Maybe It’s Time to Return to Our Roots

The American flag flying with other national flags in Capri, Italy.

Since I was born on July 4^th, I guess I couldn’t help but grow up feeling very patriotic, thrilling to every sight of the “red, white and blue.” I’ve always loved spotting an American flag unfurled wherever I went, even on my international travels, including Italy and Jamaica. I recall several years ago being on the picturesque island of Capri, Italy, where “Old Glory” was waving proudly along with the Italian flag and several others, overlooking splendid yachts anchored below near the Tyrrhenian Sea.

These days being a patriot has gone out of fashion in the eyes of some. However, even though people certainly have the right to express criticism of the United States, justified or not, they should remember that’s only possible because of the freedoms we enjoy in this imperfect nation.

 

Like this flag photographed at 
Mackinac Island, Mich., Old
Glory today is tattered but proud.

What role God has played – if any – in the founding and establishing of this nation has been fodder for much debate through the years. However, it has been enlightening to read The Founder’s Bible, which presents the Scriptures in their entirety, along with hundreds of articles and commentaries about our Founding Fathers. Based on their statements and writings, the evidence is overwhelming that they had no intention of segregating matters of faith from matters of governing our country, at least in the manner the so-called “separation of church and state” is typically interpreted.

Here’s a very small sampling, taken from The Founder’s Bible, of specific things the writers and signers of the United States of America’s original documents had to say regarding the Bible and its application for public laws and institutions:

      ”It has been the error of schools to teach astronomy and all the other sciences and subjects of natural philosophy as accomplishments only, whereas they should be taught theologically, or with reference to the Being who is the Author of them, for all the principles of science are of Divine origin.” – Thomas Paine

 

      “The moment the idea is admitted into society that property is not as sacred as the laws of God, and that there is not a force of law and public justice to protect it, anarchy and tyranny commence. If ‘Thou shalt not covet’ and ‘Thou shalt not steal’ were not commandments of Heaven, they must be made inviolable precepts in every society before it can be civilized or made free.” – John Adams

 

      “God grant that in America true religion and civil liberty may be inseparable and that the unjust attempts to destroy the one may in the issue tend to the support and establishment of both.” – John Witherspoon

 

      “To the kindly influence of Christianity we owe that degree of civil freedom and political and social happiness which mankind now enjoy…. Whenever the pillars of Christianity shall be overthrown, our present republican forms of government – and all the blessings which flow from them – must fall with them.” – Jedidiah Morse

 

Speaking at the Constitutional Convention, Benjamin Franklin recognized how divine intervention had undeniably contributed to the United States’ march toward freedom: “…All of us engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of a superintending Providence in our favor…. And now we have forgotten that powerful Friend? Or do we imagine we no longer need His assistance? I have lived, sir, a long time; and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth: that God governs in the affairs of men.”

 

Founding Father Benjamin Rush, known as “The Father of Public Schools Under the Constitution,” wrote “A Defense for the Use of the Bible as a School Book.” Among the numerous reasons he cited for including the Bible in the public school curriculum included: 

      “That Christianity is the only true and perfect religion; and that in proportion as mankind adopt its principles and obey its precepts, they are wise and happy…. That the Bible contains more knowledge necessary to man in his present state than any other book in the world.”

 

Such ideas were embraced for nearly the first two centuries of our nation. In the early 1960s, the move for separating church and state as it’s presently understood gained great momentum. However, in 1950, the Florida Supreme Court said this:

      “A people unschooled about the sovereignty of God, the Ten Commandments, and the ethics of Jesus could never have evolved the Bill of Rights, the Declaration of Independence, and the Constitution. There is not one solitary fundamental principle of our democratic policy that did not stem directly from the basic moral concepts as embodied in the Decalogue and the ethics of Jesus.”

 

It’s obvious that in many ways our nation has drifted from the views cited above, as well as thousands like them. The U.S.A. might not be the “new Israel,” but its system of laws and form of government were rooted in Judeo-Christian principles. And for a long time, our nation stood at the forefront of the mission to take the Gospel to all nations. The fact that biblical values are now being abandoned, even ridiculed, could that be at the heart of many of our society’s ills?

 

In the Old Testament, the people of Israel enjoyed God’s blessings only to later reject Him and go their own way. The price they paid each time, individually and collectively, was severe. Consider one example of the Lord’s judgment:

“What more was there to do for My vineyard that I have not done in it? Why, when I expected it to produce good grapes did it produce worthless ones?... I will remove its hedge and it will be consumed; I will break down its wall and it will become trampled ground…” (Isaiah 5:4-5).

