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11-27-2005, 06:37 PM
The Positive Influence of the Bible in America

Psalm 33:12: "Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance."

Everything good that we have been blessed with in our society here in the U.S.A., comes directly or indirectly, from God's grace and the Bible's influence. You may think this a bold statement to make but I am prepared to defend it. One of the things that I am sure that grieves the heart of God, is the fact that instead of people being grateful for all the blessings God has bestowed upon mankind, many blame Him and His followers for the problems in the world.

In our society it seems popular to criticize Christians and blame them for things that really are not their fault. They are even lumped in the same category with cults and weird sects.
People should realize there are things that are said and done in the name of Christianity that are not Christian at all.
The Bible even warns us of people like that who actually hurt the cause of Christ.
In this article when I speak of Christian or Christianity, I am referring to the true believer and the true followers of Christ.

Many people do not realize what the Bible and Christian influence has accomplished for the betterment of our lives, especially here in the United States. They walk around enjoying the good life with its abundance here in free America, without understanding they owe it all to a book they have been taught by many to despise...the Bible.

Even some countries who have embraced false religions are blessed in aspects of their societies where they are practicing scriptural principles. The keeping of God's Word always brings blessing.

It is a well-known fact that our founding fathers in the USA were, for the most part, godly men who took the Bible's principles to construct our Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. Any unbiased historian knows that the Bible has had a much greater influence in the shaping of the foundation of this nation than is being currently taught in our schools. Let us look at some of these influences that we could lose if we fail to acknowledge God and bring Him back in the national life.

The Bible and Its Effect on the Judicial System of the United States

The United States has laws on the books that enforce punishment on those who would assault and rape women, those who would murder, those who would steal and lie. You may be surprised to know that the source of these laws came directly from the Bible and were given for the protection of society. Many of them can be found in the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy.

Other examples of laws taken directly from the Bible are our laws regarding bankruptcy, laws in our courts that demand witnesses to a crime before one can be convicted, and laws that demand just weights for commerce.
Many of the past laws, like our child labor laws protected children from being exploited. Even our government's Child Protection Agency was created to keep children from abuse. Although this agency goes to the extreme at times and shields a rebellious child that is lying, its original intent was to protect children from parental abuse.
Our civil laws were established to keep order in our society, and because our founding fathers were Christians, they created a structure that was based on moral laws taken from the Bible.

Most of the original laws that our judicial system upheld were taken directly from the Bible. (Many of these down through the years have now been altered or abandoned to our determent as a nation. In fact, scripture says we would live in such a day.

(Daniel 7:25: "And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.")

Our present-day judicial system has now drifted away from its original intent of protecting the innocent and unjustly accused, while convicting the wicked so they will not harm others.
Today, it is being exploited by many lawyers, as well as people who want to use the legal system for personal gain beyond what would be a fair settlement. They are seeking outlandish judgments that in the end all the people will pay for.
Through unfair settlements in these kinds of suits, the lawyers are the ones most rewarded. Protection of the innocent, in many cases, has been overruled while criminals are not justly dealt with.
Quick punishment for the guilty has been abandoned, as court appeals and delays stretch into costly and lengthy trials that last for years at the public's expense.
We need to return to Biblical principles and once again shape our laws accordingly, if we desire to see justice in our land.

(2 Samuel 23:3, "The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.")

The Bible and Its Effect on Benevolent Practices in Society
Historically, when true Christianity came to any region, those who were practicing Christ's commands would begin to reach out to help the poor, the oppressed, the sick, and needy. Most of our present day hospitals, charity centers, orphanages and rescue missions were all founded by Christians in keeping with the Biblical commands of Christ to demonstrate His love to a needy world.
God has always been interested in helping the weak, the feeble and afflicted. Ungodly societies destroy their weak, helpless andburdensome members.

We are praying for all nations that practice abortion because this practice does not show the love of God toward babies. Rather, it is an unloving act that is adversely affecting all of society. Men and women are hardening their hearts to the idea of protecting the sanctity of a human life. Regardless of what those who believe in abortion rights claim, most abortions are not done to protect the mother's life or some other so-called valid reason, but, rather to allow the mother and father to escape their responsibility of caring for the little life they had a part in creating.
Most abortions are done out of pure selfishness. The mother and father simply do not want a child to interfere with their plans.
The Bible teaches we are to overcome selfishness, not encourage it. We need to reverse the law in our land that allows abortions so freely, as the soul of our nation has accepted a practice that we will all regret.

The consequences of murder is "a life for a life" and this will mean the loss of much life in our nation unless we repent.

(Numbers 35:33: "So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are: for blood it defileth the land: and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it.")

