Friday, January 4, 2013

Ron Boat wonders; To God, or not to God?


Ron Boat wonders; To God, or not to God?
Ron Boat
 

It’s not just the past Christmas season that brought these facts to mind, but a consolidation of emotions and thoughts that propel us toward a new year and a seemingly more ungodly America.

We must, or should, admit that America is unique. Conceived in liberty – Born out of revolution – Based on forethought, reason and freedom. A country whose very essence and form of governance is like no other ever developed.

Forgive me while I digress for a moment. The tyrannical oppression of England, the burden of over taxation through the Sugar Act (1764), or the Stamp Act (1765), the controlling monopolistic policies of the Tea Act (1773) and the general concept of taxation without representation (They should see taxation WITH representation) all contributed to the desire for change. More and more regulations and taxes to pay for England’s debt from the French and Indian War (1763)… and the colonists didn’t like it.

These were a spark, the basis for change. It became clear that a separation was needed for many reasons. A new and better country based more on a sense of fairness, good, what’s right, strong religious principles, independence – and a desire for freedom, hence the foundation for our United States.

Our founding fathers were brilliant, thoughtful men of deep religious convictions based in the Bible and their Christian faith in Jesus Christ. Of the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence, nearly half (24) held seminary or Bible school degrees.

Adams and Jefferson, Madison and Hamilton, and many of their colleagues were men of exceptional European learning. They immersed themselves in the Greek and Latin classics, in the history of medieval and modern Europe, in British and French constitutional theory and practice. And they were men of action. They understood mistakes of the past and had a clear, intimate awareness of the special needs for a new America.

While in Turkey (Aug. 2009), President Obama casually rebuked the concept that the United States is a Judeo-Christian nation. "…we do not consider ourselves a Christian nation or a Jewish nation or a Muslim nation. We consider ourselves a nation of citizens who are bound by ideals and a set of values."

How wrong and descriptively demeaning can one be? Where do the best, most solid “ideals and set of values” come from if not a foundation of true inner and religious beliefs – not in social justice ideology. And yes, the basis for our country was a belief and dependence on God and his own wisdom and guidance for us.

God has systematically been reduced, slighted and eliminated from our culture more and more over the last few years. The taking of the words “under God” from our pledge to our flag, the daily practice of even pledging allegiance to this flag and the country has been stripped from acceptance. And forget about prayers in school any more.

In God we trust” offends people who use our money. The mere presence of a nativity scene or “Christ”mas tree drives many to the local courthouse, the Ten Commandments are removed from view, and in 2007 (and with many maneuvering explanations) the monogram of “IHS” was covered from view behind the president during a speech at Georgetown University. When growing up this was predominant in our church standing for “In His Service” – or the service of God – even though it actually comes from the original Greek for Jesus’ name, being the first three letters of “ihsous.”

The following Christian quotes of the founding fathers stand as testament to their strong moral and spiritual convictions which helped form the fundamentals of our nation and our government. And these represent only a small sampling of their views, beliefs and many writings.

George Washington - 1st  U.S. President

"While we are zealously performing the duties of good citizens and soldiers, we certainly ought not to be inattentive to the higher duties of religion. To the distinguished character of Patriot, it should be our highest glory to add the more distinguished character of Christian."

John Adams - 2nd  U.S. President and Signer of the Declaration of Independence

"Suppose a nation in some distant Region should take the Bible for their only law Book, and every member should regulate his conduct by the precepts there exhibited! Every member would be obliged in conscience, to temperance, frugality, and industry; to justice, kindness, and charity towards his fellow men; and to piety, love, and reverence toward Almighty God ... What a Eutopia, what a Paradise would this region be."

And Adams wrote in 1813, a letter to Thomas Jefferson, excerpts being:

"The general principles, on which the Fathers achieved independence, were the…general Principles of Christianity.” "Now I will avow, that I then believe, and now believe, that those general Principles of Christianity, are as eternal and immutable, as the Existence and Attributes of God; and that those Principles of Liberty, are as unalterable as human Nature…

Thomas Jefferson - 3rd U.S. President, Drafter & Signer of the Declaration of Independence

"I am a real Christian – that is to say, a disciple of the doctrines of Jesus Christ."

John Hancock - 1st Signer of the Declaration of Independence

"Resistance to tyranny becomes the Christian and social duty of each individual. ... Continue steadfast and, with a proper sense of your dependence on God, nobly defend those rights which heaven gave, and no man ought to take from us."

