Dear Friend,

Much is being said today about “super patriots” and “right-wing extremists” and the kind of things they are saying. Let’s look at a few “super patriotic statements that may sound to some a little on the extreme side:

1. “Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery?” “I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty or give me death.” (Patrick Henry)

2. “They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.” (Ben. Franklin)

3. “The liberties of our country are worth defending at all hazards; and it is our duty to defend them against all attacks. We have received them as fair inheritance from our worthy ancestors (who) purchased them for us with toil and danger. “(Samuel Adams)

5. “Swim or sink, live or die, survive or perish with my country was my unalterable determination.” (John Adams)

6. “Let our object be our country, our whole country, and nothing but our country.” (Daniel Webster)

7. “Civilization itself seems to be in the balance, but right is more precious than peace.” (Woodrow Wilson)

8. “We, too, born to freedom, are willing to fight to maintain freedom. We, and all others who believe as deeply as we do, would rather die on our feet than live on our knees.” (Franklin Roosevelt)

These men were by no means of the same political persuasion, nor of the same times, and often contemporaries disagreed among themselves. But, fortunately for America, there have always been men willing to speak up and sometimes take positions regarded by some as extreme.

In Psalms 33:11-12 we read, “The counsel of the LORD standeth forever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations. (12) Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD…” In Proverbs 14:34 we read, “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.” You know as well as I do liberals of our generation would like us to believe this nation was not founded upon Godly principles. But it is very evident from everything we can gather that this nation from its very inception was founded upon and planned to be a Christian nation by the providence of God Almighty. It is well to remember that the Bible has always occupied an important place in building our nation, and is part and parcel of our heritage. The threads of Scripture glisten everywhere in its social and legal fabric. America has been blessed because it was founded on biblical principles. Note these quotations from great Americas of the past:

George Washington, “It is impossible to rightly govern without God and the Bible.”

Patrick Henry, “It cannot be emphasized too strongly that this nation was founded, not by religionist, but by Christians; not on religions, but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”

Andrew Jackson, “The Bible is the Rock upon which our republic rests.”

Daniel Webster, “If we abide by the principles taught in the Bible, our country will go on prospering. But if we and our prosperity neglect its instructions and authority, no man can tell how sudden a catastrophe may overwhelm us and bury all our glory in profound obscurity.” “If religious books are not widely circulated among the masses in this country, I do not know what is going to become of us as a nation. If truth be not diffused, error will be. If God and His Word are not known and received, the devil and his works will gain the ascendancy… If the power of the Gospel is not felt throughout the length and breadth of the land, anarchy and misrule, degradation and misery, corruption and darkness will reign without mitigation and without end.”

America has been blessed because it was founded on biblical principles. True freedom can never be enjoyed by people who refuse to fear God. Let’s pray for our nation and recommit ourselves to living as God’s people should. Let’s heed these venerable voices of the past which underscore the truth of Psalm 33:12, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD…”