In regard to abortion, another thing the U.S. is facing, is the fact that our nation's workforce is hitting middle age. Along with this comes the threat of a long-term labor shortage.
When abortion first became legalized no one foresaw this problem because people are living longer (Our current average life span in the U.S.A. is 76 years according to recent statistics), the senior population will need to be supported by younger workers in the social security program.
Where will these workers come from?
Since we have now murdered over 10,000,000 of our potential new workers, we are left with an enormous shortage of younger workers. Baby Boomers are turning 50 at a rate of 11,000 people per day. Their impending departure from the labor pool is creating a shortage of workers leaving not enough younger workers to fill their place. 11% fewer Americans were born from 1966 to 1985 than those born in the two decades after World War II.
Because of lower birth rates, coupled with job expansion, employers will have no choice but to fill their payrolls with those over 60 who are willing to continue to work. If our nation ever needed to reverse a law that is destroying us it is the law that is allowing abortions.

Other nations like China, who limit their population expansion through abortion are also running into problems. Because each family is only allowed one child, many parents are electing to keep their sons while destroying their daughters, so they will have a male heir. The population in China is now out of balance with more men than women. Where will Chinese men be able to find a female mate for marriage? This could create severe problems in the social structure of a nation that could lead to rape, jealousy, etc.
Christianity's Influence in Education

Contrary to popular opinion, Christians are not anti-education. The Bible instructs us to teach our children. The real issue is not eliminating education, but rather seeing that the information being taught is accurate and is not against the Word of God. Most of our well known universities, such as Harvard, Princeton and Yale, were founded by Christians. In fact, the first 126 colleges and universities in the U.S.A. were built for the glory of Jesus and the advancement of the gospel. Christians took the Bible seriously when the Word of God commanded them to teach and train their children in the way of the Lord.

(Deuteronomy 6:6-7: "And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.")

How sad it is now that our laws now forbid Christian students to pray publicly in the classrooms of our schools. Instead, violence stalks the halls of our education centers and children are murdering in the classrooms.
Each law that eliminates God and His influence from our society, allows evil to fill its place. Disallowing public prayer in our schools is another law that needs to be reversed.

How the Bible and Christianity Has Influenced the Family Unit

The Bible is very supportive of the family unit as God created the first family. The family unit in America was the strongest when the national life of the nation upheld laws and principles that protected it. As the judicial system relaxed divorce laws with no-contest rulings, divorce increased. When our society became tolerant of the homosexual lifestyle, the family unit took another downward spiral. (Notice, I said tolerant of the homosexual lifestyle, not the homosexual. God loves the homosexual and wants to change them and give them a normal life. However, He hates the sin of homosexuality as it is destroying many lives and families.)

When laws are established that encourage sin, then the fruit of that sin brings confusion to society. Laws in our nation that are trying to gain acceptance for gays to marry will further escalate destruction to the family.
The Lord desires for the family unit to once again thrive with the husband as the head of the family who loves and nurtures his wife and children.
Christian homes that are in God's order will produce happy and loving families. Many cultures throughout history made women mere chattels or property of the man. When Jesus came, He truly liberated women to be restored to their proper place in a marriage. The Biblical model for marriage is a partnership between a husband and wife, where both parties love and respect each other. Cultures and societies without the Bible's influence usually repress and use the women and even the children.
However, our culture has, in many ways, swung in the opposite direction with many woman dominating and lording it over the man and trying to rule him.
Many women in the United States do not have a submissive attitude toward their husbands, but rather, want to do their own thing.

Many women in our nation have abandoned their husbands and children for the excitement of the marketplace. Being in this arena has further divided the home and left a whole generation of children without their mothers or fathers. It is not always wrong for women to be in the workplace, but generally it is better for the mother to be at home with the children when they are young.
Children no longer are being mentored by their parents, but by daycare workers, baby sitters, humanistic school teachers, and the wicked influences of the media that have brainwashed them with the evil ideas of the day.
The Bible is just old-fashioned enough to advise parents to teach and raise their children. (I realize 50% of homes in America are single parent homes like mine, and some of these never wanted to be in that situation. In those cases, they must make the best of the situation they are in and pray for the Lord to help them.)

Ephesians 5:21-25: "Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. 22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. 24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. 25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it."

Our homes are being battered from many different sources. Pornography is another area where our laws need tightening and enforcing.
Our nation also has laws on the books against this evil. However, we have allowed evil to prevail in the name of freedom. Without a Christian influence against this kind of evil, more women and children will be exploited, and lust will destroy the intimacy of our marriages. Keeping the commandments of the Bible is all that stands between us and this flood of evil. Those who produce pornography for greed and those who want their lustful and sinful desires satisfied are responsible for this evil remaining in our nation.