Benjamin Franklin - Signer of the Declaration of Independence & Unites States Constitution

"Here is my Creed. I believe in one God, the Creator of the Universe. That He governs it by His Providence. That He ought to be worshipped."

"As to Jesus of Nazareth, my opinion of whom you particularly desire, I think the system of morals and his religion, as he left them to us, is the best the world ever saw, or is likely to see.

Samuel Adams - Signer of the Declaration of Independence and Father of the American Revolution

"And as it is our duty to extend our wishes to the happiness of the great family of man, I conceive that we cannot better express ourselves than by humbly supplicating the Supreme Ruler of the world that the rod of tyrants may be broken to pieces, and the oppressed made free again…and speedily bringing on that holy and happy period when the kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ may be everywhere established, and all people everywhere willingly bow to the sceptre of Him who is Prince of Peace."

James Madison - 4th U.S. President

"A watchful eye must be kept on ourselves lest while we are building ideal monuments of Renown and Bliss here we neglect to have our names enrolled in the Annals of Heaven."

Rev. John Witherspoon, president of Princeton University when James Madison graduated wrote:

"Cursed be all that learning that is contrary to the cross of Christ." [Can you imagine such writings in liberal academia today?]

Add to the above even more words, references and beliefs from:

James Monroe - 5th U.S. President

John Quincy Adams - 6th U.S. President

William Penn - Founder of Pennsylvania

Roger Sherman - Signer of the Declaration of Independence and United States Constitution

Alexander Hamilton - Signer of the Declaration of Independence and Ratifier of the U.S. Constitution

Patrick Henry - Ratifier of the U.S. Constitution

These men, while religious in their core beliefs, also knew that a governing body should have no demands on its citizens to worship a particular way other than to hold principles of value that enhance the lives of all men. Principles we have been losing through the social evolution of more recent time.

The 60’s brought its “social freedoms” of drugs, sex and rock and roll. And the “right” to do as we wish personally without regard to punishment or consequences. These are seen in the basic principles and actions of our current president and his selected team of “social sovereigns” – ideals born in the 60’s with views and actions toward man and not God. Even belittling or denying God.

People believe in many paths to God as is their privilege. So much a civil right that our founders established its steadfastness in the First Amendment to the Constitution: Two rights in fact.

The first part being known as the “Establishment Clause” which prohibits the government from establishing an official religion or showing preference of one over another.

The second is the “Free Exercise Clause” which prohibits the government from interfering with a person’s right to practice his or her religion. Religious freedom is an absolute right guaranteed and without government control, however this has been boldly abused lately and with Constitutional disregard.

My reasoning behind this exercise in history is straightforward. To show that we are drifting knowingly and deliberately, dangerously away from the basis of our foundation and the beliefs of our founding fathers which served us well for nearly 200 years – until modern society decided it knew better.

The concept of being a Christian nation is not limiting, not controlling or demanding of anyone to believe in a common path to heaven. Nowhere is it found that our founders expressed a Christian point of view for this purpose but yet, a set of values which guide our lives and actions toward others and… we are losing them. They talked of these principles in the terms of freedom, charity, law, liberty, kindness and duties of good citizenship.

Many will say that our founders were Deists and not Christians, but Deism is a position that God does not intervene in the “natural world” but allows it to run according to the laws of nature. I think one can clearly appreciate that our founders believed that God held the power and set the rules for a life above and beyond our mere existence.

As we embark on a new year, a future of questionable “retainment” of rights, freedoms and ability to live and enjoy in our personal and yes, our religious lives, it’s important to recognize the eroding of these rights; One by one – little by little. When government can dictate to and demand of established religions a change in their belief system to fit “changing social values,” can other more diabolical intentions be far behind for the betterment of a society gone askew from God?

As Thomas Jefferson said, "God who gave us life gave us liberty. And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are of the Gift of God?” I sincerely take this not just as Jefferson’s belief, but a warning lest we remove God from our lives and society. And aren’t we daily doing just this?

America is a unique and well founded country that had everyone’s best interest at heart without need for changing its core beliefs. Unlike a recent rant by CNN’s Piers Morgan, it is not “time for an amendment to the Bible” and “the American Constitution is not inherently flawed.”

Whether Protestant, Jew, Hindu, Catholic, Buddhist, or of any organized religion, there are values and a divine guidance, something bigger and better than ourselves that can enhance our lives. I wish you nothing but happiness and success in this New Year and hope that whatever your religious basis, it brings you peace and contributes to the betterment of yourself, your family and the country we all love as conceived by our founders.

