The Church Mouse

JULY 2, 2006 Message by the Mouse. IN GOD WE TRUST

In God we trust. Two days from today we will celebrate our Nation’s birthday. We celebrate the 4^th of this month because godly men and women 230 years ago trusted in God and created a nation
predicated on His truth. These people believed there was such a thing as right and wrong given to us by God through His Word. In fact they were willing to literally trust God with their lives, their fortunes, their homes, their families, they trusted all that they had, to something they could not feel,
see, touch, or smell. These were believers! When we read their letters to one another, their writings, their laws and convictions are all based on Christian principals. They did the right thing even when it wasn’t the socially, economically, or politically “correct” thing. This nation was crafted by a people who were willing to sacrifice everything to fight the evil of tyranny and religious persecution. People who resisted the vice of continuous compromise and absolute tolerance. These men and women stood up proudly for right, and by trusting in God to bless their journey they overcame incredible obstacles to create a new and different kind of nation. A nation based on the principals of freedom in Christ, equality of opportunity, service, duty to God, justice, the sovereignty of God over man and man’s institutions, a government focused on Old Testament covenant law and New Testament obedient love.

We are the inheritors of their sacrificial love and faithful trust. Our nation has been built on trust in God and the blood of patriots. As Presbyterians we have an unique perspective on the development of our nation and it’s governing institutions. Many of our nation’s greatest leaders were Presbyterian. John Witherspoon a Presbyterian minister of great influence and respect, as well as a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and president of the College of New Jersey which is today’s Princeton University, was teacher and theologian to many of our most influential founding fathers including John Henry, James Madison, Nathaniel Alexander, Morgan Lewis, Henry Lee and many others.

Presbyterian preachers, often called the “black robe regiment” by the British, were instrumental in whipping up the political and religious fury against an unjust government. Although many never fired a shot, these preachers were among the most hated and sought after by the British Crown and paid a terrible price for their courage. There was certainly no separation of church and state in the days of the revolution or during the creation and signing of the constitution or the bill of rights. These people believed that a government could only be just, if it got its powers from God through the people, and that people were inherently fallen needing multiple checks and balances to protect them from themselves. They believed that the rights of any government were UNDER GOD and that no government could place itself above God's Law. The War for Independence was a revolution against the tyrannies of a man centered government. They sacrificed comfort and security for the freedom of worship, liberty, life, and pursuit of happiness.

Today, as we live each day of our journey in Christ may we look back on the courage of our forefathers and fight for right in our daily lives. May we strive to put Christ first no matter the cost. May we be modern day revolutionaries that do our best to fight the evils of the world, politically, economically, socially, and spiritually. May we be unwilling to compromise our Christian values for the physical or emotional comforts of secular humanism. May we speak out boldly for right and serve with distinction in all our endeavors so that we may be the light of Christ in a dark and dangerous world. Let us pray.

A Prayer for the Nation

We hold these truths to be self evident that
all men are created equal.
That they are endowed by their Creator
with certain inalienable rights,
that among these are
Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness

Almighty God, our heavenly Father,

All glory, honor and praise belong to You alone.
Our forefathers established this country upon
religious freedom, Biblical principles,
Your Holy righteous standard and Law.
Humbly now we come to ask Your forgiveness.
We have denied many Life and Liberty as we have selfishly pursued our
happiness.

We have abandoned Your Truth
in radical compromise and total toleration
thinking that that is how to best express
mercy, love and compassion.

We have refused to permit our children
to seek your guidance through public prayer.

We have denied them the blessing of knowing Your standard removing the
Ten Commandments from their sight.
In the arrogance of our own accomplishment,
we have forgotten true wisdom.

Now, we return to Your Word and its promise
as we humbly bow before You
asking that You heal this land.
Give us your wisdom Lord,
Let this nation never forget that it is
“In God We Trust.”

Sustain us by Your grace and help us to remain
“one Nation under God, indivisible,
with liberty and justice for all.”
In Jesus Name We Pray, Amen