Are We One Nation under God?

In times past the United States was known as a “melting pot” to the rest of the world. People from every nation were assimilated and they became Americans with us. They left their customs, currencies, ideologies, and personal outlooks and adopted the “American way of life.” They learned about our history and learned to speak our brand of English. They became part of one nation. 

Nowadays we have Asian-Americans, Afro-Americans, Hispanic-Americans and many other hyphenated Americans. They bring their customs and dress with them and to be politically correct the one-nation idea is slipping away. Official government business is seriously considering a bi-lingual format. Are we any longer one nation other than geographically? 

In times past, the United States gave deference to God. Our founding fathers knew and spoke of the advantages which Christianity brought to our society and to our government. Our laws were based upon the Ten Commandments, the Bible was read in schools, elementary school readers were filled with Bible allusions and principles. Many even referred to us as a “Christian nation.” 

However, in recent years the Bible has been cast out of the classroom. Kindergarten pupils cannot ask a blessing on their cookies and milk. Coaches cannot lead their teams in prayer before a game nor can a student lead in a prayer before the crowd at graduation. Judges cannot post the Ten Commandments in their courtrooms nor can principals post them in a schoolroom. Ohio had to win a court ruling to keep its motto, “With God, All Things Are Possible,” displayed in front of the State Capitol building. 

God has said, “Thou shalt not kill;” but our highest court has officially ruled that a mother can abort her unborn child, even during the birth process, and Congress does not have the will to reverse that trend. God has said, “Thou shalt not bear false witness;” but we have seen government officials lie under oath and go free with but a slight slap on the wrist. God has said, “Thou shalt not commit adultery;” but we have seen state and federal officials flaunting such sin with impunity. Such observations indicate a general moral decline of great proportions. 

Then, most recently, a three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, ruled 2-1 that it is unconstitutional to repeat “under God” in the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States. There was such an instant, loud and widespread outcry against the decision that its author put the implementation of the ruling on hold. Another judge of the same court later announced that such a delay was dead wrong, because the people have no say in such a decision. 

I am glad for the indignant outcry and for the demonstrations of solidarity in defense of the verbal  expression of submission to God. But still our actions against God speak louder than our words of submission to Him. Our actions need to change. 

Righteousness cannot be legislated; God proved that by the giving of the Commandments and man’s consistent breaking of them. But righteousness can be given by God’s grace to sinners who admit, confess and repent of their sins, and accept Jesus Christ as personal Savior. America will be brought back to a state of unity and submission when individuals comprising the nation make their personal decision to place themselves under God on His terms revealed in His Word, the Bible.