The USA … ‘Land of Opportunity’ Blessed by God

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By Steve Nelson 

The United States of America is a one-of-a-kind extraordinary nation. Why is this? “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD” (Psalms 33:12). No arguments to the contrary are reasonable. God is the only explanation. Only by understanding and recognizing historical facts, plus by looking at the USA from a physical and spiritual point of view, can we properly get the right context and an accurate perspective of who we are in the world and why. 

How did our amazing country begin? 

Fact: Politically, the USA declared independence in 1776, then formed a constitution in 1787, then installed George Washington (a Christian) as the first president in 1789. We began with 13 states, then in 1959 added Alaska and Hawaii as the 49th and 50th states. Plus we currently have 16 additional “territories.” 

Myth: The USA has a “Judeo-Christian” heritage. Not true. In reality, the USA has a Christian heritage. Leave out the “Judeo” word as it is not factually correct. Some historians, based on misinformation, have lumped all people together who believe portions of the Bible, assuming those who acknowledge only the legitimacy of the Old Testament are part of the same religious grouping as “Christians”. However, our founders were not only believers in the Old Testament, but also in the New, which absolutely includes Jesus Christ. 

Fact: 56 men signed the Declaration, 39 signed the Constitution and 6 signed both. Some look back at history and try to justify, through warped interpretations of scattered writings, that some of these signers of the founding documents were not Christians. Not true! Another misleading modern interpretation declares many signers to be fully “deist,” which is to say they merely believed in a Creator who was no longer involved in the creation. In reality, every single one of them was a Christian, proven as they all personally acknowledged their religious denominations as such. As examples, these men were mostly Protestants, declaring such beliefs as Anglican, Calvinist, Congregational, Dutch Reformed, Episcopalian, Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian, Quaker, Roman Catholic and Unitarian. All gathered in prayer to Almighty God (the Author of the Bible, the Creator, Father of Jesus Christ and Father of all born again people in the world). 

Quotes: Thomas Jefferson (wrote the Declaration) said, “Christianity is the best friend of government” and “I am a real Christian, that is to say, a disciple of the doctrines of Jesus.” James Madison (drafted the Constitution) said the most noble thing men can declare is of “becoming fervent advocates in the cause of Christ” and “the people of the United States having, in this most solemn of all their enactments, professed themselves to be a Christian nation; and having expressed their confidence, that all employed in their service will practice the duties of the Christian faith.” Benjamin Franklin (signed both documents) said, “As to Jesus of Nazareth, my opinion of whom you particularly desire, I think the system of morals and his religion, as he left them to us, is the best the world ever saw, or is likely to see”; and Franklin specifically was the one who called for prayer at the Constitutional Convention. 

What makes us unique now? 

Big: Physically, we’re second in terms of natural resources behind Russia and third in food production and population behind China and India. We’re third in land size, behind Russia and Canada. We‘re bordered by two massive oceans, Pacific and Atlantic, along with two peaceful nations, Canada and Mexico. 

Strong: Economically, Americans are the most generous nation by far, giving over $400 billion annually in philanthropy. This is no surprise since giving to others is the principle action of love as promoted in the Bible. The dollar is the world’s dominant currency. English is the world’s dominant language, similar to the most popular book in the history of the world, the King James Version of the Bible (written in English). 

Christian: There are more Christians in the USA than any other nation, followed by Brazil and Mexico. Read that sentence again. We have the most Christians. Not surprising, therefore, is that our nation became the strongest nation and won World War I and II, plus helped in other countless international causes to bring freedom to billions. Most advantages of technology have been started and/or advanced here in the USA, such as: computers, cars, airplanes, light bulbs, telephones, cell phones, plastic, microwaves, lasers and the internet, to name a few. No “coincidence” played a role in this frequency of innovation here, but rather God’s hand has obviously been on our nation, as a blessing to the whole world. 

Changes: For now, we still have the freedom to choose our personal religious views, of which a majority (over 50%) of Americans still lean toward Christianity. Our nation’s strong history and current strength does not suggest that at all times have all decisions or actions been good. Evil is mixed in with every nation on the planet to some degree as there are no perfectly righteous people on the planet. And God does not favor one person over another, rather God blesses those who believe and act on His Word, no matter which country they live in. 

Take notice: Pop culture has tried to eliminate our Christian heritage from the history books. Even now, it seems the most dangerous attacks on our nation are internal, attacks on Christians, those who practice the Bible. Therefore, what can we do about it? First, let’s be thankful for our nation. Second, pray. Third, let’s continue to do the most effective thing that made us great, to speak up just as Jesus instructed us, “…ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8). 

God bless you! 

 

Steve Nelson has been a Bible teacher for over 25 years. This article comes from “USA: Land of Opportunity” Segment 95 of “CORE,” a course for families on how to read and understand the Bible. See T4FAMILYCENTER.COM or reach Steve at [email protected]. 

 

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