It is only the "salt and light" of Christianity that keeps us from total destruction. Again, Christianity's effect on the family unit is demonstrated as people follow the Lord's plan for a happy marriage with the husband loving and caring for his wife as the Lord cares for His bride, the church.

The Bible's Influence in the Market Place

If you have a day off during the week you can attribute it to the influence of Christianity. The Bible lists as one of the Ten Commandments, the keeping of the Sabbath rest.

Exodus 20:8-11: "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: 10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: 11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it."

Nations that do not allow their people a day off during the week for rest, end up working their people and their animals to death. They have shorter life spans in nations who do not observe the Sabbath rest.
Other influences of Christianity and the Word of God in the market place are the establishment of just and fair wages, the negotiating of honest deals and production of quality products. (NAFTA and CAFTA are inherently evil based on this definition)

Christianity's Influence on Animal Rights and Ecology

The Bible gives us guidelines in the handling of the earth's resources and Christians are taught in the Word of God to manage them properly. The scriptures are not silent in regard to these things.

Proverbs 12:10 says, "A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast; but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel."

We can also see from the scripture's below that the Bible teaches ecology by allowing the mother bird to go if you eat the eggs she has lain.

Deuteronomy 22:6-7: "If a bird's nest chance to be before thee in the way in any tree, or on the ground, whether they be young ones, or eggs, and the dam sitting upon the young, or upon the eggs, thou shalt not take the dam with the young: 7 But thou shalt in any wise let the dam go, and take the young to thee; that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days."

Caring hearts will take care of the animals and the land. The Bible even instructed man to allow the land that crops were raised on to rest every seventh year. (My Grandfathers both practiced this)
Our crops are suffering from depleted vitality because we do not heed this admonition today. Farmers should rotate their crops so that every portion of their land could rest every seven years.

Exodus 23:10-11: "And six years thou shalt sow thy land, and shalt gather in the fruits thereof: 11 But the seventh year thou shalt let it rest and lie still; ... In like manner thou shalt deal with thy vineyard, and with thy oliveyard."

The Bible's Influence in the Culture and Traditions of Society

When the Bible's influence is strong in a society, it will affect all aspects of that culture in a positive way. The opposite is also true... when a society turns its back on God, it will begin to reflect evil in its cultural choices. We see this today as we watch our young and old people embrace things that are totally unbiblical.
How we dress, what we eat, what music we listen to, and what we choose for entertainment, are all reflections of how strongly or weakly we embrace the Word of God.
Rebellious, anti-Christ music has become firmly established in our society today in spite of the dangerous influence it has had on our young people. This music has encouraged lust, sex, suicide, rebellion against authority, etc. Even physically, it has damaged the hearing of a whole generation of young people who listen to loud music and live bands constantly. There are those who are deaf or going deaf from this exposure, like myself, I have constant ringing in the left ear.

Many of our young people today don't realize how unbecoming, and in some cases even vulgar, the latest clothing trends and fads appear on them. They look strange with their body piercings, tattoos, and extreme oversized baggy clothes that show their underwear.
Others wear extremely tight shorts and other revealing clothes with nude portions of their bodies showing.
Our culture has stamped its approval because so many young people have embraced these things.
Older people have embraced many of the same things. They think it is the trendy thing to do.
However, Thank God, we do have a remnant of young people who are seeking to be like Jesus as their motto is "What would Jesus Do?" What would He do?
I personally can't picture Jesus with nose rings, tattoos, underwear showing, and His hair dyed purple.
Praise God for the young people who are taking a stand against the ungodly trends of our society. We are regressing in our culture when we watch our youth defile their bodies and express themselves in ways that are unbecoming as Christians.

We could address many more cultural trends and traditions that do not glorify God or are against the Word of God. However, at this time, we will address only one more; the tradition of Halloween.

The celebration of this holiday has its roots in witchcraft. Although this holiday is an Satanic celebration, the influence of Christianity in our nation has established the celebration of some true "holy-days." Christmas, Thanksgiving and Easter are all Christian celebrations that we enjoy even if some people celebrate them in the wrong way while others are fighting to take that right away from us.

Keeping God's Laws in the Earth Brings Blessings to Mankind
People that come against true Christianity don't realize they are coming against the very influences that make life pleasant in this earth.
(Please note that everyone who claims to be a Christian may not truly be one, as many come in Christ's name but are not keeping His commandments.)

The laws and commandments that God gives us to live by are given to us so that we might live a good life in this earth. The keeping of these laws do not get us to heaven; only faith and a relationship with Jesus Christ will do that. However, the keeping of God's laws brings harmony to the earth. If we are a true Christian we will be striving to keep the rules of the Bible to please God.
All men want to be free, but many mistakenly think that keeping God's laws will bring them into bondage, when the exact opposite is true.

