God Missing?

In a year when as a nation we return to the polls to cast our vote for the President of these United States I would hope that some differences could be set aside long enough to remember our heritage. To ignore the common threads that form the fabric of this great nation, a nation comprised of Republicans, Democrats, conservatives and liberals, the undecided and all those in between, is to cause the unraveling of that very fabric.

It was reported today that the Democratic National Convention had removed all mentions of God from the party platform. This act should not surprise anyone that follows the four year cycle of electing a leader. Each year since 2000 the number of times that God is mentioned has dwindled. Those that create the platform quietly boast this achievement, probably believing that this is somehow justified by the concept of separation of church and state.

Just as they ignore heritage they also ignore history.

“I am sure there never was a people, who had more reason to acknowledge a Divine interposition [hand of God] in their affairs, than those of the United States; and I should be pained to believe that they have forgotten that agency, which was so often manifested during our revolution, or that they [American people] failed to consider the omnipotence of that God who is alone able to protect them.” Because, “The propitious smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right which Heaven itself has ordained.”

These were the words of George Washington, advice given to the nation after the Revolutionary War.

“We have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us, and we have vainly imagined in the deceitfulness of our hearts that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God who made us!”

The words of Abraham Lincoln in the midst of a Civil War.

In each instance the nation heeded the warning of their leaders and acknowledged God, returning to Him in thanksgiving and prayer. Our nation would go on to prosper because like the prodigal son we returned to the Father. That is not to say all her citizens believed in the same God or even believed in God at all. That is one the freedoms fought for 200 years ago; to not be told by a king what we must believe or who we must worship.

The nation listened and returned because of their leaders. Leaders, who were not ashamed of their beliefs, nor afraid to say the name of God out loud, Oh, were that true today.

The DNC can remove the name of God from their platform but they cannot remove God from this country. He is sovereign and He is faithful. He looked down upon the world when we nailed His Son to a tree, yet he didn’t stop loving us. Removing His name from your pitiful platform is like an annoying little gnat buzzing around because of the aroma of manure, it is easily swatted away.