As The Church Goes, So Goes The Nation January 22, 2011

History has archived a long list of prosperous, powerful nations that have fallen from their positions of prominence.

In some cases these nations have completely disappeared from the face of the earth.

Does anyone here doubt that America is at a crossroads? What is preventing the United States of America from becoming just one more nation on the trash heap of history? Does anyone here doubt that America is at a crossroads? What is preventing the United States of America from becoming just one more nation on the trash heap of history?

The United States is absolutely unique when compared to every single country that has existed in the world until now. It is called “American Exceptionalism.” The United States is absolutely unique when compared to every single country that has existed in the world until now. It is called “American Exceptionalism.”

In April 2009, President Barack Obama said, "I believe in American exceptionalism, just as I suspect that the Brits believe in British exceptionalism and the Greeks believe in Greek exceptionalism."

Why was that statement so controversial?

One of the things that makes America so exceptional when compared to any other nation in history is that our nation started with a stated purpose.

“ We hold these truths to be self- evident, that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That, to

secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed...” The Declaration of Independence secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed...” The Declaration of Independence

In the Declaration of Independence, our founding fathers clearly stated their belief that our rights are given by God and that it is the duty of the government to ensure that those rights are protected.

In the preamble of the Constitution, we set the limits on our government, and set the purpose of our nation and her guiding principles.

“ We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to

ourselves and to our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” The U.S. Constitution ourselves and to our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” The U.S. Constitution

Those two documents lay the foundation for why our American government exists. Most of the concepts found in the Declaration and the Constitution had been preached in the pulpits of colonies from Those two documents lay the foundation for why our American government exists. Most of the concepts found in the Declaration and the Constitution had been preached in the pulpits of colonies from

America’s exceptionalism is not that we are any better than the Brits or Greeks. Our exceptionalism is that from the beginning we believed that God gave us our rights - not the government. America’s exceptionalism is not that we are any better than the Brits or Greeks. Our exceptionalism is that from the beginning we believed that God gave us our rights - not the government.

That the people gave the government the right to rule for us, not over us – that is exceptional. It had never been done before or since.

The Founding Fathers intended the church to play a critical role in preserving our nation. 29 of the Founding Fathers had seminary degrees – they understood God’s purpose for the church. Don’t miss that point – they knew the Bible. The Founding Fathers intended the church to play a critical role in preserving our nation. 29 of the Founding Fathers had seminary degrees – they understood God’s purpose for the church. Don’t miss that point – they knew the Bible.

The Founding Fathers understood the meaning of the English word “church” in the New Testament is the Greek word “Ecclesia.” The word ecclesia is derived from a Greek verb meaning “to call out.” The Founding Fathers understood the meaning of the English word “church” in the New Testament is the Greek word “Ecclesia.” The word ecclesia is derived from a Greek verb meaning “to call out.”

Not only did they believe that Christians are the “called out” from the world, but also that our government was to be “called out” from the world. We were not to be like every other government. Not only did they believe that Christians are the “called out” from the world, but also that our government was to be “called out” from the world. We were not to be like every other government.

“Ecclesia” had a specific meaning in the Greek language in the time of Christ. It was the word for the governing body of a Greek city- state.

Greece was basically made up of small city-states like Athens or Corinth. Each city-state had a governing body, which was called the ecclesia.

The Founding Fathers believed that the church is a body of people called out from the world to represent God and to demonstrate His government.

Here lies the problem for us today. Most Christians do not understand the fact that the church is God’s governing body in the earth – the “Ecclesia.” Here lies the problem for us today. Most Christians do not understand the fact that the church is God’s governing body in the earth – the “Ecclesia.”

The people in the church are responsible to heed God’s statutes, exercise “vice-regency,” and administor His government of the nation.

One of the most popular scriptures on God’s teaching on government is found in Romans 13.

“Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment

on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in

vain; for he is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience' sake. For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God's ministers attending continually to

this very thing. Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor. Romans 13:1-7 (NKJ) this very thing. Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor. Romans 13:1-7 (NKJ)

If you were a Christian in the late 1700’s and you wanted to make sure that you did not violate the scriptural mandate to obey the leaders in government, you would want to ensure that only godly leaders would be put into authority.

Virtually all the state constitutions of the day, the Delaware constitution of 1776 is an example, show just how serious the Founding Fathers were about putting godly leaders into office in order to obey Romans 13. Virtually all the state constitutions of the day, the Delaware constitution of 1776 is an example, show just how serious the Founding Fathers were about putting godly leaders into office in order to obey Romans 13.

