Seems like I’m hearing
more and more people these days wondering aloud “What’s becoming of our
nation?” “Why are we seemingly so immoral of a society or, as a society,
more accepting of immoral practices?” And, I have to admit that I’m one
of those voicing these concerns.
So, based upon some
history of the early years of our country and some thoughts I heard expressed
by a professor from Harvard University, I’m going to attempt to put down some
of my thoughts regarding religion versus government. And I also believe
these thoughts and this lesson are applicable to all nations, not just ours.
In the early years of
our nation’s existence we were visited by a French political writer and
historian by the name of Alexis De Tocquevill who traveled about for several
months noting and commenting about his observations of America. I should
remind you that the time of his visitation was about 40 years or so after we
had won our war for liberty and independence from England and had established a
democratic/republic form of government.
A government far more
influenced by religious and Godly principles than the one that rules over us
today. In my humble opinion, as a nation and a society, it just seems
like we’ve made every attempt possible to remove ourselves as far from God as
we can. And that absence of the Christian principles, with which we
started out governing our nation, is directly applicable to why myself and
others are asking the questions I mentioned in the first paragraph.
Based upon the words of
the aforementioned Harvard professor, apparently I’m not the only one who
thinks this way. Here are some of the things he mentioned while giving a
lecture to some students. He was explaining why America is great and why
democracy works. I think that you’ll find his explanation of that very
interesting. I know that I did.
In paraphrasing his
comments, he said that America is great and democracy works because the
majority of Americans are religious. And because they are religious, they
police themselves. He said that why they do this is because they believe
that, not only are they accountable to each other, they’re accountable to
God. He concluded his little talk by saying that, “If you take away religion, you can’t
hire enough police to enforce the law.”
I think that our
professor hit the nail right square on top of the head with his observations,
don’t you? And that his words go a long way towards explaining why our
nation is in its current “reproachable”
condition. For years now we’ve been removing religion from our government
and we’re paying the price for that.
Allow me to return to
our French visitor for a few moments and then we’ll draw this towards a
spiritual application. In my estimation ( and many others) De Tocqueville
was a very astute man when it comes to politics and to assessing situations.
Just to give you a quick example, he said, “The
American Republic will endure until the day Congress discovers that it can
bribe the public with the public’s money.” Now I ask you, is
that not astute or what!
But in regards to our
topic today of religion versus government, one of the things he noted in his
travels about America and then wrote about is the following words - he
said: “In the end, the state
of the Union comes down to the character of the people. I sought for the
greatness and genius of America in her commodious harbors and her ample rivers,
and it was not there. In the fertile fields and boundless prairies, and
it was not there. 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, aflame 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.”
Let me mention one more
observation of De Tocqueville that adds to our impression of what he thought
about religion and government. And, if this doesn’t tie in with the
back-sliding trend of our nation and society-in-general, I don’t know what
will. He said: “Liberty
cannot be established without morality, nor morality without faith.”
I simply say, AMEN!
But, let me also remind
you that, as Christians, no matter which earthly nation we may physically
reside in, we are citizens of the “Nation
of God.” (John 11:51-52) We’re brethren in the
family of God. This nation/family also has a government, only it is not a
democratic/republic. It is a monarchy governed by Jesus Christ, the “King of Kings.”
(1Tim. 6:15 & Rev. 17:14)
That reference in Rev.
17:14 also tells us where we’ll live with our “King” when we depart whichever earthly nation
we happen to reside in - heaven. However, there’s another nation whose
citizens, by default (1Cor. 6:9-10), have sworn allegiance to a different king
in the kingdom of “darkness”
(Rev. 16:10) as opposed to a “kingdom
of light.” The ruler of that dark kingdom is Satan, otherwise
known as “the beast.”
(Rev. 17:17)
I have one more
quotation for you to consider as we close with these thoughts regarding these
opposing, eternal nations/kingdoms. It’s another “politically natured”
observation by Joseph de Maistre: “Every
nation gets the government it deserves.”
Respectfully submitted,
Ron Covey
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