American News Commentary

ARE WE STILL HOLDING TO THE HISTORIC
PATTERN OF AMERICA'S LEADERSHIP AS
A CHRISTIAN NATION -- OR ARE WE
FACING A DANGEROUS "CHANGE?"


Take just a moment to recall these historical facts.
Think back to an event which took place almost 400
years ago -- Nov. 11, 1620 -- when in Provincetown
Harbor, Cape Cod, the Pilgrims on board the sailing
ship, Mayflower, drafted and signed the first governing
document of the Plymouth Colony, the Mayflower
Compact. Their purpose was clearly stated: "In the
name of God, Amen. Having undertaken, for the
Glory of God and advancement of the Christian
Faith ...Country, a Voyage to plant the First Colony
in the Northern Parts of Virginia ..."


Just a few years later, in 1629, the Salem Covenant
confirmed: "We covenant with our Lord, and one
with another; and we do bind our selves in the
presence of God, to walk together in all his ways,
according as he is pleased to reveal himself unto
us in his blessed word of truth; and do explicitly,
in the name and fear of God, profess and protest
to walk as followeth, through the power and grace
of our Lord, Jesus Christ. We avouch the Lord to
be our God, and our selves to be his people, in the
truth and simplicity of our spirits."


And just one more early document from the original
pilgrims; the Boston Covenant of 1630 read: "In the
Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and in Obedience
to his holy Will and Divine Ordinance, We whose
Names are here under written, being by his most
wise and good providence brought together into
this part of America in the Bay of Massachusetts
do hereby solemnly and religiously (as in his
most holy Presence) promise and bind ourselves,
to walk in all our ways according to the Rule of
the Gospel ..."


And after 150 years, this view continued: From
George Washington, our first president: "While we
are zealously performing the duties of good
citizens and soldiers, we certainly ought not to be
inattentive to the higher duties of religion. To the
distinguished character of Patriot, it should be
our highest glory to add the more distinguished
character of Christian." (1789)


And from John Adams, our second president: "Let
divines and philosophers, statesmen and patriots,
unite their endeavors to renovate the age by
impressing the minds of men with the importance
of educating little boys and girls, inculcating in
the minds of youth the fear and love of the Deity,
and leading them in the study and practice of the
exalted virtues of the Christian system.” (1790)


And one more from Patrick Henry: “It cannot be
emphasized too strongly or too often that this
great Nation was founded not by religionists,
but by Christians; not on religious, but on the
Gospel of Jesus Christ. (1776)


Very obviously this nation was founded on
Christian beliefs and principles, and was intended
by the founders to be a Christian nation. This fact
of history should come as no surprise to our readers
because in more than 100 issues during the past 5
years we have cited the views of our nation's founding
fathers concerning the Christian faith.


Now with that fact of history in mind - a fact
which was observed and renewed for over three
centuries - where does our nation stand today with
respect to the Christian faith and the intent of the
founding fathers?


What is happening today must be a matter of serious
concern for us - and all - Christians.


We are seeing a new administration moving into its
position of elected power in America, and we can
examine the published agendas, and recall the many
promises made by the new president Barack Obama
during his campaign for the presidency. On almost
every issue, the new administration is taking a position
which is contrary to historic Bible-based Christian
principles and practice.


Remember candidate Obama's pledge at a Planned
Parenthood event in 2007 concerning the Freedom
of Choice Act which will essentially remove all
controls from the abortion process, which has killed
at least 50 million babies since the infamous Roe v
Wade decision: "The first thing I'd do as president
is sign the Freedom of Choice Act, On this
fundamental issue, I will not yield." And involved
in his strong support of abortion, is his support for
increased embryonic stem cell research.


In a similar pledge he promised to repeal the Defense
of Marriage Act (signed into law by Bill Clinton) and
thus force all states to recognize same-sex marriages
entered into in perhaps one or two states. So on these
two Bible based principles, it is clear that the Obama
administration is taking an anti-Christian position.


President Obama's strong support for the LGBT
(Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans-sexual) community
is evident in other elements of his administration's
agenda: www.whitehouse.gov/agenda/civil_rights/
Those include enactment of new "Hate Crimes" laws
to eliminate criticism of homosexual life styles; oppose
any constitutional amendment to ban homosexual
marriages; expand adoption rights for gay couples
and individuals; support new civil union federal
privileges for LGBT couples -- but there is more.
Check the agenda email site for yourself.


It is clearly evident that our present and future
course is to "change" (the Obama operative word!)
from America's heritage as a Christian nation and
become a nation with a multi-religion philosophy - a
far cry from the founding principles which for more
than 200 years have made this the greatest nation on
earth.


