CAPITAL BIBLE CHURCH July 3, 2011 SERMON NOTES PASTOR BILL HAKEN One Nation Under God? Psalm 33:12; Romans 13:1-7 Intro: Begin with Scriptures read from Psalms, then Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. The Pledge of Allegiance was written in 1892 by Francis Bellamy (1855 1931), Bellamy's original Pledge read as follows: I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. The Pledge was supposed to be quick and to the point. Bellamy designed it to be recited in 15 seconds. The United States Congress officially recognized the Pledge as the official national pledge on June 22, 1942, and it went like this: I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Prior to February 1954, no attempt to get the Pledge officially amended succeeded. The final successful push came from George MacPherson Docherty. Some American presidents honored Lincoln's birthday by attending services at the church Lincoln attended, New York Avenue Presbyterian Church by sitting in Lincoln's pew on the Sunday nearest February 12. On February 7, 1954, with President Eisenhower sitting in Lincoln's pew, the church's pastor, George MacPherson Docherty, delivered a sermon based on the Gettysburg Address titled "A New Birth of Freedom." He argued that the nation's might lay not in arms but its spirit and higher purpose. He noted that the Pledge's sentiments could be those of any nation, that "there was something missing in the pledge, and that which was missing was the characteristic and definitive factor in the American way of life." He cited Lincoln's words "under God" as defining words that set the United States apart from other nations President Eisenhower, though raised a Jehovah's Witness, had been baptized a Presbyterian just a year before. He responded enthusiastically to Docherty in a conversation following the service. Eisenhower acted on his suggestion the next day and on February 8, 1954, Rep. Charles Oakman (R-Mich.), introduced a bill to that effect. Congress passed the
necessary legislation and Eisenhower signed the bill into law on Flag Day, June 14, 1954. The phrase "under God" was incorporated into the Pledge of Allegiance June 14, 1954, by a Joint Resolution of Congress amending 7 of the Flag Code enacted in 1942. On March 11, 2010, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit upheld the words "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance in the case of Newdow v. Rio Linda Union School District. In a 2 1 decision, the appellate court ruled that the words were of a "ceremonial and patriotic nature" and did not constitute an establishment of religion. Judge Stephen Reinhardt dissented, writing that "the state-directed, teacher-led daily recitation in public schools of the amended 'under God' version of the Pledge of Allegiance... violates the Establishment Clause of the Constitution." 1. When was America under God? Some Christians have been intimidated and they ve heard the ACLU talk soooo much about the separation of church and state that they ve actually started to believe in it. In case you don t know, that phrase never appears in the Constitution! (However it is found in Karl Marx's Communist Manifesto!) It was coined in the U.S. from a letter the principle framer of the Constitution and 3rd President Thomas Jefferson wrote to the Danbury Baptist Association assuring them that he would keep the Government out of the Church (NOT the Church out of the Government). He was saying, never again will there be a government sponsored church like you had back in England, where everyone is forced to attend and support! Check it out for yourself, the first amendment actually says: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof If there IS such a thing as separation of church and state, it is intended as a one-way street! Some say, no, they wanted to keep both separate! Well, let s think about that. Our first president, George Washington, took the oath of office and put his hand on what? (the Bible) How did they determine to open sessions of Congress? (prayer)
Who would lead in those prayers? (chaplains) How would they be paid? (tax dollars) Does all of that sound like they wanted to keep God out of government? By the way, opening in prayer is a mystery to investigate why is it that the little boys and girls cannot, but the big Congressmen can? Who decided to put In God We Trust on our money? (because they pulled a fast one on a government that wanted to keep God out of government!) It was adopted by Congress in 1956! (SLIDE OF COLONIAL AMERICA). *In 1776, 11 of the 13 colonies required that one had to be a Christian to be eligible to run for political office. *In 1777, the Continental Congress voted to spend $300,000 to purchase Bibles for distribution in the nation. (FOUNDING FATHERS SLIDE) 94% OF THE WRITINGS OF THE FOUNDING FATHERS OF THE U.S. CONTAINED QUOTATIONS FROM THE HOLY SCRIPTURES. *THE STATE CONSTITUTIONS OF ALL 50 STATES MENTION GOD. On that First "Thanksgiving", who do you think the Pilgrims and Indian peoples were giving thanks to? To God of course! Some of your kids revised history books say they gave thanks to one another *The famous "Liberty Bell" has part of Leviticus 25:10 inscribed on it: "Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof." *An image of Moses carrying the tablets of God's Law faces the Speaker of the House of Representatives. (SUPREME COURT BLDG) - The Supreme Court itself begins each of its sessions with the phrase 'God save the United States and this honorable court,' First Vice President and Second President, John Adams wrote in 1798: "Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." President Thomas Jefferson: "I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that His justice cannot sleep forever." - 1781
Our sixth President, John Quincy Adams said: "No book in the world deserves to be so unceasingly studied, and so profoundly meditated upon as the Bible." At the Constitutional Convention in 1787, Benjamin Franklin said, "God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid?" *The Christian writings and pronouncements of our 16th President Abraham Lincoln would fill an entire book. He said this when he assumed leadership over a nation on the brink of civil war: "We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of heaven But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us; and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us. It behooves us then, to humble ourselves before the offended power, to confess our national sins, and to pray for clemency and forgiveness." - 1863 *Theodore Roosevelt, America's 26th President, wrote: "In this actual world, a churchless community, a community where men have abandoned and scoffed at, or ignored their religious needs, is a community on the rapid down-grade." - 1917 *Woodrow Wilson, our 28th President and Governor of New Jersey, said this: "America was born a Christian nation. America was born to exemplify that devotion to the elements of righteousness which are derived from the revelations of the Holy Scripture." - 1911 *Calvin Coolidge, our 30th President, said this about our founding fathers:"they were intent upon establishing a Christian commonwealth in accordance with the principle of self- government. They were an inspired body of men. It has been said that God sifted the nations that He might send choice grain into the wilderness... Who can fail to see it in the hand of destiny? Who can doubt that it has been guided by a Divine Providence." - 1923 *Franklin Roosevelt prayed this prayer on a national radio hookup on D-Day, June 6, 1944, as our troops stormed the beaches of Normandy, France: "Almighty God... with Thy blessing we shall prevail over the unholy forces of our enemy. Help us to conquer the apostles of greed and racial arrogance. Lead us to the saving of our country. Thy will be done, Almighty God. Amen."
