which establishes the parameters of the self government that preserves our liberty? Are we respectful, and thankful for the God-inspired articles which make up the body of this magnificent governing document? Do we honor the Constitution by reading, and studying it? If we are unaware of what it says, how do we know when it is violated, imperiling our civil liberties?
I have heard it said that the United States of America is, “not a nation of laws, and it never was. It is a nation of political will, and it always will be.”
While I believe this is partly true, its truths are easily misunderstood, and/or, misrepresented.
John Adams said, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”
Properly understood, this quote brings clarity to this question. The framers of our constitution believed that they were establishing a nation of laws. They struggled to provide a framework that facilitated righteous laws, which would in turn protect our liberty.
However, John Adam’s quote recognized the frailty of this constitutional system was subject to the integrity of the men, (and women,) of our citizenry, and those who would execute our laws.
If the people lack integrity, the law will be corrupted. We live in an era when generations of our ancestors have lacked the morality, and religious integrity to preserve the intended purposes of our constitution.
We have choices to make, will we succumb to the corrupt nature of modern culture, muscling our way through the pitfalls of a perverse political will, or will we restore integrity to our nation. Will we dedicate our political will to the restoration of these timeless principals?
Some American trust in politics, elevating the prominence of our politics above God, and our spirituality.
Others see no need to become involved in politics. They believe that we must simply obey the administrators of political might, while trusting our civil wellbeing to the Lord. They believe they should concentrate their efforts toward evangelism, and worship.
Could it be that both are partly correct, and also partly incorrect? Nowhere in scripture are we taught to submit to corrupt government. Examples abound of men of God defying unrighteous laws, and corrupt rulers, like Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, and Jesus, to name a few.
How are we to reconcile these two, seemingly opposing requirements? We are called upon to exercise our civic engagement, in submission to scripture, recognizing that, according to our Constitution, “we the people,” are the American sovereign. We must not call evil good, or empower those that do, and we must not allow the good to be punished as evil, Isaiah 5:20.
We have been given ample opportunities to make these choices in the last few years, and many Americans, including Christians, have not chosen well.
I am thankful for God’s creation. I am thankful that He has provided for our salvation. I am thankful that He placed me in this great nation, “to dress it and to keep it,” and I am thankful for the opportunity to live up to His calling.
God bless you, Dave