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| The Philippine declares its independence from Spain, 1898---image captured in an old Philippine currency |
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.