*Harry Truman, our 33rd President, not known to be a committed believer, understood the spiritual heritage of this nation: "If men and nations would but live by the precepts of the ancient prophets and the teachings of the Sermon on the Mount, problems which now seem so difficult would soon disappear *Gerald Ford, our 38th President, quoted a 1955 speech by Dwight D. Eisenhower on December 5, 1974: "Without God there could be no American form of government, nor an American way of life. Recognition of the Supreme Being is the first - the most basic - expression of Americanism. Thus the founding fathers of America saw it, and thus with God's help, it will continue to be." *President Ronald Reagan: "If we ever forget that we are 'One nation, under God', then we will be one nation gone under." *George W. Bush was asked to name the philosopher that had the greatest influence on his life, this was his answer: "Christ, because he changed my heart" It s time for modern-day Americans to wake up and smell themselves, and realize their warped attitude and liberal, revising of history stinks, and is inaccurate as to the facts! 2. Is America a Christian nation today? 1 Surely the LORD S power is enough to save you.he can hear you when you ask him for help. It is your evil that has separated you from your God. Your sins cause him to turn away from you, so he does not hear you. Your hands are the hands of murderers, and your fingers are filthy with sin. Your mouth is full of lies, and your lips are tainted with corruption. No one cares about being fair and honest. Their lawsuits are based on lies. They spend their time plotting evil deeds and then doing them.5they spend their time and energy spinning evil plans that end up in deadly actions. They cheat and shortchange everyone. Nothing they do is productive; all their activity is filled with sin. Violence is their trademark. Their feet run to do evil, and they rush to commit murder. They think only about sinning. Wherever they go, misery and destruction follow them. They do not know what true peace is or what it means to be just and good. They continually do wrong, and those who follow them cannot experience a moment s peace. It is because of all this evil that deliverance is far from us. That is why God doesn t punish those who injure us. No wonder we are in darkness when we expected light. No wonder we are walking in the gloom. No wonder we grope like blind people and stumble along. Even at brightest noontime, we fall down as though it were dark. We look for justice, but it is nowhere to be found. We look to be rescued, but it is far away from us. Isaiah 59:1-11
3. What should I as a Bible believing Christian do for my country? We can support our country by paying our taxes. Listen to what Jesus said when asked about paying taxes. So tell us what you think. Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not? But knowing that these leaders were trying to trick him, Jesus said, You hypocrites! Why are you trying to trap me? 19Show me a coin used for paying the tax. So the men showed him a coin. 20Then Jesus asked, Whose image and name are on the coin? The men answered, Caesar s. Then Jesus said to them, Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar s, and give to God the things that are God s. Matthew 22:17-21 Here s what Paul the apostle said: So you must obey the government for two reasons: to keep from being punished and to keep a clear conscience. Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid so they can keep on doing the work God intended them to do. 7 Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and import duties Romans 13:5-7 Weren t those governments corrupt? Wicked? We should pray for our country and all its leaders I Tim. 2:1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. Pray for revival/leaders/war on terror/elections/god to use our leaders and defeat our enemies! The king s heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water, He turns it wherever He wants (Proverbs 21:1 We can honor our country and help to defend it Obey the government, for God is the one who put it there. All governments have been placed in power by God. So those who refuse to obey the laws of the land are refusing to obey God, and punishment will follow. Romans 13:1, 2 and give respect and honor to all to whom it is due. Romans 13:7
Militarily against terrorists, Al Quaeda, whomever, and against one-worlders, United Nations lovers, all those trying to strip away our sovereignty. Despite all our problems, the USA is still the greatest nation on earth. We need a revival of good old-fashioned patriotism! We can participate by voting It is inconceivable that God would ordain gov t such as He has, and then tell His people to stay out of it! It is our Christian duty to get informed, and vote! Shame on the Christian who pledges their allegiance to that flag, and then doesn t take action. And, shame on the Christian who pledges their allegiance to a political party, instead of to principles the Biblical principles upon which this nation was founded! We should speak up for righteousness in love Doing what is right makes a nation great, but sin will bring disgrace to any people. Proverbs 14:34 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14