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By Cameron C. Taylor,
the author of the book
"Does Your Bag Have Holes? 24 Truths That Lead to Financial and Spiritual
Freedom"
Phoenix, AZ, U.S.A.
The phrase “separation of church and state” has been used so
often by courts and other organizations that many believe it to be a part
of the First Amendment of the Constitution. The phrase, however, is nowhere
stated in the Constitution or other founding documents. The First Amendment
was never intended to remove God from the government. The First Amendment
does say, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion
or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. . .”
The First Amendment is a constitutional prohibition of a government sponsored
religion. The founders’ purpose was to prevent the formation of a single
denomination created and operated by the government as had occurred in
Great Britain with the Church of England. The First Amendment simply prohibits
the U.S. government from creating and operating a church or interfering
with the religious practices of its citizens.
In an attempt to erode and destroy the religious principles on which America
was founded, some have misapplied the First Amendment to mean that any
religious activity in public is unconstitutional using the fabricated
disguise of “separation of church and state.” This has now evolved into
court ordered bans which have falsely declared it unconstitutional to
pray in school or at public meetings, unconstitutional to display the
Ten Commandments in schools and other government buildings.
Many are actively seeking legislation which will exclude any mention of
God or any display of religious connotation in the public square. Such
religious exclusion is undoubtedly counter to the intentions of the First
Amendment and the founding fathers. God is the foundation upon which the
American republic was built. Its currency bears the inscription of its
motto, “In God We Trust,” and citizens pledge allegiance to a “Nation
under God.” President Eisenhower said of these words in the pledge of
allegiance, “They will help us to keep constantly in our minds and hearts
the spiritual and moral principles which alone give dignity to man, and
upon which our way of life is founded.”
GOD’S HAND IN THE FOUNDING OF AMERICA
The Founding Fathers relied upon and called upon God for assistance. They
frequently declared that God’s hand was working through them in the founding
of America. James Madison commonly called the Father of the Constitution,
recognized God’s hand in the rising of America. He concluded his inaugural
address as President of the United States on March 4, 1809 with this statement,
“. . . we have all been encouraged to fell in the guardianship and guidance
of the Almighty Being whose power regulates the destiny of nations, whose
blessings have been so conspicuously displayed to the rising of this republic,
and to whom we are bound to address our devout gratitude for the past,
as well as our fervent supplications and best hopes for the future.”
In a motion for daily prayers in the Constitutional Convention, Benjamin
Franklin declared, “God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow
cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire
can rise without his aid? We have been assured, sir, in the sacred writings
that ‘except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it.’
I firmly believe this, and I also believe without His concurring aid we
shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of
Babel.”
GEORGE WASHINGTON-SERVANT RAISED UP AND PROTECTED BY GOD
George Washington was born in what is now modern day Virginia on February
22, 1732 to Mary Ball and Augustine Washington. George Washington’s character
was formed and developed early in his youth. His parents instilled in
him the values found in the Bible. At a very early age George Washington
was required to memorize the Ten Commandments. George’s father made it
crystal clear that a member of the Washington family does not lie, steal,
or cheat. These early lessons prepared him for the inspired missions he
completed later in his life.
In 1754, Washington, age 22, was a colonel in the British army and fought
in many battles during the French and Indian war. One such battle was
the battle at the Monongahela on July 9, 1755 in which the British were
ambushed by a party of the French and Indians. The British suffered a
decisive defeat with 714 of the 1,300 soldiers being killed or wounded
while only 60 of the French and Indians were killed or wounded. During
the battle, all of the mounted officers of the British army were slain
or disabled except for Washington. This made him an obvious and important
target as he moved about on horseback commanding the soldiers.
Dr. James Craik, a military surgeon, who witnessed the events of the battle,
recorded this regarding Washington, “I expected every moment to see him
fall. His duty and situation exposed him to every danger. Nothing but
the superintending care of Providence could have saved him from the fate
of all around him.”
Following the battle, Washington wrote to his brother, John, saying, “.
. . by the all-powerful dispensations of Providence, I have been protected
beyond all human probability, or expectation; for I had four bullets through
my coat, and two horses shot under me, yet escaped unhurt, though death
was leveling my companions on every side of me!”
An Indian warrior who played a leading part in this bloody battle stated,
“Washington was never born to be killed by a bullet! For I had seventeen
fair fires at him with my rifle, and after all could not bring him to
the ground.” Another distinguished young Indian warrior, Redhawk, became
acquainted with a doctor, Daniel Craig. In a conversion with the doctor,
Redhawk inquired what young officer it was who rode with great speed from
post to post during the action. The doctor replied, “Colonel Washington.”