The Bible says in John 8:31-32, "Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

The Bible teaches responsibility. Laws establish people's rights. However, many of our laws are now being changed to establish individual rights, while infringing upon the rights of the whole. (we saw this attempted in the Terri Schiavo case)
We must pray for this to cease or we will all soon lose our true freedoms. We must also stand against the sin of tolerating every evil in the name of allowing that person the freedom to do things that do not agree with God's Word.
Freedom has its responsibilities and guidelines. Those are defined by the Bible. We must get back to the one standard of God's Word and the worship of the one true God named in that Word. It is only by keeping God's laws that we as people in all societies will be truly free and enjoy the blessings of God in the earth.

Psalm 67:1: "God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; Selah.
2 That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations.
3 Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee.
4 O let the nations be glad and sing for joy: for thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth. Selah.
5 Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee.
6 Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us.
7 God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear him."


Preambles to State Constitutions Based on the Bible's Influence

ALABAMA 1901: We, the people of the State of Alabama, in order to establish justice, insure domestic tranquility and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, invoking the favor and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish the following Constitution and form of government for the State of Alabama. ARIZONA 1912: We, the people of the State of Arizona, grateful to Almighty God for our liberties, do ordain this Constitution.
ARKANSAS 1874 : We, the people of the State of Arkansas, grateful to Almighty God for the privilege of choosing our own forms of government, for our civil and religious liberty, and desiring to perpetuate its blessings and secure the same to ourselves and posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution.
CALIFORNIA 1879: We, the people of the State of California, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, in order to secure and perpetuate its blessings, do establish this Constitution.
COLORADO 1876: We, the people of Colorado, with profound reverence for the Supreme Ruler of the Universe, in order to form a more independent and perfect government; establish justice; insure tranquility; provide for the common defense; promote the general welfare and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity; do ordain and establish this Constitution for the "State of Colorado."
CONNECTICUT 1818: The people of Connecticut acknowledging with gratitude, the good providence of God, in having permitted them to enjoy a free government, do, in order more effectual to define, secure, and perpetuate the liberties, rights and privileges which they have derived from their ancestors, hereby, after a careful consideration and revision, ordain and establish the following Constitution and form of civil government.
DELAWARE 1897: Through Divine goodness, all men have by nature the rights of worshiping and serving their Creator according to the dictates of their consciences, of enjoying and defending life and liberty, of acquiring and protecting reputation and property, and in general of obtaining objects suitable to their condition, without injury by one to another; and as these rights are essential to their welfare, for the due exercise thereof, power is inherent in them; and therefore all just authority in the institutions of political society is derived from the people, and established with their consent, to advance their happiness; and they may for this end, as circumstances require, from time to time after their Constitution of governments.
FLORIDA 1887: We, the people of the State of Florida, grateful to Almighty God for our constitutional liberty, in order to secure its blessings and to form a more perfect government, insuring domestic tranquility, maintaining public order, and guaranteeing equal civil and political rights to all, do ordain and establish this Constitution. GEORGIA 1887: To perpetuate the principles of free government, insure justice to all, preserve peace, promote the interest and happiness of the citizen, and transmit to posterity the enjoyment of liberty, we, the people of Georgia, relying upon the protection and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish this Constitution. IDAHO 1890: We, the people of the State of Idaho, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, to secure its blessings and promote our common welfare, do establish this Constitution.
ILLINOIS 1870: We, the people of the State of Illinois, grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy, and looking to Him for a blessing upon our endeavors to secure and transmit the same unimpaired to succeeding generations in order to form a more perfect government, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessing of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the State of Illinois.
INDIANA 1851: To the end that justice be established, public order maintained, and liberty perpetuated: We, the people of the State of Indiana, grateful to Almighty God for the free exercise of the right to choose our own form of government, do ordain this Constitution. IOWA 1857: We, the people of the State of Iowa, grateful to the Supreme Being for the blessings hitherto enjoyed, and feeling our dependence on Him for a continuation of those blessings, do ordain and establish a free and independent government, by the name of the State of Iowa, the boundaries whereof shall be as follows:
KANSAS 1863: We, the people of Kansas, grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious privileges, in order to insure the full enjoyment of our rights as American citizens, do ordain and establish this Constitution of the State of Kansas, with the following boundaries, to wit:
KENTUCKY 1891: We, the people of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberties we enjoy, and invoking the continuance of these blessings, do ordain and establish this Constitution.
LOUISIANA 1974: We, the people of Louisiana, grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political, economic, and religious liberties we enjoy, and desiring to protect individual rights to life, liberty, and property; afford opportunity for the fullest development of the individual; assure equality of rights; promote the health, safety, education, and welfare of the people; maintain a representative and orderly government; ensure domestic tranquility; provide for the common defense; and secure the blessings of freedom and justice to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this constitution.
MAINE 1820 and 1876: We, the people of Maine, in order to establish justice, insure tranquility, provide for our mutual defense, promote our common welfare, and secure to ourselves and our posterity the blessings of liberty, acknowledging with grateful hearts the goodness of the Sovereign Ruler of the Universe in affording us an opportunity, so favorable to the design; and imploring His aid and direction in its accomplishment, do agree to form ourselves into a free and independent State, by the style and title of the State of Maine, and do ordain and establish the following Constitution for the government of the same.
MARYLAND 1867: We, the people of Maryland, grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious liberty, and taking into our serious consideration best means of establishing a good Constitution in this State for the sure foundation and more permanent security thereof, declare:
MASSACHUSETTS 1790: We, therefore, the people of Massachusetts, acknowledging, with grateful hearts, the goodness of the great Legislator of the universe, in affording us, in the course of His providence, an opportunity, deliberately and peaceably, without fraud, violence, or surprise, of entering into an original, explicit and solemn compact with each other; and for forming a new Constitution of civil government, for ourselves and posterity; and devoutly imploring His direction in so interesting a design, do agree upon, ordain, and establish the following Declaration of Rights, and Frame of Government, as the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