Article 22. Every person who shall be chosen a member of either house, or appointed to any office or place of trust... shall... make and subscribe the following declaration, to wit: "I ________, do profess faith in God the Father, and in Jesus

Christ His only Son, and in the Holy Ghost, one God, Blessed for evermore; and I do acknowledge the holy scripture of the Old and New Testaments to be given by divine inspiration." Christ His only Son, and in the Holy Ghost, one God, Blessed for evermore; and I do acknowledge the holy scripture of the Old and New Testaments to be given by divine inspiration."

Why would the Founding Fathers require that their leaders be professing Christians?

Because they understood that if they elected professing Christians, these elected officials would not pass laws that would cause them to violate God’s laws, nor would they take away their God-given rights.

“We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge, or gallantry, would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes

through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." John Adams (The Works of John Adams, ed. C. F. Adams, Boston: Little, Brown Co., 1851, 4:31) through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." John Adams (The Works of John Adams, ed. C. F. Adams, Boston: Little, Brown Co., 1851, 4:31)

When we look at American today, it is easy to say, “Our country is such a mess. People are just awful.” When we look at American today, it is easy to say, “Our country is such a mess. People are just awful.”

So who is responsible for preserving out God-given heritage? Is it the president? Is it the congress? Is it non-believers? So who is responsible for preserving out God-given heritage? Is it the president? Is it the congress? Is it non-believers?

It is us – followers of Jesus Christ that God is going to hold accountable to a large extent for the mess we are in. We were called to be salt – to preserve the culture. It is us – followers of Jesus Christ that God is going to hold accountable to a large extent for the mess we are in. We were called to be salt – to preserve the culture.

"You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.” Matthew 5:13 (NKJ) "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.” Matthew 5:13 (NKJ)

The majority of church goers today would think that it would be strange for God to hold us accountable. After all, we’re the ones following Christ, we’re going to church, we’re the people in the world doing the right things. Why are we responsible for the mess?

It’s not us. It’s those other religions that don’t teach about Jesus. It’s those godless atheists who are at fault for the mess we are in. It’s not us. It’s those other religions that don’t teach about Jesus. It’s those godless atheists who are at fault for the mess we are in.

Curiously, the Founding Fathers did not believe other faiths or even atheists were the problem. They believed that it was a Christian government that gave people the freedom not to believe in Jesus if that was their choice. Curiously, the Founding Fathers did not believe other faiths or even atheists were the problem. They believed that it was a Christian government that gave people the freedom not to believe in Jesus if that was their choice.

"It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religions, but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For this very reason peoples

of other faiths have been afforded asylum, prosperity, and freedom of worship here." Patrick Henry of other faiths have been afforded asylum, prosperity, and freedom of worship here." Patrick Henry

Noah Webster wrote: “When you become entitled to exercise the right of voting for public officers, let it be impressed on your mind that God commands you to choose for rulers just men who will rule in the fear of God. The Noah Webster wrote: “When you become entitled to exercise the right of voting for public officers, let it be impressed on your mind that God commands you to choose for rulers just men who will rule in the fear of God. The

preservation of a republican government depends on the faithful discharge of this duty; if the citizens neglect their duty and place unprincipled men in office, the government will soon be corrupted; laws will be made not for the public

good so much as for selfish or local purposes; corrupt or incompetent men will be appointed to execute the laws; the public revenues will be squandered on unworthy men; and the rights of the citizens will be violated or disregarded. If a republican government fails to

secure public prosperity and happiness, it must be because the citizens neglect the Divine commands and elect bad men to make and administer the laws.”

Most churchgoers today agree that our nation is in danger of forfeiting our God-given destiny, but they fail to believe they had anything to do with it.

We are an exceptional nation. Unique in history. It is the responsibility of every Christian citizen of our nation and collectively the “Ecclesia” – the church, to be the salt and light in our world. We have not done our job. We are an exceptional nation. Unique in history. It is the responsibility of every Christian citizen of our nation and collectively the “Ecclesia” – the church, to be the salt and light in our world. We have not done our job.

“Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? Who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?” Psalm 94:16 (NKJ) “Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? Who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?” Psalm 94:16 (NKJ)

“If ye love wealth greater than liberty, the tranquility of servitude greater than the animating contest for freedom, go home from us in peace. We seek not your counsel, nor your arms. Crouch down and lick

the hand that feeds you; and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen.” Samuel Adams the hand that feeds you; and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen.” Samuel Adams

Three Commitments To Preserve Our Nation: 1)Personal Holiness 2)Personal Courage 3)Unity in the “Ecclesia” Three Commitments To Preserve Our Nation: 1)Personal Holiness 2)Personal Courage 3)Unity in the “Ecclesia”

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