The Glorious Land!

America is the most unique nation on earth, being the only nation ever formed on biblical principles.  The framers asserted that the rights to "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness (what they understood as property)" descended, not from government (other men), but from God Himself...rights that cannot be denied, biblically, by any man.   Peter speaks of "honoring the king as supreme" in I Peter 2.13 - 17.  Who is our king?  In America the king is not a man, it is America's collective political assertion...the Constitution.  We are a nation, "not of men but of laws."  Our oaths promise loyalty to the Constitution, not to the President and not to the Congress. 

The Founders were collectively the most biblically astute political body ever assembled.  They knew their Bibles far better than most preachers of today.  They knew how God had founded the nation state of Israel.  They knew that in God's political framework life was precious as it was created by God "in His image."  They knew God founded Israel upon "the one true religion" which gave man that which he yearns for the most...liberty.  Finally, they knew that God made ownership of property the central pillar of the economy of "the glorious land."  Every family was given a parcel of land to have, hold and to retain in one's family all the generations.  Even if by mismanagement or neglect, every 50 years the land would revert back to it's original owners in what the Bible calls the "year of jubilee."  Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness are central God given rights in the Declaration as they were to "the glorious land!"

 

The Declaration declared to the world our God given right to self government.  The Declaration acknowledges the separation from England by England.  Yes, there was "revolution" and "rebellion" in 1776.   It was the king and his ministers who rebelled and revolted against the English Constitution, not the colonials.  America's un-heeded plea was that the king and his government return to the covenant.  The break between us was acknowledged by us but caused by and confirmed by the English covenant breakers in London.

 

The American Constitution was the implementation of our rights to self-government under God and none other. 

 

Unfortunately our current troubles regarding immorality, violence, bigotry, religion and un-belief are in direct correlation to our abandonment to the God of Heavens directives.  The more evil we become, the further from God...and the Constitution...we drift.  Unless we repent, the "glorious land" [Daniel's phrase for Israel] will fall to a "Babylon" raised up by God to discipline us, and perhaps, destroy us.  

 

What to do?  "Preach the gospel in season and out of season."  Who, friend, can do this?  Only one entity is given the "ministry of reconciliation," the church of Christ!  It is up to the church of Christ, and she alone, to "stand in the gap" for the Glorious Land we call America.  Should "the Bride of Christ" become unfaithful, the wrath of God will surely come down upon our land.   Why did the God of Heaven raise up this "glorious land" in the New World?  Why did He providentially work through the Founding Fathers?  The answer is breathtaking!

 

It is fundamental to note that the NT word "liberty" used by the Founders in the Declaration is taken from Jesus Himself in describing His mission on earth.  We read in Luke 4.17 - 21: 

And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent ne to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,  To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.  And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down.  And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.  And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears. (1) 
 

The words "deliverance" and "liberty" are both translated from the same Greek word aphesis, meaning, according to Strong's,  "...pardon, deliverance, forgiveness, remission.." 

Was America founded as a vehicle for the preaching of remission of sins?  The case is strong! 

The Founders knew that political freedom depended totally upon spiritual freedom.  Adam's said it best, "...ours is a system of government suited for a moral and religious people...and no other." 

 

Our survival as a people depends solely upon the faithfulness of the church of Christ to the Great Commission, loving God with all our hearts, minds and souls and loving our neighbors as ourselves.  God bless America, the Glorious Land! 

 

(1) KJV via http://e-sword.com
Photo Credit: http://gardenwalkgardentalk.com.  The Founding Fathers sculpture at the National Constitutional Hall in Philadelphia via Yahoo! Pictures

From Failue to Restoration to Mission - The Bridge of Christ

Day before yesterday, I listened to a radio sermon by denominational preacher Chuck Swindoll. His concluding remarks on John 21 gave me an idea for a sermon. The outline appears below. Swindoll's approach was subjective, allegorical and evangelical. It is my prayer that the lesson below is objective, linear and Biblical. Lord willing, I will preach this lesson at the next opportunity available to me. Feel free to use it if you wish.

John 21 – “From Failure to Restoration to Mission – The Bridge of Christ”

1. When God called Peter from Failure to Restoration to Mission, Peter
was open to the process.
a. The rehabilitation of Peter
1) Peter was not looking for the Lord but the Lord was
looking for him.
a) Though not seeking rehabilitation, Peter ran to the
Lord when he saw him.
b) The Lord was ready for Peter when Peter arrived
at the shore.

2. When God called Peter from Failure to Restoration to Mission, Peter
submitted himself for a time of deep spiritual cross examination by the Word.
a. The three fold questioning of Peter by the Lord.
1) Simon, do you agape me? Yes Lord, I phileo you.
2) Simon, do you agape me? Yes Lord, I phileo you.
3) Simon, do you phileo me? Yes Lord, I phileo you.
a) Jesus accepts Peter back where he IS, not where
he should be, and one day WILL be.
b) Jesus accepts Peter back ignoring his sinful past,
clearing the way for a faithful future.
b. The questions of Jesus are brutally pointed, and to his credit, Peter’s answers
are real, honest and without spin.
3. When God called Peter from Failure to Restoration to Mission, Peter
had to ignore all others but Christ.
a. What God does with someone else matters not at all.
b. When you were young, you were in TOTAL control.
c. When you grow old, you will have NO control.
1) The stages of Peter’s life
a) Total Confidence in himself
b) Total Denial of the Lord
c) Total Guilt
d) Total Doubt
e) A Return to Normalcy
f) Rediscovery of Christ
g) Reconciliation
h) Renewed Friendship
i) Renewed Dedication
j) An Attempted Return to Control
k) Attempted Return to Control Stopped Cold
l) Agape Driven Obsession Illustrated in His Letters
m) The Will of Peter Finally Becomes One and the Same with the Will of Christ as
He Dies
4. Conclusion – As He did with Peter, Jesus takes the broken ruins of our lives, our sins, our
failures and our shortcomings and builds a bridge called RESTORATION that takes us from
FAILURE to MISSION.
a. Once we are reconciled to the Lord, as Peter was, we can take up
our cross and follow Him by making disciples, baptizing and teaching
all things whatsoever He commanded.

CREDIT: I heard a radio sermon by Chuck Swindoll on March 31, 2008 where he made 3 brief concluding remarks on John 21; 1) When God calls us from futility to fruitfulness we should be open, 2) When God calls us from futility to fruitfulness we should expect a season of spiritual reflection and 3) When God calls us from futility to fruitfulness we should ignore all others outside of our individual calling. Swindoll comes from a Calvinistic point of view that allegorizes facts regarding Peter and assigns them directly to individuals living today. I took the general idea and wrote a sermon that is an exposition of Scripture as it is written. Application is made secondary after linear examination.