MICHIGAN 1909: We, the people of the State of Michigan, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of freedom, and earnestly desiring to secure these blessings undiminished to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution.
MINNESOTA 1857: We, the people of the State of Minnesota, grateful to God for our civil and religious liberty and desiring to perpetuate its blessings and secure the same to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution.
MISSISSIPPI 1890: We, the people of Mississippi in convention assembled, grateful to Almighty God, and invoking his blessing on our work, do ordain and establish this Constitution.
Missouri 1945: We, the people of Missouri, with profound reverence for the Supreme Ruler of the Universe, and grateful for His goodness, do establish this Constitution for the better government of the State. MONTANA 1889: We, the people of Montana, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of liberty, in order to secure the advantages of a State government, do in accordance with the provisions of the enabling act of Congress, approve the twenty second of February AD 1889, ordain and establish this Constitution.
NEBRASKA 1875: We, the people, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, do ordain and establish the following declaration of rights and frame of government, as the Constitution of the State of Nebraska.
NEVADA 1864: We, the people of the State of Nevada, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, in order to secure its blessings, insure domestic tranquility, and form a more perfect government, do establish this Constitution.
NEW HAMPSHIRE 1784: Every individual has a natural and unalienable right to worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience, and reason, morality and piety, rightly grounded on evangelical principles, will give the best and greatest security to government, and will lay, in the hearts of men, the strongest obligations to due subjection; and the knowledge of these is most likely to be propagated through society by the institutions of the public worship of the Deity.
NEW JERSEY 1947: We, the people of the State of New Jersey, grateful to Almighty God for the civil and religious liberty which He hat so long permitted us to enjoy, and looking to Him for a blessing upon our endeavors to secure and transmit the same unimpaired to succeeding generations, do ordain and establish this Constitution.
NEW MEXICO 1912: We, the people of New Mexico, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of liberty, in order to secure the advantages of a State government, do ordain and establish this Constitution.
NEW YORK 1895: We, the people of the State of New York, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, in order to secure its blessings, do establish this Constitution.
NORTH CAROLINA 1876: We, the people of the State of North Carolina, grateful to Almighty God, the Sovereign Ruler of Nations, for the preservation of the American Union and the existence of our civil, political and religious liberties, and acknowledging our dependence upon Him for the continuance of these blessings to us and our posterity, do, for the more certain security thereof and for the better government of this State, ordain and establish this Constitution. NORTH DAKOTA 1889: We, the people of North Dakota, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, do ordain and establish this Constitution.
OHIO 1851: We, the people of the State of Ohio, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, to secure its blessings and promote our common welfare, do establish this Constitution.
OKLAHOMA 1907: Invoking the guidance of Almighty God, in order to secure and perpetuate the blessings of liberty; to secure just and rightful government; to promote our mutual welfare and happiness, we the people of the State of Oklahoma, do ordain and establish this Constitution.
OREGON 1859: We, the people of the State of Oregon, to the end that justice be established, order maintained, and liberty perpetuated, do ordain this Constitution.
PENNSYLVANIA 1874: W, the people of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, and humbly invoking His guidance, do ordain and establish this Constitution.
RHODE ISLAND 1843: We, the people of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, grateful to Almighty God for the civil and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy, and looking to Him for a blessing upon our endeavors to secure and to transmit the same unimpaired to succeeding generations do ordain and establish this Constitution of Governments.
SOUTH CAROLINA 1895: We, the people of the State of South Carolina, in convention assembled, grateful to God for our liberties, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the preservation and perpetuation of the same.
SOUTH DAKOTA 1889: We, the people of South Dakota, grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious liberties, in order to form a more perfect and independent government, establish justice, insure tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare and preserve to ourselves and to our posterity the blessings of liberty, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the State of South Dakota.
TENNESSEE 1870: That all men have a natural and indefeasible right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their own conscience; that no man can of right, be compelled to attend, erect, or support any:
TEXAS 1876: Humbly invoking the blessings of Almighty God, the people of the State of Texas, do ordain and establish this Constitution.
UTAH 1895: Grateful to Almighty God for life and liberty, we the people of Utah, in order to secure and perpetuate the principles of free government, do ordain and establish this Constitution.
VERMONT 1793: That all men have a natural and unalienable right, to worship Almighty God, according to the dictates of their own consciences and understandings as in their opinion shall be regulated by the word of God: and that no man ought to or of right can be compelled to attend any religious worship, or erect or support any place of worship, or maintain any minister, contrary to the dictates of his conscience, nor can any man be justly deprived or abridged of any civil right as a citizen, on account of his religious sentiments, or peculiar mode of religious worship; and that no authority can or ought to be vested in, or assumed by, any power whatever, that shall in any case interfere with, or in any manner control the rights of conscience, in the free exercise of religious worship. Nevertheless, every sect or denomination of Christians ought to observe the Sabbath or Lord’s day, and keep up some sort of religious worship, which to them shall seem most agreeable to the revealed will of God.
VIRGINIA 1902: That religion or the duty which we owe to our Creator, and the manner of discharging it, can be directed only by reason and conviction, not by force or violence; and, therefore, all men are equally entitled to the free exercise of religion, according to the dictates of conscience; and that it is the mutual duty of all to practice Christian forbearance, love and charity towards each other. WASHINGTON 1889 We, the people of the State of Washington, grateful to the Supreme Ruler of the Universe for our liberties, do ordain this Constitution.
WEST VIRGINIA ( ): Since through Divine Providence we enjoy the blessings of civil, political and religious liberty, we, the people of west Virginia, in and through the provisions of this Constitution, reaffirm our faith in and constant reliance upon God and seek diligently to promote, preserve and perpetuate good government in the State of West Virginia for the common welfare, freedom and security of ourselves and our posterity.
WISCONSIN 1848: We, the people of Wisconsin, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, in order to secure its blessings, forms a more perfect government, insure domestic tranquility and promote the general welfare, do establish this Constitution.
WYOMING 1889: We, the people of the State of Wyoming, grateful to God for our civil, political and religious liberties, and desiring to secure them to ourselves and perpetuate them to our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution.

