Some may remember Kate Smith singing the lyrics to a song
written by Irving berlin in the early 1940s entitled, “God Bless America.” Birthed
in the days of World War II, those lyrics and their resulting impact energize
millions of Americans for years to come.
God bless America, land that I love.
Stand beside her and guide her,
Through the night with a light from above.
From the mountains to the prairies,
To the oceans, white with foam.
God bless America,
My home sweet Home.
Over the past century, those lyrics have haunted and also
energized millions of Americans during which times this nation has faced many
prayerful and heart-rendering moments. From the moment that those first
transcontinental feet stepped on her shores – the many souls seeking freedom from tyranny, religious
oppression and even those who were forced to serve as slaves and indentured
servants to those who sought to benefit from their free labor. Each, in their
own ways, sought God’s blessings during their stay here.
Eventually, many, even though their circumstances varied,
came to the point of accepting their presence here as some form of God’s will. Yet,
with a conviction that God was still in control of them and this land, their
appeal to God to bless, not only them, but also this very land in which
they dwelled.
World Wars, national and international battles, and military
skirmishes have also precipitated that desire for God’s Keeping Power of this
“nation under God.”
Unfortunately, many have either forgotten or never realized
that God has some stipulations for his blessings. They don’t come simply
because of some “earnest request.” They come instead based on God’s own divine
“criteria.”
A Nation’s Relationship to God
Psalms 33:12 – KJV
“Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD …”
Seeking God’s blessings presupposes and requires said
nation(s) to have officially affirmed God as their spiritual and moral source
of life and guidance.
The Preamble to the Constitution of the United States
distinctly affirms that the United States is a “nation under God.”
Whether or not every or any U.S. citizen affirms God as
their lord does not excuse this nation from operating in an harmonious manner
with the principles of the Bible. It was the Bible that the framers of the
Constitution based their convictions and principles of personal and national
behavior.
Every person who seeks to be a citizen and an official of
the United States obligates himself/herself to operate in harmony with the Word
of God. Disobedience to and/or defiance of God’s word renders that person(s),
even nation, leads that nation as not being a nation under God. God does not bless
this type of behavior.
Psalm 40:4 – KJV
“Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust,
and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to
lies.”
When a person trusts in God, he does not allow
himself/herself to make decisions nor take actions which conflicts with God’s word.
He/she does not cater to persons who are “proud,” or perceives and/or presents
himself/herself as being “above” others. This is the basis of anti-racial,
anti-cultural or other such behavior. The person who proports, promotes and/or
operates on false information operates on “lies” – on that which is
contradictory to the word, will and way of God. God does not bless this type of
behavior.
Romans 4:7 – KJV
“Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and
whose sins are covered.
When persons have fulfilled their designated “debts to the
law,” then all previous rights and privileges they had would properly be
restored!
There is a distinct difference between being “forgiven” and
being “pardoned.” Being “pardoned” allows an “offender” be released from or
exonerated from whatever injustice(s) that he/she had committed, and therefore
avoiding the penalty, for said “offense.” Pardoning allows an “offense” to be
made without “punishment” for said “offense.”
On the other hand, being “forgiven” means that the penalty
for a specific “debt” or “offense” has been canceled. The “offender” is not
liable for the impending “debt,” since said “debt” has been “paid” or “covered”
by/from another source. This the concept of Jesus’ death on the cross for the
“sins” of the World. God blesses this type of behavior.
A Nation’s Pattern of Behavior
Psalm 106:3 – KJV
“Blessed are they that keep judgment,
and he that doeth righteousness at all times.”
It is incumbent upon national, state and local leaders to
make sure that the established laws are accurately and equitably implemented to
every citizen and person who dwells within every locality of that nation. There
is no justification for any law being established which gives weighted
preferences between persons of differing gender, races, ethnic, economic or
social/political groups. All laws ought be established and executed in harmony
with biblical principles in all cases and situations. God blesses this type of behavior.
Proverbs 8:42 – KJV
“… for blessed are they that keep my ways.”
When a Nation’s constitution affirms its existence and pattern
of behavior in based on biblical principles, then whatever laws, policies,
guidelines it establishes and implement for its daily and collective behavior
ought be in harmony with the laws and principles of God. That automatically
requires the people, communities and governmental bodies to implement and
operate on laws, economic principles and social behaviors which comply with the
word of God. God blesses this type of behavior. When such behavior ceases or
fails to exist, then that nation fails to operate as a “nation of” and/or “under
God.” God blesses this type of behavior.
When such behavior ceases or fails to exist, then that nation
fails to operate as a “nation of” and/or “under God.” God does not bless this
type of behavior.
Psalms 106:3 – KJV
“Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the
LORD,
that delighteth greatly in his commandments. Psalms 112:1
Psalm 111:10 affirms that “The fear of the Lord is the
beginning of wisdom.” The biblical idea of “fear” in this verse is that of
“reverential respect” that seeks to please God rather than to offend him. People
who have little or no respect for the word of God do not “fear” God. They tend
to seek mutual human respect and compliance of their priorities. They aren’t
concerned about having to reconcile their behavior with God. God does not bless
this type of behavior.
Matthew 5:9 -KJV
“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called
the children of God.”
“Peacemakers” seek to initiate and promote harmonious
relationships between and among others. Persons or nations. who promote
conflict, disorder, discord, even armed actions against others are not
“Peacemakers.”
They do not promote cooperation and harmony between people. God
does not bless this type of behavior.
Every American, from the White House to every other house
need to understand that God’s blessings require godly convictions, conversions
and behavior. Although many Americans have not affirmed their allegiance to
God, God can and will still bless America for his name’s sake. Simply because
there are believers in and followers of the word, will and way of God. In this conviction,
we can still sing with gusto – God bless America! Bless the America – and all
those faithful Americans – who unashamedly affirm God as their God!
Pastor Samuel W. Hale Jr. is the former pastor of Zion
Missionary Baptist Church and president of J.L. Powell Mission Ministries.