14 comments:

Ava Aston said...

Love Love Love - 100% Correct!

CandyO said...

Over time we as a nation have devalued the constitution, now we slowly but surely degraded our Republic, God has been removed in most manners now as to lead our people and children "away" from good and the basics of Christianity. This removal of God has been in the plan many years, and Christians have known that these days were coming to America and the World. Jesus told us that many "Anti" Christ will come. Take a good look around, all our political leaders in all 3 branches, our news stations our TV shows our commercials, are all "Anti God". So one must acknowledge, first and foremost, that it’s been planned to remove God from our culture. Men of conviction, integrity and honor where transformed over time into men of greed, and have become the down fall, of all those representing our nation as a whole. We are being destroyed from the inside, by those whom run our country; they have used every criminal tactic known to achieve, their success, in the basic destruction of America, from the bottom up. They have used many techniques from our past history, like those of Stalin, Hitler, and etc. Now they come for the constitution as a whole, siege and destroy is the mission at hand. We have a far worse scenario of governmental abuse and bureaucratic tyranny. A usurper acting as a plant or a stooge for international banking and the corporate oligarchy, trying to threaten, and manipulates Americans into giving up their God-given constitutional rights, particularly free speech and gun ownership. The Second Amendment existed — then and now — to guarantee private individuals the right to keep and bear firearms so as to be an effective check against their domestic government and to serve as the ultimate deterrent to foreign invaders. A “well-regulated militia” had a very clear and specific meaning to its drafters. “Militia” meant all able-bodied men in each state, not merely those serving in an organized militia. There have been three great revolutions: the French, Russian and, the greatest of all, the American Revolution. The time has come or soon will when man must once again choose to remain in a free country as our forefathers intended, and to be free to choose our own path in religion and all other prospects to pursue our own destiny and our liberties in the pursuit of “happiness”. I cannot speak for others but I choose freedom! "Give me Liberty, or Give me Death!" is my final stance.

Unknown said...

Sadly Obama and the democrats have shown such disrespect for Christian values and God. Obama's comment:"We consider ourselves a nation of citizens who are bound by ideals and a set of values." Who is the "we?"
As you wrote:"America is a unique and well founded country that had everyone’s best interest at heart without need for changing its core beliefs." I am disgusted with the minority now ruling religion..atheists don't like 10 commandments, crosses, nativity scenes, so all of the rest: the majority must cow tow to their demands. Absurd. May God save our country.

BlessedONE333 said...

now see - you have placed way too many details and too many facts in here! I can see the poor lost liberals foaming at the mouth now! poor things lol

I personally think that the wallbuilder material should be MANDATORY reading in every grade level. Maybe that way the World wide revival of a billion young souls will finally happen and our own nation will turn and repent.

A girl can dream can't she? rolfao

Bella said...

I wrote this before this past election. Post if you like...

Saying it like it is... this is the way it is today and we cannot deny it...my opinion. My thoughts as I view our present Administration in Washington, D.C.... So here goes...


Suffering from this (insanity) and narcissism because he .. Obama.. presented himself as someone who could bring about change. He presented himself as a diplomat (worthy of the Presidency), knowledgeable, and convinced the majority of people he cared about their best interests and welfare. When in reality he cared nothing about this. In his speeches, Obama has also presented himself as a comedian so people would embrace him and be drawn to him in a more personal and fun manner.

When asked about specific and serious issues at press conferences or public gatherings, he would easily distract people making another joke or not really answering the question asked. Obama does not like people who do not agree with him. Indeed he deems these individuals as "radical," "extremists," "unsafe." He wants them excluded from the attention of others or the media. The more he feels pressured or confronted, the more he vehemently attacks the other person(s).

He has been the master of deceit. He tends to live totally inside his own head. And yes he demonstrates this with by-passing Congress and the people, signing executive orders left and right, being arrogant to the people as well as Congress (conservatives, Republicans, and the Catholic Church). This ideology and mindset is all about control. He cannot tolerate someone who is his equal or better. He lives and thrives on control and attention. Do we not see this around the world in other leaders such as North Korea, Russia, Venezuela, Cuba, Egypt, etc. ?? IT is long overdue, past due, and time for the American people to listen and open their eyes. NOW is the time for all to see and hear Obama's agenda and how he is going at the destruction of our country with a bulldozer. We do NOT have much time left...only days and weeks before the next election. People need to use their brains and not their emotions because they are swayed by a smooth, funny talker. Remember a snake charmer will only bring you to his pit of other snakes. He will not save or better your life.