Redhawk immediately stated, “I fired eleven deliberate shots at that man,
but could not touch him. I gave over any further attempt, believing he
was protected by the Great Spirit, and could not be killed.”
In 1758, Washington resigned from active military duty and worked as a
Virginia planter and politician. In 1770, Colonel Washington and some
woodmen were locating lands in Kanawha, present day Ohio and West Virginia,
when they were approached by a group of Indians. One of the Indians who
led the attack at Monongahela on the British 15 years earlier approached
Washington and said through an interpreter, “I am a chief and ruler over
many tribes. My influence extends to the waters of the great lakes, and
to the far Blue Mountains. I have traveled a long and weary path, that
I might see the young warrior of the great battle. It was on the day,
when the white man’s blood mixed with the streams of our forest, that
I first beheld this chief [pointing to Washington]: I called to my young
men and said, mark yon tall and daring warrior?. . . Quick, let your aim
be certain, and he dies. Our rifles were leveled, rifles which, but for
him, knew not how to miss—‘twas all in vain, a power mightier far than
we, shielded him from harm. He cannot die in battle. I am old, and soon
shall be gathered to the great council-fire of my fathers, in the land
of shades, but ere I go, there is a something bids me speak in the voice
of prophecy. Listen! The Great Spirit protects that man, and guides his
destinies—he will become the chief of nations, and a people yet unborn
will hail him as the founder of a mighty empire.”
The prophecy of the Indian chief would soon be fulfilled as Washington
took a leading role in the growing resistance of the American colonies
to British rule in the early 1770’s. Fighting began on April 19, 1775
with the Battles of Lexington and Concord to begin the Revolutionary War.
On June 14, 1775, congress created the Continental Army and selected Washington
as commander-in-chief. The fight for freedom and the creation of a mighty
empire had begun.
Washington led the Continental Army in numerous battles. In each battle,
Washington escaped unharmed. The Continental Army suffered much sickness,
privations and death over the eight years of the Revolutionary War, but
Washington’s courage, will, and reliance on the power and guidance of
the Almighty led the colonies to an eventual victory over the Kingdom
of Great Britain. In 1783, the Treaty of Paris officially ended the Revolutionary
War and a new Nation was born, even the United States of America. To bring
about this noble purpose, God raised up, protected and guided George Washington.
After victory, there were desires by some to make Washington king. The
first Congress voted to pay Washington a salary of $25,000 a year (approx.
$500,000 in 2006 dollars). Washington, however, chose to continue his
work as an unpaid servant of the people for during his years as commander-in-chief
of the Continental Army he took no pay. He would do the same during his
8 years as the first President of the United States. He exemplified the
word of the Savior found in the Bible, “But he that is greatest among
you shall be your servant.”
In 1797, as he ended his presidency, Washington delivered a farewell address
which emphasized the proper role and function of government. In this address
he stated, “Of all the dispositions and habits, which lead to political
prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain
would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labor to subvert
these great pillars of human happiness. . . It is substantially true,
that virtue or morality is a necessary spring of popular government.”
Washington had completed his divinely inspired work and would shortly
be taken home to the God who gave him life.
On December 14, 1799, at age 67, George Washington died, but the Nation
he brought to life lives on. At his death, Congressman Henry Lee said
of Washington, “First in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts
of his countrymen. . . Correct throughout, vice shuddered in his presence
and virtue always felt his fostering hand; the purity of his private character
gave effulgence to his public virtues. . . Such was the man for whom our
nation mourns.”
Washington was a patriot whose soul did joy in the liberty and freedom
of his country. A man more concerned with deeds than words, who fought
and labored exceedingly for his people. Through his firm faith in Christ
and selfless devotion to country, he lived his motto, "For God and my
Country."
CONCLUSION
The famous French historian Alexis de Tocqueville traveled to America
in the early 1800’s to find out what made America great. He said, “I sought
for the greatness and genius of America in her commodious harbors and
her ample rivers, and it was not there; in her fertile fields and boundless
prairies, and it was not there; in her rich mines and her vast world of
commerce, and it was not there. Not until I went to the churches of America
and heard her pulpits aflame with righteousness did I understand the secret
of her genius and power. America is great because she is good, and if
America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great.”
About the Author: Cameron C. Taylor is the author of
the book "Does Your Bag Have Holes? 24 Truths That Lead to Financial and
Spiritual Freedom." Content for this article was taken from chapter 7
of this book. Table of Contents and sample chapters are available online
at http://www.DoesYourBagHaveHoles.org
Source: www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=226284&ca=Opinions
Published - September 2008
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