God Bless America or America Bless God

I am beginning with the assumption that God is the source of all blessings, including America's blessings. (Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above James 1:17 KJV) We have not been problem or trouble free. We have had wars, social injustices, our economy has gone through ups and down similar to a business's cycle and there has been political turmoil at times. However America has raised above problems and troubles to be unquestionably one of the most, if not the most, blessed nation in the history of the world. Those blessings should not be attributed to our outstanding intellectuals, our great scientists, our mighty military or our distinguised political leaders but should be attributed to God. Not just any god but to the Christian God.

America, the place we now call the United States, was founded at approximately the same time as Central and South America. Why has our standard of living risen to the level that most of their inhabitants don't even dream of? Europe, Asia and Africa have been in existence centuries longer than we have. Why are we the leaders in power, education and technology?

In 1918, Irving Berlin penned the patriotic song, God Bless America. If you examine the context, the phrase, "God Bless America" it is a prayer asking God for his blessing. "God bless the USA" was written by Lee Greenwood and recorded in 1984 and is still a popular song at patriotic events. In it the implication is that God has the United States in the past. Many speeches, rallies and public addresses today are ended with the cliche "God Bless America" but the tone has changed from a prayer to a desperate plea.

In the presidential election of 2008 a large part of the political rhetoric was to ask if we thought America was heading in the wrong direction. Months later it is still one of the questions often ask in polls and the resounding answer is still, "Yes."

In sports, whether individual or team, when things aren't going well, coaches stress going back to basics. In other words the participants have deviated from the things that produce success. I suggest to our educators, political figures, clergy, and each individual that calls the United States home that we return to the basics. And I don't think the basics could be any better defined than they were by our first president, George Washington on Oct. 3, 1789 when he spoke the following:

Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly implore his protection and favor-whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.

Now therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be -that we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks-for his kind care and protection of the People of this country previous to their becoming a Nation-for the signal manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his Providence in the course and conclusion of the late war, for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed-for the peaceable and rational manor in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness and particularly the national One now lately instituted-for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in genereal for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us. And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and suplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions-to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually-to render our national government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a government of wise, just, and constitutional laws,discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed- to protect and guide all Soverigns and Nations (especially such as have shown kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace and concord-To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us-and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.

Granted that would not meet today's standard of political correctness. It is not acknowledging any god but the Christian God. But we must ask ourselves, do we want to continue down the same path we are on or do we want the path we traveled for many decades. They are definitely not the same path. The great Israelite leader of the Old Testament challenged the Israelites to "choose you this day whom ye will serve;" (Joshua 24:15 KJV) I am convinced we are at that same juncture today. It is time for us to quit begging for God's blessing and do as George Washington urged us to do, even though that was offered for a special occasion, it is the basics we need today - America Bless God.

The George Washington quote was transcribed from "The Silencing of God" a DVD produced by www.WVBS.org The Silencing of God" copywrite 2007 www.SilencingofGod.org