The United States, a nation founded on principles integrally intertwined with God’s revealed truth, for many years flourished and enjoyed a unique – even favored – position in the world. Can we still say that today? Could it be time for us to cease rebelling against the God of creation and return to our roots? 

‘Grand Old Flag’ – A Symbol of Scandal?

Like every other holiday so far this year, our annual July 4^th/Independence Day celebration is certain to look and feel very different from years past. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 restrictions, many cities have already cancelled their annual public celebrations and fireworks shows. Others are considerably curtailing their events. And with more aggressive protests attacking seemingly every aspect of traditional patriotic display, “Old Glory” has fallen into disrepute in some eyes, even a symbol of scandal.

It's sad. Sure, the USA has its flaws. But name any nation throughout history that hasn’t. Except we’re no longer supposed to study, or even trust, history. And what we do study, people want to rewrite and revise. But I for one believe our country still offers much for which we can – and should – be proud.

 

Despite sentiment about oppressed peoples and “white supremacy,” I strongly suspect we have more millionaires, and even billionaires, from every race than any other nation in the world. People of virtually every ethnicity and culture have made major contributions to our society and way of life, and many have been rewarded handsomely for their efforts.

 

Maybe it’s because I’m a bonafide “Yankee Doodle Dandy,” born on the Fourth of July, but I’ll take the United States – if we can still call it “united” – over any other country in the world, and I’ve been to visit a number of them. For those who disagree, they’re free and encouraged to move themselves and their stuff to another place that’s better.

I’m not oblivious to the inequities – and perceived inequities – of our nation. Yes, wrongs have been committed and justice in those cases must be served. But to discredit everything our nation – and its flag – have stood for and represent is a gross miscarriage of…justice.

 

When I see our flag, with its 50 stars on a field of blue, and its seven red and six white stripes, to me it stands for the many thousands of lives that were sacrificed to create a land that has often been referred to as “the great American experiment.” 

 

When my Hungarian ancestors passed through Ellis Island in New York City in the early 1900s, they were not guaranteed anything. But they worked hard, sometimes just scraping by, and succeeded in building respectable lives for themselves and their families. Nothing was handed to them or the other immigrants who legally entered our shores through the decades. They arrived with dreams, and through initiative, determination and refusal to quit, millions were able to realize those dreams.

 

For those who choose to kneel or disrespect the flag, they have that right, I suppose. But in so doing, they also disrespect the countless souls who came before, giving of themselves to make possible a society that was and still is, unprecedented. 

 

We’re a people, according to the Declaration of Independence, “created equal…endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights.” Like the Pledge of Allegiance, which added the phrase “under God,” from our nation's founding there was an acknowledgement of a Creator God who sovereignly has made possible all that we are and all that we can become. Starting with the ‘60s, our courts and elected officials chose to start turning their backs on that God. They sowed the wind, and now we’re reaping the whirlwind.

 

Dissidents and protesters can’t seem to understand why dishonoring the American flag strikes many of us as such an offense. All they see are the flaws of history; we see not only flaws and failures, but also the great triumphs and accomplishments, the blessings I believe largely came from the Creator to whom our founding documents refer.

 

The words from the patriotic old George M. Cohan song, “You’re a Grand Ole Flag,” say it well:

You're a grand old flag
You're a high-flying flag
And forever in peace may you wave
You're the emblem of
The land I love
The home of the free and the brave
Ev'ry heart beats true
Under red, white and blue
Where there's never a boast or brag
But should old acquaintance be forgot
Keep your eye on the grand old flag…

 

“The emblem of the land I love.” So, criticize the United States if you will. We’re far from perfect; there’s room for improvement, without question. However, to spit on the flag, burn it, look upon it with scorn and ridicule is to spit upon, scorn and ridicule the many who gave their all to make our nation, in many respects, the envy of people all around the world.

 

Ultimately, Hebrews 11:13 and 1 Peter 2:11 declare all of God’s children are “aliens and strangers,” “foreigners and exiles” in this world. There’s another world, “a new heaven and a new earth” (1 Peter 3:13, Revelation 21:1), that we eagerly anticipate. But for now, this is where we reside, the United States of America – and I’m not ashamed to admit, I’m proud to be an American.

