Is the Bible our Nation’s Guide?
In the words of God as written in John 1:1, “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.” Jesus said in Matthew 4:4, “It is written: Man shall not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” From 2 Timothy 3:16, “All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness.” All this to say that as Christians we have the Bible as a guide to follow in our daily lives.
Furthermore, we can trace the significance of the Bible and Christianity to the origins of the United States, our culture, and system of government. There are many who deny our connection to the Bible, despite our leaders who comment on the “glue” holding together our country in its weakest moments. At our country’s inception, April 30, 1789, President George Washington placed his hand on the Bible, opened to Genesis 49, and took the Oath of Office. After which he picked up the Bible and kissed it. In Washington’s Address to the Delaware Nation on May 12, 1799, he said, “My words are few and plain. Listen well to what I tell you and let it sink deep into your hearts….You do well to wish to learn our arts and ways of life and above all – the religion of Jesus Christ. This will make you a greater and happier people than you are.” President Washington was not alone in his views on Christian values.
John Adams, our second President, wrote, “The Bible contains the most profound philosophy, the most perfect morality, and the most refined policy that was ever conceived on earth….I believe it to be the only system that ever did or ever will preserve a republic in the world.”
Abraham Lincoln, our 16th President, said, “It is the best gift God has given to man. All the good the Savior gave to the world was communicated through this book.”
Theodore Roosevelt, our 26th President, stated, “A very large number of people tend to forget that the teachings of the Bible are so interwoven and entwined with our whole civic and social life ….” Additionally, Calvin Coolidge, our 30th President, shared, “The foundations of our society and our government rest so much on the teachings of the Bible that it would be difficult to support them if faith in these teachings would cease to be practically universal in our country.”
Have we strayed from our Christian ways? Yes. Are there many in our community who are unfamiliar with and do not share our belief in Christ? Yes. Again, the Bible is a book “breathed out by God,” recorded by those inspired by the Holy Spirit, and absolute in its teachings. “Its message can change your life – your emotions, your situation, your mind, your heart, your family, and your future. The scriptures can make us wise for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.”
President Ronald Reagan, our 40th President quoted 2 Chronicles 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.”
Let us pray that our nation becomes more like the nation founded by our leaders of the late 1700’s. Amen.