Sermon Central
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One Nation Under God [independence Day]
Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Jan 6, 2004 (message contributor)
Summary: We must Pay for Government, Pray for Government, Praise our Government, Participate in Government, Persuade our Government. Link included to Formatted Text and PowerPoint.
One Nation, “Under God!”
Rom. 13:1-7
http://www.gbcdecatur.org/sermons/OneNationUnderGod.html
There are a growing number of Christians who think that believers should not be involved in government and politics. There are several reasons for this attitude:
1. Afraid of promoting a social gospel (churches which are only trying to make the world a better place…to go to hell from)…substituting culture for Calvary…never talk about getting saved, or the blood of Jesus. This is a viable concern, we don’t want that.
But we shouldn’t throw the baby out w/ the bathwater! Yes, we need to keep our focus on getting people saved…a heart change
(ill.—educate criminals…no heart change?…smarter criminal…now, instead of petty theft—just imbezzle!)
It will be my privilege today to show you from the Bible that involvement in government IS part of the work of the church.
2. Given up hope. They say, “it’s too late for America”, we’re past the point of no return…all that remains is judgment.
Well, I see their point, we are moving swiftly to judgment if we don’t repent and come back to God…but I look at my children, and I say, I will not give up on America! I look at Rom. 13 and say, I will not give up on America! There IS hope, if (and that’s a big if), if we will do what the Bible says:
II Chron. 7
14 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.
Read the book of Judges…clearly, our God would rather forgive and restore, than judge! Over and over, Israel would turn their back on their Godly heritage. But, they would repent, and God would forgive them and restore them…but it was always conditional! (If)
3. “I see politics as dirty…it’s beneath us as Christians…all politicians are crooks…my citizenship is in heaven…all we’re voting for is the lesser of 2 evils”
These people are so tired of scandals, and so tired of the political news section of the paper looking like a tabloid, they’ve lost their heart to be involved at all.
4. 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 Third 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)
What was his first official act as President? (kissed the Bible, then held a 2 hr. praise/worship session in Congress)
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 coins? (because they pulled a fast one on a government that wanted to keep God out of government!) It was adopted by Congress in 1956!
*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.
*The GETTYSBURG ADDRESS states "...this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom..."
*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 people were giving thanks to? To God!
*The famous "Liberty Bell" has part of Leviticus 25:10 inscribed on it: "Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof."