One Nation, Under God … Indivisible?

American flag on carrier USS York in Mount Pleasant, S.C.

If you’ve been reading my posts for very long, you know Independence Day means a lot to me. Because I’m a Yankee Doodle Dandy – born on the Fourth of July – as the refrain from the old George M. Cohan song goes. Every time we celebrate another anniversary of the founding of the United States, I unfurl our flag, put on one of my patriotic T-shirts, and enjoy a fireworks show, whether in person or on TV.

I’ve lost count of the photos I’ve taken of American flags – even in Italy. I’m convinced red, white and blue never have – and never will – look as good as they do on Old Glory. Hearing the “Star-Spangled Banner” always fills me with pride for our nation, despite its flaws. Lee Greenwood’s classic tune, “Proud to Be an American” peps me up, and John Philip Sousa’s “Stars and Stripes Forever” makes me want to find a parade and march.

Replica of colonial flag waving at Charleston, S.C. home.

If only it were this way for everyone who benefits from living in the USA, the most free country in the world. I suppose we’re spoiled. Too much of a good thing can do that to you. Some burn the flag to make a statement. (Don’t ask me what I think they’re saying.) Others take a knee, or sit, when they hear the National Anthem of our country that so many shed blood to defend. Yes, they’re free to do this – but don’t they see the hypocrisy in such actions?

These days the Pledge of Allegiance has become controversial. When I was in grade school we recited the Pledge every day, concluding with the words, “…one nation, under God, indivisible….” Sadly, the “indivisible” description seems antiquated as our nation has become divided, according to some unlike ever before. We’ve become a country of extremes, with little room for common ground. “Tolerance” has come to mean being intolerant of any views that differ from our own.

Perhaps that little phrase, “under God, indivisible,” identifies why we find ourselves no longer “indivisible.” Because some factions of society insist we shouldn’t be “under God.” But I think the wording from the pledge is correct: A United States of America can only be truly indivisible if the source of our unity comes from being under God. Otherwise, it’s everyone for themselves, as the ancient Israelites were described in the Old Testament (Judges 21:25) – doing “what’s right in their own eyes” – when they determined no longer to submit to a sovereign God.

American flag flying in Capri, Italy.

We can’t directly equate the USA to ancient Israel, but I believe the underlying principles still apply. The Israelites prospered and thrived under leaders who were devoted to God. But when leaders wavered in their faith, or were replaced by ungodly leaders, the nation suffered.

Psalm 33:12 tells us, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people He chose for His inheritance.” We see this declaration affirmed in Psalm 144:15, “Blessed are the people of whom this is true, blessed are the people whose God is the Lord.”

Historical revisionists would have us believe the so-called “separation of church and state” meant that matters of faith should be excluded from the public square. However,The Founders’ Bible argues to the contrary. In hundreds of documents compiled by historian David Barton, we find writings from many of our nation’s founding fathers who believed the United States could not survive apart from a foundation based on reverence for God.

We live in a time and culture very different from when our nation was founded in 1776. However, we worship the same unchanging, unchangeable God. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). If we are again to become truly “United,” we must somehow return to our roots. I pray that will be so – and soon.

Legal, Moral, and What’s Right

Just because something is legal, does that mean it’s necessarily the right thing to do? I started thinking about this after reading about a melee that broke out during the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio. As you might recall, an attempted burning of the American flag ignited the scuffle.

Someone on social media pointed out the U.S. Supreme Court in 1969 ruled burning the flag is not illegal. That’s true, but does that mean it’s okay to do?

Consider: There’s no law that prohibits cheating on one’s spouse, but does that mean it’s the right thing to do? You won’t get arrested for cutting into a grocery store’s checkout line, but just because it’s not against the law, should we do it? And I doubt there’s any legislation restricting a person from walking into a mosque and shredding a copy of the Qur’an (if you prefer, Koran), but that doesn’t make it right – or advisable.

As I’ve so often found, the Bible has something very practical to say about this. And you don’t have to be religious – or even spiritual – to appreciate its wisdom: "’I have the right to do anything,’ you say – but not everything is beneficial. ‘I have the right to do anything’ – but not everything is constructive” (1 Corinthians 10:23). Another translation states it this way: “’All things are lawful,’ but not all things are helpful. ‘All things are lawful,’ but not all things build up.”