Chrissie Siggelakis said...

Excellent write up and I love the added quotes used in the writing.

Ransomed Soul said...

This is the most inspiring piece I have read in quite some time and something I will reread, often. As well as being educational, it's words have stirred something in my heart and have moved my soul with strong desire to become a better Christian, American citizen and person. There is no doubt you have been inspired by God and I am thankful to you and to Him for I have been truly blessed as I know others will be. God bless you, Ron Boat.

GeriGirl422 said...

"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." ~Ephesians 6:12

Once we as Christians truly "get" this passage of Scripture, only then will we begin to understand what is happening to America. Ron, your blog is packed with truth and is historically accurate. Our founding fathers vision for this great country was based on liberty and Judeo-Christian values, all from the Word of God. Having said that, which country would our enemy satan attack with his legions of demons? The answer is obvious.

"And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,"
From the beginning, satan has worked in and through the "sons of disobedience" on this earth. Targeting America has been on the top of his list since the founding of our country. How could he sit still when a country professed allegience and trust in God? How could he sit still when the Ten Commandments were posted in government buildings, and prayer to God was a natural part of everything? He could not.

He has worked in the sons of disobedience (unbelievers) and in the last century has dealt deadly blows to this once great country. He got prayer taken out of our schools. He twisted the words of Thomas Jefferson to mean something completely different - separation of church and state - his words were written to pastors in CT to reassure them that the state would never be allowed to interfere or mandate a particular religion. His words have been abused and twisted, and the typical person believes that "separation of church and state" is even found in the Constitution - which it is NOT.

As godless men and women have come against Christianity in our courts and through legislation, the moral fabric of our society has eroded. Over sixty million babies have been aborted since the infamous "Roe V Wade" decision in 1973 in the Supreme Court. The Ten Commandments have been banned from public display. No prayer allowed in public schools. Public display of Nativity scenes banned in most states. Religious institutions are being forced to compromise their Bible based beliefs through legislation. ALWAYS through legislation. Same sex marriage is now becoming accepted, and soon our convictions and beliefs based on the Word of God will label us as biggots and "intolerant" and being arrested for these so-called offenses may very well result in our being inprisoned.

But there is one thing that we must remember in the midst of all of this persecution. GOD IS IN CONTROL. His prophetic Word will be fulfilled, and I believe that what is happening in America is part of His plan. How long could He hold back his judgement from our country? He is a Holy God and cannot regard sin without consequences.

We who love Him must share the Gospel so that men and women might be saved. Instead of focusing my attention on politics, I now realize that as a follower of Christ, my job is to tell others about His mercy and how He gave His Son to reconcile us to Himself.

I will always do what is right as far as voting and expressing my beliefs. But as I said, the most important thing we can do as believers is share the Gospel of Christ.

bud s said...

GOD HELPED BUILD THIS COUNTRY AND IF WE KEEP IT UP HE WILL HELP TAKE IT DOWN


YOUR BUDDY BUD

barb p said...

Ron is a good writer. I think a good man and I admire and respect his beliefs...I
wish that was the world we live in now. I believe we have lost the country that
was founded on those beliefs. I am afraid it is a lost dream!

Kevin Bryant said...

Ronald Reagan was right when he said: "I have always believed that this anointed land was set apart in an uncommon way, that a divine plan placed this great continent here between the oceans to be found by people from every corner of the earth who had a special love of faith and freedom"

In today's America, too many in the public eye do not seek and would have you believe "faith & freedom" cannot exist together, but rather "freedom without faith" is the way to live and how this nation should be.

Ron Boat said...

I can't tell you how much your comments mean to me as it's my goal to post truths and thoughts that better us and help us to win this war of secularism, liberalism and deceit.

Be sure to visit here often as Al has many articles planed that express our views of concern.

And Kevin, I always admired Ronnie and his thoughts as you expressed are some of the truest of his time.

Anonymous said...

WORLD WITHOUT END -- AMEN

Ron Boat said...

Friends, I had teh chance to come back and visit this article and a year and a half later, your words still inspire me.

We made it to now almost Oct 2014 but with the crumbling, now a beheading in OK, the imposter and chief still riding high in DC..... well, the next 2 years will be interesting.

Here's hoping God brings us the senate in a few weeks so we can at least fortify our defenses against the evil....if in fact they will do anything anyways to help protect this country. They haven't so far.

God bless