LETTER: America has ‘lost its way,’ needs God
March 2, 2013 at 9:54 am in The Daily Republic
A country that has lost its way in the darkness of sin and confusion doesn’t want God to interfere with its lifestyle.
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LETTER: America has ‘lost its way,’ needs God
26 Comments
It is kind of arrogant to believe that humanity would be able to keep God out of anything. The author must have some insider information.
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Just wondering…….what country do we (USA)look to as an example as one that has embraced god and he smiles upon them?
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All that needs to be done is to keep religion out of government, only then will you find God, true christianity. Religion is not True Christianity. Government is a mess because religions are starting to battle within it.
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“All that needs to be done is to keep religion out of government, only then will you find God, true christianity”
Are you saying the only way to “find’ God is to keep him out of government? I doubt the Founding Fathers thought that. A while back I was driving and listened to an interview with a pastor (whose name I can’t remember) who rattled off 14 scriptures he stated were included in the 1st Amendment of the Bill of Rights. He also told the story of the Constitutional Congress reaching an impasse and being on the verge of failure. The entire body of the Constituional Congress voted to take 3 days off to pray and worship, and after those 3 days passed they were able to reconcile their differences.
It was a fascinating interview, and I wished many times I had written down the name of the pastor. As he said, this view of the Founding Fathers runs contrary to what many of us have been taught.
And in my experience, the only way to “find” God is through the invitation of the Holy Spirit. We may see /hear/touch/feel/smell/experience the fulfillment of God’s creation and promises in the world, but it is only through a personal relationship with Him and His son, Jesus Christ, that we get to know Him.
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I finally remembered!
I heard David Barton, and his website: http://www.wallbuilders.com/
There are so many articles regarding the history of the Founding Fathers and their relationships with God / religion it will take hours to read them all.
There is an article titled, “Importance of Morality and Religion in Government” with quotes from well-known and less well-known statesmen who laid the foundations for this country. Such as Declaration of Independence signer Benjamin Rush: (Don’t be offended by the use of “republicans”, he wasn’t using it to refer the Republican Party that was founded in 1870, but used it in the sense of “somebody who believes that the best government is one in which supreme power is vested in an electorate.” *)
Benjamin Rush: “We profess to be republicans, and yet we neglect the only means of establishing and perpetuating our republican forms of government, that is, the universal education of our youth in the principles of Christianity by the means of the Bible. For this Divine Book, above all others, favors that equality among mankind, that respect for just laws, and those sober and frugal virtues, which constitute the soul of republicanism.
(Source: Benjamin Rush, Essays, Literary, Moral and Philosophical (Philadelphia: Printed by Thomas and William Bradford, 1806), pp. 93-94.) ”
copy/paste to go to this article: wallbuilders.com/LIBissuesArticles.asp?id=63
*from Bing.com dictionary
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David Barton is a fraud. He is not taken seriously by any historical scholars. He has no formal credentials in history. His only goal is historical revisionism so the United States can fit his crazy idea of a christian nation. This man is dangerous and should not be taken seriously.
http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/intelligence-files/profiles/david-barton
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When you rely on the opinion of the SPLC, you lose a lot of creditability…imo.
First, he is declared “anit-gay”, which isn’t surprising since he believes in the Bible. Just keep in mind that a lot of Christians hate the sin but love the sinner…just as Jesus did.
Secondly, one does not have to hold any degree to become an “expert”. I’m sure you know many such people. For instance, the neighborhood mechanic has designed and built specialized equipment for area farmers, with no engineering degree. Besides, PhD just stands for “piled higher and deeper”.
Thirdly, upon googling David Barton it quickly becomes apparent the lefty organizations are out to discredit him. Most university professors are lefty, Bible-disliking “experts”, so no surprise with what they have to say.
I finally found Glen Beck’s, The Blaze, is looking into David Barton. I find the conservative U professors’s opinions on Barton’s latest book more informative, and they don’t agree with Barton.
So how does information about David Barton affect the opinion of Dec of Independence signer Benjamin Rush? It seems lefties are trying to take down Barton and hoping to keep the truth from leaking out…the truth this country was founded on Christian principles.
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2012/08/13/exclusive-historian-david-barton-responds-to-critics-amid-jefferson-lies-book-controversy/
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Your stance is baseless.
The thrust of your argument is the conservative view is correct and if you’re are not conservative…..you’re wrong.
Come on, you know better.
Really? The Blaze over SPLC? You should do your homework.
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Don,
you wrote, “The thrust of your argument is the conservative view is correct and if you’re are not conservative, you’re wrong”
I’ve also heard that about dems/progressives.
I identified Beck as the owner of the Blaze, if you would really do some research, you would learn the SPLC is not the SPLC it was in its early days. One tidbit out of the following linked article states SPLC has a bank account of unknown value in the Caymen Islands. Why do they hide their money in the Caymens?
