Who is America?
We live at a time when many people do not see the need for national borders or patriotism. Many Christians also feel that since all Christians are children of God, the need for national borders or national sovereignty is outdated. On a day when the United States of America celebrates our Independence Day, it is important to understand who we are as a nation and what God Almighty says about the nations of the world.
The Bible is very clear that there are nations of the world and that God is the one who raises a nation up and the one who brings a nation down. Psalm 72:11 states, “Yea, all kings shall bow down before Him: all nations shall serve Him.” Psalm 82:8 says, “Arise, O God, judge the earth: for thou shalt inherit all nations.” Proverbs 14:34 says, “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.” Proverbs 21:1 says, “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: He turneth it whithersoever He will.” Just as every nation is made up of cities, towns and counties or provinces, so also is the earth made up of many nations. And every nation has a God-given destiny that it is to fulfill.
So, what is America’s destiny?
We answer the question of America’s destiny by looking at our Founding Fathers. The Pilgrims (also known as the Separatists) left Holland and England in search of a land where they could worship the Lord freely without interference from The Church of England or the government. When the Mayflower arrived at at Cape Cod, it became apparent that a document of governance was necessary to prevent mutiny. Thus, the Mayflower Compact was written. It was a covenant between God and the settlers who would settle the New World. It is important to note that even though all the settlers on the Mayflower were not Christians, all the eligible men signed the compact. The Mayflower Compact would become the cornerstone of America’s representative government. We have to remember that self-governance was an extremely revolutionary idea at this time in history.
The Mayflower Compact
n the name of God, Amen. We whose names are underwritten, the loyal subjects of our dread Sovereign Lord King James, by the Grace of God of Great Britain, France, and Ireland King, Defender of the Faith, etc.
Having undertaken for the Glory of God and advancement of the Christian Faith and Honour of our King and Country, a Voyage to plant the First Colony in the Northern Parts of Virginia, do by these presents solemnly and mutually in the presence of God and one of another, Covenant and Combine ourselves together in a Civil Body Politic, for our better ordering and preservation and furtherance of the ends aforesaid; and by virtue hereof to enact, constitute and frame such just and equal Laws, Ordinances, Acts, Constitutions and Offices from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general good of the Colony, unto which we promise all due submission and obedience. In witness whereof we have hereunder subscribed our names at Cape Cod, the 11th of November, in the year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord King James, of England, France and Ireland the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fifty-fourth. Anno Domini 1620.
The history of the very beginning of our nation from the words and experiences of the founders themselves confirm a very important premise: God had a definite and discoverable plan for America. There are four main characteristics of this plan. We will discuss them in the next post.
Independence Day is celebrated on July 4th because this is the day 243 years ago that the Continental Congress signed the Declaration of Independence freeing us from the rule of King George III and England. It is also the day that our freedom to worship Almighty God without the interference of the government was solidified. The signers of the Declaration of Independence did so with the full knowledge that they had just put their lives, their families and their fortunes in jeopardy. We owe our country and our lives as we know them to these men for their faith in and obedience to Almighty God.