I’m all in favor of free speech, and if people want to protest, they should have that right. But if that involves attacking the sensibilities of millions of proud, patriotic Americans – especially in these days when we’re told to avoid offending anyone – maybe it’s stepping over the line.

Some might argue an American flag is just a piece of material, so what’s the harm? But if the protesters thought it important enough to select the Stars and Stripes to set ablaze, it must be more than a piece of material to them. For them it’s a significant symbol, representing some cause they wish to protest or denounce.

Countless thousands of soldiers have given their lives to protect what the flag represents. Many thousands more have returned from battle maimed in body, mind and spirit to guarantee the rights of these protesters to voice their dissent. My father suffered two wounds in World War II, and a number of family members and friends also participated in various wars because they believed in the values and principles the American flag has traditionally represented.

So for those who feel inclined to burn Old Glory to express their ire, I’d like to ask them, as the Scripture passage admonishes, “Is it beneficial?” “Is it constructive?” “Is it helpful?” “Does it build up – or does it tear down?”

I’d also make a suggestion: If these protesters feel so strongly opposed to the American way of life, why don’t they burn their Social Security cards and renounce their benefits? Or their welfare checks, food stamps, or college financial aid vouchers? That would make a point, for sure.

And since those that protest in such an unseemly manner reject what they believe the red, white and blue stands for, these folks should be encouraged in the strongest possible way to quickly find a new country of residence, one whose flag they can look upon with pride rather than scorn.

That’s not to say all is well with our nation. Far from it. But for those of us who choose to convey concerns and dissatisfaction in more civil ways, we’d be wise to heed the exhortation of Micah 6:8, which informs us, “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

We’re not to worship a flag – or a nation. But in our strivings to bring about a better world, wouldn’t an approach that’s beneficial and constructive, one that’s helpful and builds up, be better? Flies still are much more attracted to honey than they are to vinegar.

Confessions of an Unapologetic Flag-Waver

Is patriotism dead? On life support, perhaps? In some ways it would appear to be. Protesters burn American flags for various reasons – or non-reasons – and many pundits view that as their right to free speech.

Immigrants from other nations benefit from living in the U.S.A., but show disrespect for American traditions. On the West Coast, Muslim residents of a housing complex protested when a fellow resident proudly displayed the flag, claiming it was offensive and made them feel threatened. Can we say, “Really? Seriously?”

Statesmen in the past seemed to revel in the Stars and Stripes, but today numerous elected officials apparently view such practices as wearing an American flag lapel pin, or even putting their hands over their heart during the singing of the National Anthem as beneath their dignity. Celebrities, many of whom have enjoyed firsthand the benefits of “the American dream,” boldly declare how ashamed they are of America.

Again, the U.S. Constitution guarantees the right to free speech – politically correct, of course – so I suppose they’re exercising that right. But as a bonafide “Yankee Doodle Dandy,” born on the 4^th of July, I would hope this Independence Day the patriots among us will again rise up and declare our pride in our flag, our nation, and in being true Americans.

The United States is far from perfect, and people are entitled to object in a dignified manner to injustices and wrongdoing. But when I see the 50 stars on a field of blue, along with the stripes of red and white, I don’t see them symbolizing materialism and greed, prejudice or social disparity. I see them as representing the courage of men, women and children who came to our shores centuries ago to start a new life. I see them as emblematic of the thousands upon thousands of lives sacrificed to protect the values and principles upon which this nation was established.

The website, www.usflag.org, discusses the colors of the American flag and what they represent:

The colors red, white, and blue did not have meanings for the Stars and Stripes when it was adopted in 1777. However, the colors in the Great Seal did have specific meanings. Charles Thompson, Secretary of the Continental Congress, reporting to Congress on the Seal, stated:

"The colors of the pales (the vertical stripes) are those used in the flag of the United States of America: White signifies purity and innocence, Red, hardiness & valour, and Blue, the color of the Chief (the broad band above the stripes) signifies vigilance, perseverance & justice."

Also, from a book about the flag published in 1977 by the House of Representatives:

"The star is a symbol of the heavens and the divine goal to which man has aspired from time immemorial; the stripe is symbolic of the rays of light emanating from the sun."

I wholeheartedly believe we can respect and revere the American flag, which has weathered storms both internal and external, while acknowledging much remains to be done on many fronts to better serve and protect its citizens. Even though my immediate ancestors came to the United States in the early 1900s, they and subsequent generations have enjoyed much of what this nation and its society have to offer. For that I’m extremely grateful, and hope that in some small way I’ve been not only a beneficiary but also a contributor.