Why does SPLC label Barton anti-gay? He holds a Biblical point of view, which clearly states homosexuality is an abomination to God. Is the SPLC calling God anti-gay? What criteria makes the SPLC THE final decison-maker on points-of-view? From the Discover The Newwork website it appears SPLC accusations often lack the research to back those accusations up.
Did you bother to read The Blaze article? One thing I will say about Beck is he wants the truth, even when it makes him look bad. He asked Barton a lot of pointed questions, had Barton’s work check by a conservative-leaning professor (who didn’t agree with Barton, btw), and gave Barton a chance to respond. I don’t listen much to Beck because he can get too intense, but I do respect the guy for his desire for truth and honesty about his views.
Btw, my political views have evolved over my life. I voted Dem until fall of 2010 and got quickly turned off with ACORN and the lies, manipulations, bargaining the Dems did to push Obamacare through. I’ve become a libertarian with conservative leanings…more accurately described as Biblical leanings.
Do me a favor Don, read The Blaze articles on Barton, and read the linked article on SPLC.
http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/groupProfile.asp?grpid=6989
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‘Eldredton,’ I certainly agree with you. Some folks seem to confuse that with the culture. I agree and said decades back that graphic violence would harm society someday. I do not have an issue with baccalurate programs for graduation, or even prayer before a meeting…aka legislature or congress. Government can not force God out of one’s heart or home. If we as a society are doing that I suggest it is due to the policies of organized religion, the power struggles, the greed, the ‘pharases’ of that religion. I see organized relgion getting involved in the politics rather then setting an example to their parish. If God is out of our society look into your own heart and see before you judge.
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I agree that religion should be kept out of government and that would also include schools, so no to the baccalurate (if the school pays for it)and prayer before a meeting.
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So if I understand the letter writer correctly, if something bad happens God is nowhere to be found but if a “miracle” happens God is the first person in line to take the credit. That seems mighty convenient to me, but I think I just figured all of this out, President Obama is God!
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Do you think what I heard being discussed on Fox News could be true? Mike Huckabee, a candidate in the 2008 Republican presidential primary, said we have these killings in our schools because we have removed God from our schools! Mr. Huckabbe said “Maybe we ought to let God in on the front end, and we wouldn’t have to call Him up when it’s all said and done at the back end”. Also, American Family Association director Brian Fischer said that God could have protected the children, but didn’t because “God is not going to go where he is not wanted”….so I guess God didn’t save the kids because there’s no prayer in school? Then I read that “Gun Owners of America” head Larry Pratt said “Gun control supporters have the blood of little children on their hands”! Is that true? Could it be true that God could have prevented these children from being killed but chose not to because of the separation of church and state…that Jesus killed the little kids to send a clear message that he is upset? Could Huckabee and Fischer be RIGHT that these tragic deaths are retribution for something we did to anger God? So then, if these children were in a Catholic school, nothing bad would have happened them? God loves us and teaches us to worship peace and kindness, but does He sometimes practice tough love on innocent children if we get out of line? I suppose sometimes God could kill for vengeance. Is Mr. Huckabee and Mr. Fischer RIGHT that God won’t protect innocent little kids in a mass shooting unless public schools allow prayer? If so, we TeaPublicans better again get the Ten Commandments posted back on the walls of every school in the United States!
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“Could Huckabee and Fischer be RIGHT that these tragic deaths are retribution for something we did to anger God?”
I believe Huckabee was referring to today’s Christianity, where (maybe) one hour/wk is spent with God before a tragedy, and many hours spent asking God after a tragedy, “why?” How many parents wrench themselves away from TV or computers to seek God each day: reading and studying the Bible, praying, reading Bible stories to their kids, and covering their children and their children’s teachers/coaches/pastors with prayer? How many parents have read/taught Psalm 91 to their children?
You didn’t provide a link to Fisher’s comments, so it’s hard to know the context of what he said.
Jesus wanted the little children to come to him. Remember, God is not only loving, He is just. He would not punish a child for something his/her parent did. Because children have to be taught to pray, why would any loving parent, which is what God is, punish a child for not doing something they hadn’t been taught?
IMO, having kids recite prayers in school would be an exercise in rote speaking. God desires a personal experience with each of us, something beyond the mindless repetition of a prayer. Parents should be teaching children how to pray, and pray with them…everyday. If a group of kids or teachers want to form a prayer group at school, they should be allowed that freedom of speech.
If you read the book of Job in the Bible, you will see suffering God allowed Satan to inflict on one person. It is a confusing book because it’s hard to understand how God actually gave Satan permission, and I suggest the use of a good study Bible (Dake Annotated Reference Bble is my favorite) when you read it. But in the end, Job never cursed God and God blessed him many times over what he lost.
My accountant has the 10 Commandments written on a huge sign hung on the outside wall of his office. The only people uncomfortable with the sign are those whose “conscious” get bothered as they walk past. I think they should be posted on every block, and definately in every government building. I realize that offends the seperation believers, but the immoral behavior engaged in by elected officials is not only offensive, it can cost us (taxpayers) a lot of $.
