“It is impossible to rightly govern a nation without God and the Bible.” (George Washington)
“The first and almost the only book deserving of universal attention is the Bible.” (John Quincy Adams)
“That book, sir, is the rock on which our republic rests.” (Andrew Jackson)
“In regard for this great book, I have this to say: It is the best gift God has given to man. All the good Savior gave to the world was communicated through this book.” (Abraham Lincoln)
How far have we drifted as a nation from the teachings of the Bible! In a pursuit for equality and tolerance, we have become intolerant of the Word. Where did we go wrong?
Before we start pointing fingers at Washington and at political parties, the answer may lie within us. Washington is a reflection of who we are collectively as a people.
We have become a people that acknowledge the existence of God, but we live as though He does not exist. We believe the Bible is true, yet we do not read it nor really know what it says. We believe it is the breath of God, but we do not expect Him to speak to us through it.
According to the American Bible society, Americans have four Bibles per household. Fifty-seven percent of Americans read the Bible four times per year or less, and only 25 percent read it regularly.
Ironically, 80 percent of Americans believe we are on a moral decline, but only 30 percent believe reading the Bible has much to do with it.
Why should we be surprised by the moral decline of our nation when we do not listen to the Word of God or make it a daily priority in teaching our children and grandchildren? When was the last time your children and grandchildren caught you reading the Scripture or pouring your heart out to God? Do they hear you talking about what God is telling you through the Scripture and of how you are loving your neighbor as a result of His teaching?
We will not be successful at righting a nation with bullhorns and picket signs. We will succeed by raising up a generation that hungers and thirsts for the Word of God and listens to His instruction. We are only one generation away from a nation that is ignorant of God. Our battle is not against politicians — it is against the spiritual forces of evil. The battle is fought only on our knees, with the open Word at our side.
There has been too much blood spilled to preserve us as One Nation Under God. Do not allow those lives to have been lost in vain.
We stand at a crossroads in American history. We will either set our plumb line to the teachings of Jesus, or we will chart our own course based on the opinions and common sense of the majority of a people who do not know the Word. All nations that have charted their own course have not withstood the test of time.
We can either make history, or be history.
— If you struggle with sharing Jesus with someone close to you, consider reading “Close Encounters” by Lee Clamp, available at CourierPublishing.com. Clamp is evangelism group director for the South Carolina Baptist Convention. Follow him at leeclamp.com and on Twitter: @leeclamp.