My Country

I love the holidays -- I love time with my family. Sometimes, I fear though that Americans are forgetting the reason for these celebrations. The reason is, quite simply, God -- and gratitude for what He has done for us and our nation.

Thanksgiving has come and gone, with its Black Friday embarrassments (I mean no disrespect to people who shop on Black Friday, but I do think that the bickering over gifts or the people trampled to death by the mobs of shoppers is so so so embarrassing to our country). How many realise that it was instituted as a holiday in the midst of the Civil War by Lincoln -- to give gratitude and honor to God who had preserved them to such an extent? Lincoln said in his Thanksgiving Proclamation: "No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy... I do therefore invite my fellow-citizens in every part of the United States... to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens.

It is belief in God that makes this country great, as Alexis de Tocqueville (a 19th century french sociologist) observed: "I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her commodious harbors and her ample rivers -- and it was not there... in her fertile fields... in her rich mines and her vast world commerce -- and it was not there... 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 she is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great."

Now, I do believe in being tolerant of other people, but I feel that America as a whole are being 'tolerant' to our peril -- neglecting to honor God or give Him praise and credit for what He has done for us. Regardless of the many different religions in the world, we do have a common belief in a higher Power. But we as so afraid of offending those who are atheists or agnostic, that we are afraid to mention Him in schools, we no longer recite the pledge of allegiance, or pray there. I think we are afraid of making waves -- and it's not only in the sense of mentioning God at school, but we don't want to make waves in upholding His commandments as truths.

I have been reading an excellent book by Tad Callister called "The Inevitable Apostacy and the Promised Restoration." He made a point that I greatly appreciated. I remember having philosophical discussions in high school and college trying to define pornography. Now, being a historian and art lover, it was difficult, because it seems that the painting of the Venus would not be classified that way, where if a woman were painted naked today, it would be. He quotes in his book early Renaissance writers who acknowledged these paintings as pornography, and certainly at that time they would've aroused feelings to look upon them. We are now desensitized it seems, so we don't think much of them. Now, I don't think we should necessarily torch them -- the Renaissance painters made amazing leaps in progress for painting a life-like figure, but let me give an example of what could happen if we do not stand up for our rights:

In Germany, almost 7 years ago, a tabloid magazine named "Bild" began circulating. Most Germans are family loving decent people and would not want hard porn being shown to their small children, but from their history they do not want to be seen as intolerant. So, though Bild was initially irritating to some, no one made waves. It began to thrive to the point that now it is sold at every corner Kiosk and opened on buses and trains right in front of women and children. Advertising has also responded and become more and more provocative. Sometimes you'll see women squirm a little when it's opened -- I know what they're thinking because I am a woman -- they feel cheapened and disgusted. I am grateful to have the gospel and not live in Germany, though I love that country more than words can say. What woman could possibly compete with the air-brushed images on display? Then stroll the streets dissatisfied men and women.

Because of the sexuality in Germany, and because pastors and preachers didn't want to offend parishioners by saying they sin, when they made the Einheitsuebersetzung (unity-translation, agreed upon by Lutherans and Catholics) they took out the concept of chastity and replaced it with loyalty, which, as you may know, is not the same thing. I met so many students my age who were having sex whenever they felt like it, and I can tell you they were not happy. They kept searching and searching for something to fill the void that money, stability, education, sex, or drugs cannot fill.

The only Being that can give us real happiness and satisfaction is God -- and He does so when we keep His commandments and remember His hand in our lives. Now, I don't want to crush other people's rights, but I feel I have rights too -- the right to not see pornography, the right to recognise marriage as ordained by God between a man and a woman... and other rights. The right to be grateful for the founding father's faith in God and say that God definitely had His hand in the initial stirrings of this nation, and will continue to if we will give Him place. George Washington himself said: "The man must be bad indeed who can look upon the events of the American Revolution without feeling the warmest gratitude towards the great Author of the Universe whose divine interposition was so frequently manifested in our behalf."

I hope we stand up for our beliefs -- because amid all the political correctness and not wanting to offend, the truth is our happiness, success and stability in this country comes from God alone. Our focus during Christmas should not be derailed by materialism or gift hording -- but it should be on God. The fact that God so loved the world, that He gave His Only Begotten Son... a gift of the atonement which none of us could buy.