This preamble does not include Alaska or Hawaii and displays the sections that pertained to God.
So, those who claim Seperation of Church and State are not for anything but Seperation of our Nation from Grace.
Look around you, for every area God has been removed Evil has taken its place, those are the facts.

This preamble was proposed by House Joint Resolution No. 8, Acts, Regular Session,
1959 p 659: submitted by Acts, Regular Session, 1960, c. 4: and ratified November 8, 1950.

FORD
11-27-2005, 07:02 PM
If everybody who called themselves "Christians" actually lived by the teachings of Jesus Christ, this world would be a pretty cool place.

pepper
11-27-2005, 07:44 PM
AMEN

Cathedral
11-27-2005, 07:44 PM
Originally posted by FORD
If everybody who called themselves "Christians" actually lived by the teachings of Jesus Christ, this world would be a pretty cool place.

That means that the true Christian has a job to do in correcting the wrongs done by the false doctrines of those who claim to, but do not truly know Jesus or his teachings.

But i agree, what a wonderful world it could be, and it actually will be after this earth age passes away and all evil is purged from it.

That day is coming, and it's coming sooner than anyone realizes.

That is why over my few days of absence i have come to understand that the closer i get to the truth the less faith and interest i have in supporting any political party.
They are both polluted by things that are not of God and i can no longer stand for it in any way.

The arguing that it spawns on this site alone between good people is nothing short of evil in itself.
Politics are just another tool of the Devil to destroy lives and souls.

My point is that neither side is worth fighting for, the only way change for the better will come is if we fight against it and restore the principles on which this nation was founded.