These facts do not in any way negate the urgency and
importance for America's Christians to pray that God
will give wisdom to President Obama as he makes
decisions which will affect our nation for years to come.


The American Revolution which brought this nation
into being was based largely on religious grounds. It
appears to be time for the Christians in America to
embark upon a new revolution, to reclaim this nation
for God and for the Christian faith. As an initial step --
you have every right to ask your Senators and
Congressional Representatives to hold to Christian
principles in their decisions.You can reach them all by
calling: the national switchboard at 1-(202) 224-3121.
Always remember they represent you -- and they are
your employees.


Having said all that, it does make one wonder why
the president would offer such strong support for the
LGBT cause, since homosexuals represent something
in the 1.6 - 4% range of the US population . . . and
Christians represent 80% of that population, and one
branch of the Christian church, the Roman Catholics,
represent 25% of the US population, and the Catholic
church has taken the strongest possible stand against
same-sex-marriage and abortion. And at the state
level, 30 states have already adopted constitutional
amendments banning same-sex marriage by solid
majorities. One does wonder just whom President
Obama represents.


Important thoughts from two great men, as a
reminder that historically this was a Christian nation:
"Not until I went into the churches of America
and heard her pulpits flame with righteousness
did I understand the secret of her genius and
power. America is great because America is good,
and if America ever ceases to be good, America
will cease to be great." -- Alexis de Tocqueville,
French historian, 1835


"Knowing that intercessory prayer is our mightiest
weapon and the supreme call for all Christians
today, I pleadingly urge our people everywhere to
pray... I humbly urge that we take time to pray -
to really pray. Let us pray for our nation. Let us
pray for moral forces everywhere, for our national
leaders. Let prayer be our passion. Let prayer be
our practice." -- General Robert E. Lee, 1855


Some Random Afterthoughts . . .


Don't you just love some "one liners?" "We must
not let our rulers load us with perpetual debt."
-- Former US President Thomas Jefferson, 1816.


“This bill is about spending money that we don’t
have for things we don’t need." -- US Senator
Tom Coburn (R, OK), 2009


"Does it make sense to include in a plan to prepare
America for the 21st century borrowing billions
from Beijing to mail out in $500 checks to folks
who don't pay income taxes, so they can run down
to Wal-Mart and buy more goods made in China?
-- Commentator Patrick Buchanan, 2009


Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, who has been
impeached by the Illinois legislature, and has been
removed from office, remains under criticism and
attack for his un-governorish actions as the Governor
of Illinois. It would seem to be time to give serious
consideration to the question: "OK, he's guilty, but is
he any worse than most other government officials?"
How about conducting your own personal poll, and
ask yourself if a politician at the state or federal level
can really be honest? And if you can think of one (or
perhaps more than one) who is, jot down any such
name(s), and if you can really think of any, use those
overwhelming statistics as a measuring rod for his
comparative status in the American political scene.
The sad thing is that in his plea for exoneration he
said that this is what politicians do to get elected.
The real task we face is to elect honest politicians.


For just a few moments it was almost like a planned
and rehearsed comedy routine -- Al Gore testifying
before the Senate on behalf of his theory of "Global
Warming" on a day when our nation's capitol was
almost shut down due to ice, snow and extremely
cold weather, but as the dwindling number of his
"scientists" so readily do, he shifted to a new term:
"Climate Change." But that is one of the popular
"slippery slopes" -- the change in climate, world-
wide, for the past 100 years or so has not shown
any change in the direction of Mr. Gore's dire threats
of massive flooding throughout the world. Plus, the
worst ice storms on record were raging in other parts
of the country even as he spoke.


For what it's worth: The Pew Research Center
last week released the results of a survey as to
America's most popular cities. The first 5, in order,
were Denver, San Diego, Seattle, with Orlando
Tampa and San Francisco tied for 4th place, and
Phoenix as No. 5. By contrast, the 5 least desirable
cities were Detroit, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Kansas
City and Minneapolis.In case you are planning to
relocate, this might be a helpful guide.


And from a religious standpoint, from a current
Gallup poll, the five most religious states, in order,
are: Mississippi, Alabama, South Carolina, Tennessee
and with Louisiana and Arkansas tied for fifth place.
And the five least religious states are Washington,
Alaska, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and at the
bottom, Vermont.


A thought on being a real American: "Some
Americans need hyphens in their names,
because only part of them has come over;
but when the whole man has come over,
heart and thought and all, the hyphen drops
of its own weight out of his name."
-- President Woodrow Wilson, 1914