America's Godly Heritage
America is great because America is good.
Alexis de Tocqueville
Alexis de Tocqueville was 25 when he came to America in 1830 from his native France. Much had been made of America's new experiment in democracy and he was anxious to see it, first hand. In his own words, he wanted to find the source of the "greatness and genius of America".
He pointed out that he had sought for, but did not find that source, in America's harbors and rivers, in her fertile fields and boundless forests, in her mines and vast world commerce, and in her public schools and institutions of learning. He even said that he sought the source of America's greatness in her democratic congress and in her matchless constitution but he concluded, surprisingly, that even these were not the true source of the genius and greatness of America. So, what was?
To quote Mr. de Tocqueville, "Not untill I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits flame with righteousness did I understand her genius and power. America is great because America is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great."
I'm not sure exactly why, but there are many who seem to be genuinely offended at the suggestion that the genius of America was in the desire of her founders to set up and run this nation on godly principles. I watched with interest the Restoring Honor rally in Washington this weekend that celebrated this very fact, and that called for a return to God and His principles. I watched with sadness the seeming disdain that many within positions of power and influence had for this idea of returning to God. Regardless of this aversion to God and to the Christian principles on which this nation was founded, I am convinced that the conclusions of de Tocqueville are just as valid today as ever: America is great, because America is good. As long as we are willing to do our best to apply godly principles in our life, then America will always contain within her those same seeds of genius and greatness. This principle has been true throughout the ages!
Open the gates that the righteous nation may enter, the nation that keeps faith. You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal.
Isaiah 26:2-4, NIV