Jérôme Frenchise
11-27-2005, 08:34 PM
Actually, Dogmatism will kill any good thought. All religions sacrificed their good foundations with stupid rituals, prejudice, ready-made conceptions, bigotry, intolerance, etc. Honestly, Christianity is all well by the book, but when you look into its history... The stupid crusades in the Middle Ages, the criminal conquistadores who eliminated entire civilizations (Incas, Mayas, Aztecs) under evangelisation motives. :rolleyes: Etc, etc. There was always that certainty in the background, being sure to hold the truth. Just as if there had ever been one truth...
Then we'll say that there are millions of believers who wouldn't hurt a fly. Ahem! Let them be governed by some rotten monarch who claims he is the monarch by "God's decision" as we had a series here in the Middle Ages until the end of the 18th century, and they'll all take arms if they're told that their religion is at stake. Christians have more or less always been ready, just like Muslims.
BTW, BUSH like proclaims he is like driven by God... He's got millions of bigots supporting him. When I hear him mention the word "god" every two sentences, it drives me nuts. :mad: It's such a staggering flashback to obscurantism.
I'm afraid there is no way for Christians to go back to basics, except by small numbers; the problem is, smaller groups will fall into fundamentalism.

Looking back through history, for one good thing, you will find ten times as many negative points to religion.
The further religion stands from political power, the better! That's one of the lessons that History teaches us. Really. :cool:

Just my two cents. Excuse me if I'm not exactly sticking to the point. :cool:

Keef
11-27-2005, 08:43 PM
Originally posted by Cathedral
That means that the true Christian has a job to do in correcting the wrongs done by the false doctrines of those who claim to, but do not truly know Jesus or his teachings.

But i agree, what a wonderful world it could be, and it actually will be after this earth age passes away and all evil is purged from it.

That day is coming, and it's coming sooner than anyone realizes.

That is why over my few days of absence i have come to understand that the closer i get to the truth the less faith and interest i have in supporting any political party.
They are both polluted by things that are not of God and i can no longer stand for it in any way.

The arguing that it spawns on this site alone between good people is nothing short of evil in itself.
Politics are just another tool of the Devil to destroy lives and souls.

My point is that neither side is worth fighting for, the only way change for the better will come is if we fight against it and restore the principles on which this nation was founded. Anyone that still supports these murdering thieves(on both sides) is to afraid to admit to themselves that we have a problem in this once great country. Otherwise, you have to get off your ass and do something.

It's pretty fucking easy to watch Fox News and take that as truth.

Cathedral
11-30-2005, 10:07 AM
Originally posted by Keef
Anyone that still supports these murdering thieves(on both sides) is to afraid to admit to themselves that we have a problem in this once great country. Otherwise, you have to get off your ass and do something.

It's pretty fucking easy to watch Fox News and take that as truth.

We've had a problem in this once great nation for decades, the way government is run hasn't changed at all, only the technology has improved and opinions multiplied.

I'll be honest and say that I don't know what to believe, even if the truth were to hit me in the face, and i'm very bothered by that.

But i do know this, if i want to add to the confusion all i have to do is channel surf.
It's ironic that with the boom in information technology facts and truth have become harder to find.

ELVIS
11-30-2005, 10:45 AM
Hmmm...

How did I miss this thread ??

:confused:

Cathedral
11-30-2005, 10:50 AM
It's easy, it didn't attract much attention because it's too much to read for most people.
I have word count issues, lol.

ELVIS
11-30-2005, 10:51 AM
I don't...:D

Cathedral
11-30-2005, 10:53 AM
LOL

ELVIS
11-30-2005, 10:54 AM
See there ??

You're learning...:D

Cathedral
11-30-2005, 10:56 AM
Yep, but i'm too opinionated for it to last long. :)

Hardrock69
11-30-2005, 02:49 PM
Originally posted by Cathedral


That is why over my few days of absence i have come to understand that the closer i get to the truth the less faith and interest i have in supporting any political party.
They are both polluted by things that are not of God and i can no longer stand for it in any way.

The arguing that it spawns on this site alone between good people is nothing short of evil in itself.
Politics are just another tool of the Devil to destroy lives and souls.

My point is that neither side is worth fighting for, the only way change for the better will come is if we fight against it and restore the principles on which this nation was founded.


Keep in mind the above statement can be applied to any version of the Christian religion as well.

As well intentioned as they all are, they are polluted by things that are not of God.

Therefore rendering Christianity to be less than what it should be.

Why is this?

Simple....because all religions are founded by, staffed, and operated by HUMANS.

Cathedral
11-30-2005, 05:05 PM
Originally posted by Hardrock69
Keep in mind the above statement can be applied to any version of the Christian religion as well.

As well intentioned as they all are, they are polluted by things that are not of God.

Therefore rendering Christianity to be less than what it should be.

Why is this?

Simple....because all religions are founded by, staffed, and operated by HUMANS.

