Why Should God Bless America?

John West

This great nation that is called America was founded upon, and owes her greatness to, biblically-based moral principles that are displayed in private morality. George Washington, in his first inaugural address, delivered in New York City on Thursday, April 30, 1789, stated that “…the foundation of our national policy will be laid in the pure and immutable principles of private morality…”

Gertrude Himmelfarb, an eminent historian and author of the book “The De-Moralization of Society,” in comparing present-day welfare and social policies to Victorian policies, had this to say:

“The divorce of social policy from moral principles–the de-moralization of social policy–also reflects the spirit of relativism (post-modernism, jw) that is so pervasive in our time. It is this that makes it difficult to pass any moral judgments or impose any moral conditions upon the recipients of relief.”

She goes on to say: “If we seriously want to discourage dependency, criminality, illegitimacy, drug addiction and the like, we have to do more than create a more rational system of economic and legal incentivies and disincentives; we have to build into that system the moral, social and, if possible, religious sanctions that are the most compelling part of any utilitarian calculus. We have, in short, to religitimize morality as the basis of social policy and restore the language of virtue and vice.”

Will one argue that America is not in moral decline? If so, will the blessings so richly bestowed on America by a beneficent and loving heavenly Father continue? Indeed, given America’s moral decline, the question must be asked, “Why Should God Bless America?”

In the book of Proverbs, Solomon writes: “Righteousness exalteth a nation; But sin is a reproach to any people.” Is America today exalted by righteousness or by sin? A young boy approached his mother and asked, “Mom, do you remember that priceless vase that has been in our family for generations? Well, this generation just broke it.” Past generations, for the most part, upheld morals, honesty and a sense of worth. Currently, the bedrock principles on which this country was founded are being broken. Although America is leading in advancements in many areas, she has also become a world leader by being number one in violent crimes, number one in divorce, number one in teen pregnancy, number one in voluntary abortion and number one in illegal drug use. There are things currently happening in America that will cause one to ask, “Why should God bless America? Notice some areas in which America’s morals are rapidly declining.

Abortion - Approximately 4,500 babies are being murdered daily in America under the protection of a “woman’s right to choose.” Since the Roe vs. Wade decision in 1973, over 30 million unborn babies have been killed. These innocent babies are not guilty of a crime, nor have they committed any sins. They are guilty of being “unwanted” by a mother who is selfish and does not want the responsibility of rearing a child. The mother should think of that before she acts irresponsibly by getting pregnant in the first place. If she does not want to rear the child, then she can carry the baby to term, deliver and place him/her for adoption for the many thousands who want a baby and cannot have one. Solomon writes among the list of the things God hates are “hands that shed innocent blood (Prov. 6:17). Paul writes in Romans that those without “natural affection” are considered reprobate by God (1:31). One who will murder an unborn baby is no doubt without natural affection. Much can be learned about people and a nation by the way that children are viewed and treated. In this country, over 30 million innocent babies viewed as “unwanted” will never see the beauty of God’s creation because our nation upholds the murder of these innocent ones.

Homosexuality - Many states, such as California, are allowing homosexuals to “marry” in spite of what God’s word teaches about this subject. This country is spiraling downward in the tolerance of these homosexual unions. The Bible teaches that homosexuality is an abomination and those engaging in such will be lost. “Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination” (Lev. 18:22). Under the Old Testament, homosexuality was a sin punishable by death. “If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them” (Lev. 20:13). Paul writes, “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Cor. 6:9-10). Paul further writes to the Romans, “For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient” (1:26-28). In the New Testament, homosexuality is not considered a “death penalty” case, but one that will cause one to lose his soul in the fires of hell. Through Paul’s writing, it can be noted that homosexuality is a behavior that is learned, not inherited. Such men left the natural use of a woman and burned in their lust toward other men. This is a change in habit (lifestyle) and did not come through birth. God does not create someone a certain way, then condemn him to hell for being that way. God created mankind with natural desires consistent with mankind’s gender, and that must be controlled (Heb. 13:4). In the case of homosexuality, man leaves God’s word and then goes against nature to that which is sinful. He commits the overt act of sin and stands condemned (1 John 3:4).

Fornication - Sex outside of marriage is considered normal by the current society. Those who believe in the sanctity of marriage and abstaining from sex before marriage are looked upon as “freaks”. God’s word teaches that it is a sin to commit fornication. Paul teaches that it will keep one out of heaven. “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God” (Gal. 5:19-21). Schools are now teaching sex education to students and informing of ways to have “safe sex.” The teaching of sex education should be at home, not in the public classroom. Then children should be taught that abstinence is the only kind of safe sex. Recently (June 2008), this author read an article on the Fox News website about seventeen girls in one school who allegedly made a pact that each would get pregnant during the school year. It appears that all seventeen succeeded in, not only committing fornication, but also becoming pregnant in the process. The Hebrew writer states, “Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge” (Heb. 13:4). Sex is to be something beautiful between a husband and a wife, only within the bonds of marriage. God will judge these fornicators and adulterers who wilfully violate His word (John 12:48). Not only is sex before marriage a sin, there are also a number of consequences that go along with it. As mentioned above, some young ladies become pregnant, while others contract sexually transmitted diseases. These diseases will stay with these young people for the rest of their lives. Some of these diseases are deadly, such as AIDS, while others cause physical and emotional problems. It is much easier to explain to a potential mate, that he/she is a virgin than to try to explain a disease that was contracted through illicit sinful sex.

There are other things that can be listed, but these are the ones causing the most impact on society today. In view of these moral problems, why should God bless America? Maybe the faithful few, holding firm to God’s word, keeps Him from completely destroying this nation as He did Sodom long ago. No better conclusion can be given than to notice the words of the following poem:

Why should God bless America?

She’s forgotten he exists
And has turned her back
On everything that made her what she is

Why should God stand beside her
Through the night with the light from his hand?
God have mercy on America
Forgive her sin and heal our land

The courts ruled prayer out of our schools
In June of ‘62
Told the children “you are your own God now
So you can make the rules”
O say can you see what that choice
Has cost us to this day
America, one nation under God, has gone astray

Why should God bless America?
She’s forgotten he exists
And has turned her back on everything
That made her what she is

Why should God stand beside her
Through the night with the light from his hand?
God have mercy on America
Forgive her sins and heal our land

In ‘73 the Courts said we
Could take the unborn lives
The choice is yours don’t worry now
It’s not a wrong, it’s your right

But just because they made it law
Does not change God’s command
The most that we can hope for is
God’s mercy on our land

Why should God bless America?
She’s forgotten he exists
And has turned her back on everything
That made her what she is

Why should God stand beside her
Through the night with the light from his hand?
God have mercy on America
Forgive her sins and heal our land

-Author Unknown

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