Pastor Matt's Blogosphere

God Bless America

Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people - Proverbs 14:34.

The United States of America is a great nation, and has been preserved for 232 years by God. The young country of 1776 has grown from two million strong to over 300 million, with fifty states, much wealth, and power. The necessities of life are available to all and freedom is granted as a right to each individual citizen. What a truly blessed nation we are. However, can such a nation continue being blessed when abortion, pedophilia, drugs, murder, and a general hatred towards one’s neighbor is the norm? We all know the issues facing our country, but what can be done about it?
Fortunately, we are given the answer in Scripture. To continually be exalted, we must be righteous. Yet, the righteousness spoken of here is that of just principles and actions which seems to be foreign to the train of thought of many Americans. No matter what the pundits say, righteousness is required by God for a nation to be blessed and that righteousness can only be found in Jesus Christ. We as a nation are not righteous, but we as a nation following the Lord Jesus Christ can be righteous.
“Justice, reigning in a nation, puts an honor upon it. A righteous administration of the government, impartial equity between man and man, public countenance given to religion, the general practice and profession of virtue, the protecting and preserving of virtuous men, charity and compassion to strangers, these exalt a nation; they uphold the throne, elevate the people’s minds, and qualify a nation for the favor of God. Vice, reigning in a nation, puts disgrace upon it: Sin is a reproach to any city or kingdom, and renders them despicable among their neighbors. The people of Israel were often instances of both parts of this observation.” (Commentary)
The early leaders of our nation realized morality and righteousness were needed for a nation to truly succeed.
“Observe good faith and justice towards all Nations; cultivate peace and harmony with all. Religion and Morality enjoin this conduct; and can it be, that good policy does not equally enjoin it? It will be worthy of a free, enlightened, and, at no distant period, a great Nation, to give to mankind the magnanimous and too novel example of a people always guided by an exalted justice and benevolence. Who can doubt, that, in the course of time and things, the fruits of such a plan would richly repay any temporary advantages, which might be lost by a steady adherence to it? Can it be, that Providence has not connected the permanent felicity of a Nation with its Virtue? The experiment, at least, is recommended by every sentiment which ennobles human nature. Alas! is it rendered impossible by its vices ?” (George Washington in his farewell address to the nation)
May we as Christians pray for our nation, repent of our sins, allow the righteousness of Christ to lead us, and be the godly citizens the U.S.A. needs!