Tuesday, June 29, 2010

June 29, 2010

"Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people." Proverbs 14:34


This verse should be blazoned on the consciousness of every legislator, civic leader and elected official in America.
Why is that?
Because it "exalts a nation".
How does it do that?
I mentioned that righteousness is a commitment to do the right thing. That is true and it is important to do the right thing.
However, there is something even more important about righteousness. Righteousness is not just a commitment - it is a connection to the righteousness of God. Righteousness enables you to do right by making you right so you can connect with the Righteous God. Righteousness gets God involved in the life of the nation. So, when you say "righteousness" exalts a nation you are saying that God and godly living lifts up a nation. There can be little doubt of that.
Let's put faith aside for a moment and just approach this from a common sense point of view. Doesn't it sound better to have God active in the life of a nation? If God is not involved and if His power and influence are not active, what will be? When goodness and rightness are removed, what remains? What is the antithesis of rightness? What is the alternative to goodness?
If you have respect for the Founding Fathers, then I assume you would respect their views on the role of righteousness in the formation and survival of a nation. Consider this!
Did you know that 52 of the 55 signers of "The Declaration of Independence" were orthodox, deeply committed, Christians? The other three all believed in the Bible as the divine truth, the God of scripture, and His personal intervention.
"While the people are virtuous they cannot be subdued; but when once they lose their virtue they will be ready to surrender their liberties to the first external or internal invader . . . If virtue and knowledge are diffused among the people, they will never be enslaved. This will be their great security." - Samuel Adams
"We shall not fight alone. God presides over the destinies of nations, and will raise up friends for us. The battle is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave . . . Is life so dear, or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it Almighty God! I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!" - Patrick Henry, in a speech March 23, 1775.
"The religion which has introduced civil liberty is the religion of Christ and His Apostles.... This is genuine Christianity and to this we owe our free constitutions of government." - Noah Webster
"The only foundation for a useful education in a republic is to be laid in religion. Without this there can be no virtue, and without virtue there can be no liberty- - -" - Benjamin Rush, Letters of Benjamin Rush, L.H. Butterfield, editor, Princeton: The American Philosophical Society, 1951, Vol. I p. 414, "To the citizens of Philadelphia: A Plan for Free Schools", March 28, 1787
A modicum of research will make it abundantly clear why America became a great nation with an exalted position in the world. Our Founders established this country upon righteousness because of their individual and collective connections with God!
How is your connection?