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The Philippine declares its independence
from Spain, 1898---image captured
in an old Philippine currency
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I've always admired America—regarded
it as a land of promise, a place where dreams can come true, as long
as one works hard and lives by its moral standards and rule of law.
And why not? It was the US of A which
liberated the Philippines from two foreign powers—Spain and Japan.
While I was growing up, it seemed that
the best products to acquire were those labeled “Made in the USA”.
And for good reason. They were really better.
And American missionaries have come to the Philippines in
droves. They introduced the bible to us and preached that the only
way to be saved is through Jesus Christ. My family has been discipled by, among others, two American pastors.
We know too that the US is
a super-power—military-wise, industry-wise, influence-wise.
It's a recurring imagery we always talked
about in my business classes: “When America sneezes, the world
catches a cold.” (Statement attributed to aristocratic Prussian
diplomat Klemens Wenzel Furst Von Metternich during the Napoleonic
era: When France sneezes, the world catches a cold.)
But something sinister has crept into Americana. It is by all means still great, but it is
sliding downhill. Fast!
Why is America great? Christians the
world over, but especially those in America, believe that America has
soared to such great heights mainly because of its Judeo-Christian
foundation.
Its first pilgrims, arriving in Cape
Cod November 11, 1620, obtained their legal mandate through the
Mayflower Compact which dedicated this new nation to God. (plimoth.org)
(My) abridged portions of the pact: “In
the name of God, amen. Having undertaken for the glory of God and
advancement of the Christian faith, do by these presents solemnly and
mutually in the presence of God and one another, covenant...ourselves
together... enact... just and equal laws... constitutions....”
“In God we trust” appeared on US
coins in 1864. Congress adopted it as the country's official motto in
1956, and printed on paper currency in 1957. (photo credits to the nationallegalfoundation.org)
America has become one industrial,
military and political behemoth, obviously because it was built
by people of purpose and principles; but mainly because they trusted
in the sovereignty of God over their lives.
Yet, notice how God has been slowly
eased out of the Americans' consciousness. It all started in 1962 when the US
Supreme court banned school-sponsored prayers in public schools,
saying it violated the first amendment. The rest, as they say, is
history.
The America we're witnessing today
faces monumental inner crises: Broken families. Wrong lauded as cool and believed as right. Christian values and their practice scoffed
at. Praying ridiculed. Sexual promiscuity celebrated and sexual
reassignment promoted—even among innocent school children.
Abortion on demand not only tolerated but encouraged.
As if drugged and incoherent, America
struggles to keep its foothold on its former glory.
Apart from God, there is no America—the
country Filipinos used to dream of being part of. Notice how sinister
elements have pulled this country down.
Leftists, using the platform of
politics and the rule of the mob, have inched into its inner cities.
Demagoguery so sinister so that ordinary folks—and yes, especially
the youth and university students—are unable to see themselves
being used as pawns in a grand design to control America with a
godless ideology.
I am no Trump fan. You're probably not
too. I see him as a bit tactless and brazen. Some ridicule him as an anomaly in the hallowed halls of government.
But his actions and his party's policies
speak volumes: America first as a policy. Withdrawal of support for an organization whose main
agenda is abortion—paid for, mind you, by taxpayers' money. Protection of
the rights of people to express their religious beliefs. Jobs back to
Americans who lost them to cheap manufacturing facilities elsewhere.
The economy has never been more robust since the great depression, most analysts say—until the pandemic.
Trump even cancelled the former Obama
government's hefty billion-dollar support for Iran. This country
whose main preoccupation is building up its nuclear arsenal, for what? To
blow up the US and Israel! Duh!
The coming November election is
crucial. It will either be a vote for good sense, or a "Goodbye, America!"—the latter a
free-for-all reign dictated by those who would like to defund the
police, encourage violence as a way of protest, silence religion, and
espouse population control through the killing of the unborn, yes, even late term pregnancies.
Deutoronomy
10:15 “See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and
destruction. For I command you today to love the Lord
your
God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees
and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will
bless you in the land you are entering to possess.”
God set aside for Israel a land flowing with milk and honey, just like this new world (America) for its first settlers. When they disobeyed, He stood back
and let them be—rudderless and defeated from all sides. When they repented,
He blessed them.
Many
Christians believe that the United States is a shadow of Israel because
it was founded on the very same godly values. It is currently
tottering, and we know why.
Would
all of us please pray for America?
For
God's perfect will. That repentance may sweep this nation. That Jesus
may be Lord. That righteousness may reign. That lawlessness, greed
and lust for power be restrained. And that believers may stand their
ground, pray and bless this nation with their obedience to the Word
of God.