My parents took me to church, Sunday School, confirmation, etc, and yet I had little understanding of God, and really no personal relationship with Him. It took a very strong pull of the Holy Spirit many decades later to get me back into a church, and one where Bibles were brought to service because most of the service was spent studing scripture. That church also had study classes on topics such as the healing scriptures, satan’s warfare, the meaning of the blood of Christ, the attributes of God, etc. Life hasn’t been the same since, it also hasn’t been easy.
As Pastor Rod asks, “Do you pray for this country? Do you pray for this President?”
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My mother took us to all the church events as well. But what we really learned at church was …. church people aren’t all as nice as they pretend to be. They talked about my family behind our backs. They said our dad wasn’t at church because he was a drunk. It wasn’t true. He just didn’t want to attend church. He didn’t grow up going to church the way our mother did. But they had to come up with some reason he wasn’t there so they went with the worst thing imaginable. They judged us harshly and gossiped about us. That is why I will never give them a dime. I donate to the homeless shelter instead. Yep…the devil goes to church on Sunday disguised as parishioners. My father-in-law was the biggest fake of them all. He thought giving money and praying would make up for how mean he was to his family. I wonder if it paid off for him…
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Hey devilschild,
I’ve been in those kind of churches, around those kind of “christians” and the result was I quit going to church for decades and had nothing to do with God.
But God still loves YOU, and he will find ways to let you know He still wants to have a personal relationship with you, and He will find a way to put Godly people in your path. I’ve found churches that really teach scripture are churches where the love of Christ flows… gossip, backstabbing, judgement etc are almost nonexistent because people tend to live what they have been taught.
Scripture says one day we will all be judged for our words and actions. Forgiveness is difficult to give to people, but I find it is easier to give when I know someone greater than myself is going to hold them accountable.
peace be with you devilschild
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You’re one of the good ones g s…
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Are they right? No, of course not.
For the sake of argument, lets say you/they are right. I would ask you….Why would you worship that god?
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To be on the team that is going to win in the end. Have you ever tried to fathom eternity?
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Who needs God? Isn’t it obvious the country is doing just fine with Obama at the helm? He’s the savior isn’t he?
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“God could have prevented these children from being killed but chose not to because of the separation of church and state…that Jesus killed the little kids to send a clear message that he is upset? ”
” that these tragic deaths are retribution for something we did to anger God?”
“God loves us and teaches us to worship peace and kindness, but does He sometimes practice tough love on innocent children if we get out of line? I suppose sometimes God could kill for vengeance. ”
So, you want to be on that team? I just want to get a clear picture.
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I think when humans rebelled at the Garden of Eden God cast them out of paradise and they were on their own. God doesn’t cause bad things to happen to people Satan does. After Armageddon Christ will once again take direct rule of all mankind.
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WTH? The devil is the scapegoat ninety percent of the time. People are weak. Few have a strong backbone…today more than ever before. That is the real problem.
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You have that right, people are weak which is why people need God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
Scripture says we are “in the world, not of the world”, meaning we reside temporarily on an earth where satan/lucifer runs wild until he and his angels are thrown into the lake of fire.
Not everything can be blamed on satan, after all, I’m pretty good at making bad decisions or not taking actions that have future consequences. My dad died of lung cancer…was that satan or Dad’s choice to engage in a behavior with deadly consequences? Common sense says his choice to smoke caused his death.
Scripture also says satan comes to kill, steal and destroy. My Dad could have made the choice to quit smoking, and I have no doubt it would have been a fight, and not just against the addictive nature of cigs. Satan has had all the years since Adam and Eve in the garden to learn how to deceive people, and he is very good at his job. Just (slowly) read the story of Eve and the snake (satan) in the Garden of Eden, and pay attention to what he/it says to her and how he says it. Deceitful words are spoken by the snake. Had my Dad chosen to quit smoking, satan would have tried to deceive him with, “you can’t do it” or “one more won’t hurt”, etc.
If our problem is a “weak backbone”, then a “strong backbone” should have solved all the problems of individuals and societies through the ages. Has that worked?
I’ve got a pretty stubborn, strong backbone, and yet I am weak. It is the shed blood of Jesus that gives me strength. It is that blood given as a sacrifice for my sins that allows me to have a personal relationship with God. It is only because of Jesus that I have His strengh.
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Don, you are pulling individual statements out of comments that to me lack Biblical accuracy.
If you can back those statements up with specific scripture that leads you arrive at your conclusion “So, you want to be on that team? I just want to get a clear picture.” I’d be interested in reading them.
It seems you are just being a troll.
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The comments/statements were taken from the posting by TeaPublican to form the basis of his point of view as to why, in his opinion, America needs god. Are they Biblical y accurate? No, they are his opinion and he is rarely accurate on any subject. My point is to again point out if they are his reasons to embrace god, I would ask, Why?
I have to admit that I don’t see biblical accuracy being relevant to the topic, or anything for that matter.
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