The Foundation of America

Introduction

I sat down and sought the leading of the LORD in planning out my sermon series’ for the remainder of the year, and for 2 days, I could not get peace with what to preach.

Then there were two events within the past week. One had happened a few weeks ago but gained national prominence was the stabbing murder of Iryna Zarutska on a Charlotte transway, the other is the murder of Charlie Kirk. Shortly after that, the LORD gave me liberty as to the direction from the pulpit for the next several weeks.

Today we begin a series titled “The American Experiment”. The form of Republic based upon the principles based upon liberty & individual rights was something the world had never seen.

In this series, we are going to examine our nation, what brought them to form this republic, and what God says about the governance thereof. We’re going to look back at the preaching and the power of the pulpits in years gone by, and where we’re at today as a country AND WHY.

Just like how many call themselves Christians but have no idea why, I believe many call themselves Americans without understanding how America was founded, and upon what (or WHO).

For our text today, the LORD directed me to this passage in the book of Hosea.

I want to use this text as a springboard and an overview for the series - as I believe there are a lot of similarities between Hosea’s day in Israel, and ours here in America.

v1-2 - The society has become a Godless generation

v6 - Ignorance has brought their destruction & Judgment

v11 - Sins of whoredom & intoxication have taken away their heart

v14 - A Stark warning of Judgment is to come

The bottom line is, when we look at the trajectory of America, SOMETHING HAS GOT TO CHANGE!

GOD’S WRATH WILL NOT SLUMBER FOREVER!

So today is a message of preparation. We’re going to speak about America’s Foundation, but this will serve also as the foundation for what is to come - and there is much to come.

This message is to prepare you for that - so as to give you an opportunity to understand and prayerfully accept what is to come in the next few weeks.

That being said, we must look first at the Choices before Us

I. The Choices Before Us

Ignorance or Enlightenment?

The first choice we have is whether we desire to be ignorant or enlightened. (Ignorant being without knowledge, not stupid)

Many would say that this is not a choice at all - everyone would choose to be enlightened. But I don’t believe that to be the case. I believe many are fully at ease in their ignorance. They don’t want to know, because if they know then they must make choices upon that knowledge.

The phrase ‘Ignorance is bliss’ was coined for a reason. To live in ignorance is to live without KNOWLEDGE of the circumstances around us, THEREFORE we can live without THE RESPONSIBILITY or DUTY of it all.

(Ill.) Let me give you a for instance: Let’s say that you have knowledge that a coworker you really like is stealing from the company. Would you rather know that or not? If you’re going to act in accordance with the Word of God, if you know that, then you must act on that. But, ‘ignorance is bliss’.

Solomon said: Ecclesiastes 1:18 “For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.”

So church my first question is do you WANT to live in ignorance, or do you choose enlightenment?

Just after Solomon penned those words in Ecclesiastes 2:13 “Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.”

Solomon said ‘Yes, in much wisdom is grief - knowledge is burdensome, but wisdom excelleth folly! I’d rather be burdened with wisdom than a foolish Jester’.

So, Ignorance or Enlightenment - make your choice

Bible or Politics?

The next question that I have for you is the issues of our day, are they Bible or politics? What I mean by that is what constitutes a ‘political’ issue?

Politics (def) The science of government; that part of ethics which consists in the regulation and government of a nation or state, for the preservation of its safety, peace and prosperity; comprehending the defense of its existence and rights against foreign control or conquest, the augmentation of its strength and resources, and the protection of its citizens in their rights, with the preservation and improvement of their morals.

Satan has conditioned American’s into believing that the political issues and politics in general somehow are ‘taboo’ to address.

Many fear to speak on what’s considered ‘politics’ for losing their tax-exemption status. (Which we’ll discuss later on)

The truth of the matter is, there is no separation. What we call ‘politics’ is inherently driven by ethics and morals - to which the Bible has all to say about it!

So what you have is this:

The Bible - God’s Revelation to man. It not only teaches us God’s plan of Salvation, but teaches us ethical living and God-centered morality. The Bible instructs man how to live both personally, and societally.

Politics - which is man’s construct which governs what is acceptable living, both ethical & moral in a society.

What I want us to agree on, is that if the Bible speaks on a topic - REGARDLESS OF WHETHER IT’S DEEMED POLITICAL BY THE MASSES - it is NOT a political issue, but inherently a Biblical issue, and thus we must address!

Examples:

The Bible speaks directly about economic issues and how we as a society should view them:

Honest Trade: Leviticus 19:35–36 “Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment, in meteyard, in weight, or in measure. Just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin, shall ye have: I am the Lord your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt.”

Fair Wages: Deuteronomy 24:14–15 “Thou shalt not oppress an hired servant that is poor and needy, whether he be of thy brethren, or of thy strangers that are in thy land within thy gates: At his day thou shalt give him his hire, neither shall the sun go down upon it; for he is poor, and setteth his heart upon it: lest he cry against thee unto the Lord, and it be sin unto thee.”

The Necessity of Work: 2 Thessalonians 3:10 “For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.”

The Necessity of providing for your own home: 1 Timothy 5:8 “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.”

How God establishes the Nations & their borders: Acts 17:26 “And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;”

Assimilation of strangers in the land: Exodus 12:48–49 “And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to the Lord, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof. One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you.”

Now notice, that I have YET to say ANYTHING about the obvious - the Sodomy, Transgender & Abortion issues that are so prevalent today! I’m trying to get you to understand that God has instruction for ALL ASPECTS FOR AN ETHICAL AND MORAL SOCIETY!

Silence or Severing?

Many will look at this type of preaching as divisive - how it will draw disunity within the body of Christ. After all, you have people of different political persuasions within the church. They see the world through a different lens - ‘If you preach politics, you’re going to divide the church and run people off’.