That isn't what i'm suggesting at all though.
I know from personal experience that Christianity means many many different things to many many different people, which would lead to huge problems for everyone should we try to pick any one of them as the example.

I'm suggesting a return to the framework that is biblically based that was is the original version of the Constitution where the laws are concerned before lawyers started disecting it and altering it to the point the original meaning was lost.
This is a country that was founded on biblical law, not biblical worship, do you follow what i'm saying?
When the Constitution was written it was masterful in how it represented everyone and only did so according to what was good for the Union as a whole...that is what has been changed and that is what needs to be restored.

Once the discussion becomes about which sector of Christianity it should follow we have again drifted of course from what i'm suggesting.
Then we are right back to where we are today, where the law of the land has become the law of the individual, and that is why, for the most part, our society has regressed the way it has.

Look, God accepts and loves all mankind, the faithful and the sinner alike, and that is the most important issue in this.
It is up to us to decide for ourselves what we believe and who we worship and the conseqences for those choices will only be ruled on after death and by God.
Anyone of any faith running around judging people because they don't practice what they do is wrong in Christ's eyes, and wrong for any nation.

It's the law that is important, and over the last 200 years we as a society have confused this issue and mixed them together.

The law protects everyone and omits no-one. But, once you try to bring faith into the public square in the name of the government you have effectively robbed everyone of their freedom of will to choose who their savior is, am i making sense at all?

I guess what i have come to understand is that faith is an individual choice, the law of the land is not, but if the laws protect everyone, as the Constitution intended in the first place, life would be better for everyone in that land.

This whole Seperation of Church and State deal is a disaster because it is based on the principle that both biblical law and faith worship are the same issue and they are not.

Just like my neighbor who doesn't ackowledge Christ in any way, doesn't decorate for the Holidays, they don't exchange gifts, it's just another day for them.
But, they have no problem with anyone that does until it is promoted by the government.

Most people don't understand that the Constitution only implimented the basic principles of the bible that protects everyone and their right to choose, to assemble, to speak, to think.....the original document didn't shove faith down anyone's throats, it was fair and equal for all, which was best for the Union as a whole.

Somwhere along the lines in history that vision was lost and it became a crusade of the so-called faithful to impose their beliefs on each other and because of that the entire nation was steered off track and down a road none of our founding fathers ever intended.
We basically took what was fair and made it unfair to the point now that the government is being pulled into the middle where it has had to choose a side.......That is NOT what our Constitution was supposed to do no legislation should have ever been passed to give that impression.

Jesus himself knew that faith and government did not go together and would lead to disaster if they were ever blended together in the same fashion that all faith's don't go together.
because in the end, those who seek Jesus always find out that the blood of Jesus has no denomination.

Religion is to be practiced in the home and in the church. our freedom of speech allowes the faithful to preach the word to the non-believer as much as it allowes the non-believer to speak their minds right back at them if they do not agree. The Constitution made it equal for everyone in that respect.

But now, those on both sides of the issue are engaged in trying to force their faith or lack of faith down each others throats, and that is the entire problem when all the smoke clears.

God and Government are supposed to remain completely seperate while allowing all to practice whatever they choose without persecution or discrimination, or censorship.....That is what The Constitution did from the start and should never have been altered in respect to that area of law.

We screwed up, and now only point fingers and blame at each other for trying to silence each other's right's as protected by that document based on what we percieve as offensive.

Biblical law and principle as contained in the US Constitution did not show favor to worship in any way. it was designed to protect everyone based on common principles that served and protected the entire Union, period.

ELVIS
11-30-2005, 06:04 PM
Originally posted by Cathedral

This is a country that was founded on biblical law, not biblical worship, do you follow what i'm saying?

Most people I know, Christian or not, don't know anything about that, and the non-Christians don't want to hear it at all...


Biblical law and principle as contained in the US Constitution did not show favor to worship in any way. it was designed to protect everyone based on common principles that served and protected the entire Union, period.

That's right...

Still, people will argue this to the death...

They don't want to hear any of that...




:elvis:

Cathedral
11-30-2005, 07:18 PM
Originally posted by ELVIS
:elvis:

Then we are doomed to remain screwed, and to take it one dangerous step further....It makes a majority of Americans actions on this front Unconstitutional.
Or it would if it hadn't been tampered with, warped and twisted so far out of its original context.

ELVIS
11-30-2005, 07:35 PM
Jesus is comming to straighten it out...;)

Cathedral
11-30-2005, 07:54 PM
Yes he is, and i surrender the issue to him and welcome his return...also praying that i am actually ready when he arrives cause i'm not there yet. :(

ELVIS
11-30-2005, 07:58 PM
Neither am I, Cat...

Neither am I...