America

There is, of course, mention in many American history texts about the early settlers who came to America seeking religious freedom and, consequently, that is taught in many American history classes. What isn't mentioned or taught is the reality of God interceding in the affairs of those who sought Him, of those who knew they needed a Savior and those who believed the Word of God. In other words, the biblical principles upon which America was founded isn't mentioned or taught.

There are those who prefer to keep God, His son our Lord Jesus Christ and His Word only within the pages of the Bible. However, the exciting reality is that they are not only within the pages of the Bible, but God and His son, our Lord Jesus Christ and the Word of God are active in history! To put it differently, God was and is active in the affairs of men and women if they want Him (and, in some cases, even if they don't want Him)! Many of those early American settlers and many of our colonial founders wanted Him and needed Him. They knew that they needed God to guide their path. They wanted and needed God in order to receive direction and inspiration from the Word of God.

I had listened to and considered those who expressed the opinion that America was exceptional. They referred to "American exceptionalism," suggesting a number of reasons for it. Some said that America was exceptional due to the determination of the early settlers seeking freedom. Others that America was exceptional due to the operation of the free enterprise system which allowed all who worked hard to build financial wealth at a level that the world had never seen. Still others said that America was exceptional because it had the greatest military organization, one that no other country could match. Another theory was that America was exceptional due to the constitutional republic that the delegates to the Constitutional Convention had developed. Yes, America was and is exceptional, but there was something missing from this list. The points that they listed bothered me. The reason that they bothered me wasn't because they were not true, but because they missed the point!

Whatever exceptionalism America represents, it represents it because of God! Whatever exceptionalism America represents, it is because there were people who dared to believe God and to take God at His Word, the Bible. True spiritual and physical prosperity come when God and His Word are believed. That is the point! If God, His Word, and belief in the ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ are ignored as an active reality in the founding of America, then we miss the true story of America and the true nature of our legacy. That is the point! Yes, there were other realities which contributed to the founding of America. However, leaving God out of the picture, leaving God out of the story, leaving God out of the account of the founding of America, omits the true story of America and the true nature of our legacy.