There’s a few things to consider here: First, what is the alternative?

The alternative is to keep my mouth shut to which the Bible speaks - and for me, that’s not an option. I will not be silent, I will not tiptoe in fear of hurt feelings!

THE TRUTH IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN UNITY!

I desire us to be united. Jesus said: Mark 3:25 “And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.” But Jesus also said: Luke 12:51–52 “Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division: For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.”

We need be united, but not under false pretences. We need be united around the Bible! We need be united around truth - if we’re not united in truth, what are we here for?

And Church I need not say that the Bible is the Truth! Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

If Truth offends you and you choose to be ignorant, then this church isn’t for you. I would rather have 10 people united around the truth excited about being shaped by God than 100 people living in a straw house.

We must choose a Silence or Severing

Salvation or Destruction?

Psalm 9:17 “The wicked shall be turned into hell, And all the nations that forget God.”

Ultimately we have examples in Scripture as to what happens to the nations that forget God.

Hosea was speaking unto the Kingdom of Israel to repent - and they would not. God would ultimately empower the Babylonians to rise up and scatter them.

DO NOT THINK THAT AMERICA IS TOO BIG FOR GOD TO DO LIKEWISE WITH!

Romans 11:21 “For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.”

WE choose what our nation will be for our children and grandchildren. Will we see the Salvation of the LORD, or the Destruction from Judgment for the turning away thereof?

The Choices Before us

II. The Country Entrusted to Us

We have been left a Christian Nation from our forefathers. We are a Christian nation because we’ve been shaped and molded by the Bible and Christian principles.

It’s Christian Heritage

Our preachers:

The preachers during the founding of our nation were true men of God.

“Had the ministers of the gospel not instructed the people in morality and piety, and impressed upon them the duty to God and the rights of man, the Revolution could scarcely have succeeded.” ~ John Adams

The British had a name for the preachers of the day… They called them ‘The Black Robed Regiment’ because of their influence FROM THE PULPIT to shape THEIR CIVIL GOVERNMENT. - Let that sink in.

One of the targets for the British were the churches - because they understood the influence that the Word of God had upon the Revolution

Our schools:

Virtually every college was born from a Christian denomination.

Harvard, Yale, Princeton, University of Pennsylvania, Columbia, Brown, Rutgers, Dartmouth - all were Created to train clergy! They were MISSIONS! Then they added classical studies - and you know what they have become today 300-400 years later.

“Let every student be plainly instructed, and earnestly pressed to consider well, the main end of his life and studies is, to know God and Jesus Christ which is eternal life (John 17:3), and therefore to lay Christ in the bottom, as the only foundation of all sound knowledge and learning.” ~ Harvard’s first student handbook 1646

In 1777 Congress authorized a motion to import 20,000 Bibles from Scotland or Holland; in 1782 Congress authorized the Bible to be used in schools.

Consider what primary education looks like today: See Spot Run & Skippy Jon Jones. Do you know how they taught the alphabet in those days?

A - A Wise son maketh a glad father, but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.

B - Better is a little with the fear of the LORD, than great treasure & trouble therewith.

C - Come unto Christ all yes that labor and are heavy laden and he will give you rest

(New England Primer - 1690)

Our Government:

Our Triune Government was founded upon Scripture: Isaiah 33:22 “For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, The Lord is our king; he will save us.”

Many passages from the Declaration of Independence were taken from preaching messages by John Wise - a pastor from Massachusetts. Themes such as: “All men are created equal”; “Consent of the governed”; “Taxation without representation is tyranny”

It’s God-Honoring Founders

At the last, I want to share with you quotes from our Founding Fathers. The men who were literally involved with the creation of the country. What were their perception of God and country?

George Washington:

“No people can be bound to acknowledge and adore the Invisible Hand which conducts the affairs of men more than the people of the United States. Every step, by which they have advanced to the character of an independent nation, seems to have been distinguished by some token of providential agency.” ~ First Inaugural Address (1789)

“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 to implore his protection and favor.” ~ Circular Letter to the States (June 8, 1783)

“You do well to wish to learn our arts and our ways of life, and above all, the religion of Jesus Christ. These will make you a greater and happier people than you are.” ~ Letter to the Delaware Chiefs (May 12, 1779)

John Adams

“Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious People. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” ~ Message to the Officers of the First Brigade of the Massachusetts Militia (1798)

“The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were… the general principles of Christianity… they believed that the civil and religious liberties are inseparably connected.” ~ A Dissertation on the Canon and Feudal Law (1765)

“The happiness of society is the end of government, and that end can never be obtained without virtue, and that virtue can never exist without religion.” ~ Letter to Thomas Jefferson (1813)

John Quincy Adams

“The happiness of America depends upon her virtue and religion. The prosperity of our country is founded upon the general diffusion of knowledge and the principles of the Christian religion.” ~ Diary / Letters on Governance

“We must remember that our political institutions are not founded upon the wisdom of men alone, but upon the providence of God.” ~ Speech in Congress (March 4, 1825)

“Public virtue cannot exist in a nation without public religion. A people cannot be wise and free unless they are moral and religious.” ~ Letter to a Friend (1830s)

Patrick Henry

“It is when we forget God that tyrants forge their chains.” ~ From the Virginia Convention, March 23, 1775

The Choices Before us; The Country Entrusted to Us

III. The Country We Leave Behind

We have been left a Christian Nation from our forefathers. What kind of Country are we leaving behind?

Is Up to Us

We must take ownership of this.

America’s Satanic path predates me. It began long before I had a voice. But that matters not! I have a voice today! WE have a voice today to change it! We can bring about the turning of the country back to God!

Our country came to being by congregations of Godly people inspired to live as God would have them to. It begins here.

Psalm 33:12 “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; And the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.”

What will you do?

Conclusion