That being said, I don’t believe we are – or ever truly were – a “Christian nation.” There has always been room for disparate beliefs, as well as unbelief. And history shows our founding fathers reflected the spectrum of these. But our Declaration of Independence speaks of all men being “created equal,” not evolving, and “being endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights.” Our statesmen through the centuries have affirmed belief in the divine, ranging from George Washington, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, to Abraham Lincoln, to more contemporary Presidents and government leaders.

The United States has long stood as unique among the world’s nations. Some have termed it, ‘The Great Experiment.” While I can’t prove it empirically, I believe our nation has prospered in large measure due to the blessings of God to whom we as a people have given deference, as least until recent decades.

Today our flag flies in figurative tatters, battered by unconscionable violence, strife and discord that would hardly be reflective of how a “Christian nation” should act. But we’re not without hope. It will require taking to heart – and putting into practice – an Old Testament promise that’s often repeated, but soon forgotten:

“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).

Dating back to the 1960s, first our judicial system and then our houses of law determined we didn’t need God. Perhaps we’d become so prosperous as a nation that we concluded we should declare independence from Him. And God, although sovereign, seems to have acquiesced, telling us, “If I’m not wanted, I’ll withdraw and remove My hand from you. See how that works out.”

I may be in the minority, but in my view, it’s not working very well. On this Independence Day, maybe it’s time to consider that independence from God isn’t such a great idea.

Deserving of Remembrance

Again on this Memorial Day, thoughts turn to the countless thousands of Americans through the years who have lost their lives defending our nation and paying the highest possible price for the freedom we enjoy – even with its flaws. We also think of the flag that represents our country, the banner that has flown over many of those who suffered death or grave injury to protect many of us who have never seen a real battlefield.

Recently I saw a video of how patriotic Americans quashed a planned flag-burning by students staging a protest at a prominent university in the South. Not only was the intended igniting of the American flag averted, but a soldier in uniform also shamed one of the protestors, shouting at him, “My brother died (in battle) for you!”

I can’t imagine what it must be like to have a loved one’s life taken on the field of battle. My father was wounded twice during World War II, but returned home after the war alive and intact. If he hadn’t, I certainly wouldn’t be writing this blog post today. A friend of mine was not as fortunate – he never knew his biological father, who died during a battle in that war. My friend’s pain of loss may have dulled, but has never disappeared.

So as we pause for this annual commemoration, I respect the right of people to protest how our country is being run. However, I believe that to burn or desecrate the flag in any way is a heinous act of disrespect – not only to the nation it represents, but also to the lives that were cut short in preserving that right to express protests.

Like most people, I wish there was no war. I wish there had never been any wars. In any form, war seems so senseless, but wishful thinking has yet to make war go away.

So it seems the prudent, compassionate strategy is to strive for peace – praying for it, seeking non-violent resolutions to conflicts, and hoping the loss of lives due to war in the future will be minimal. At the same time, it’s also fitting to recognize and honor the lives of those many who bravely and nobly sacrificed themselves so that people like you and me could live, work, play, and yes, even protest.

In John 15:13, Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends.” This applies to every soldier and sailor, male and female, that has not returned from a field of battle, whether in Europe, Asia, Africa or the Middle East. And of course, Jesus was also referring to Himself, as He prepared to singlehandedly engage in the greatest war of all, the war against sin and the powers of evil.

His “battlefield” was unique, a cross atop a lonely hill that seemed so stark and obscure at the time. Two thousand years later that cross, that hill, and that life are hardly obscure or forgotten. This event has become the linchpin that serves to link – and divide – all of humanity today. The battle against sin continues, but the war has been won once and for all. Jesus declared such when He said just before breathing His last, “It is finished” (John 19:30).

So it seems fitting that as we honor and memorialize the countless American lives that have been lost from the Revolutionary War to the present, it would be proper also to ponder the death of the one called the “King of kings.” We should call to remembrance the Christian “soldiers” who have defended the faith all around the world, including missionaries and martyrs who have stood firm in the face of persecution and oppression.

These lives were not lost in vain. In Acts 10:4 a devout Roman centurion was told, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God.” In the same way, all who live for the Lord and serve Him are not forgotten but remembered forever.