https://www.azquotes.com/author/28916-Charles_Carroll_of_Carrollton
Except for the formal language, the above quote sounds like something preached from an American pulpit last Sunday. But as you can guess from his portrait, Charles Carroll lived long ago; he was a signer of the Declaration of Independence.
He’s certainly not been alone in warning of trouble, should our citizens ignore God and his wise instruction for conduct. Throughout the decades since the founding of America, there have been patriots proclaiming a similar message.
For example:
John Adams
“Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other” [1].
—John Adams, second U.S. president
“All the . . . evils from which men suffer from vice, crime, ambition, injustice, oppression, slavery, and war, proceed from their despising or neglecting the precepts contained in the Bible [2].”
—Noah Webster, author of Webster’s Dictionary and numerous textbooks.
Noah Webster
“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 or end [3].”
—Daniel Webster, Secretary of State under Harrison, Tyler, and Fillmore.
“Without God there is no virtue because there is no prompting of the conscience . . . without God there is a coarsening of the society; without God democracy will not and cannot long endure. . . . If we ever forget that we are One Nation Under God, then we will be a Nation gone under [4].”
— Ronald Reagan, fortieth president of the United States.
Ronald Reagan
And here we are in 2024, witnessing the results when such warnings against misrule, corruption, and vice are ignored.
- “The rise in violent crime has become a national trend in the past few years as cities reach homicide rates not seen in decades [5].”
- “The United States has done little to improve its battle against public-sector corruption in recent years, according to Transparency International, which measures experts’ perception of corruption around the world. In 2023, for the second year in a row, the U.S. ranks 24th out of 180 countries and territories” (tying with Barbados, and just ahead of Bhutan) [6].
- Over 1 in 6 Americans, adults and teens alike, suffered a substance use disorder in 2022. . . . About 30 million had an alcohol use disorder, while 27 million had a drug use disorder — including about 6 million with an opioid use disorder [7].”
Spice addicts passed out on the pavement
And how is America to rectify such circumstances? Our sixteenth president, Abraham Lincoln shared wisdom still relevant for today:
“Intelligence, patriotism, Christianity, and a firm reliance on Him, who has never yet forsaken this favored land, are still competent to adjust in the best way, all our present difficulty [8].”
–Abraham Lincoln
Imagine if:
- The intelligence of best-practices was implemented against crime, drugs, homelessness and more—on a grand scale
- Patriotic (instead of self-serving) leaders enacted the best policies to benefit the most people
- Christian principles, proven to achieve the most profitable results (Psalm 18:30), were embraced and followed by a large majority
- Our nation relied firmly upon God for guidance
Such outcomes are within our grasp if we take to heart the advice of these discerning leaders:
“It is necessary for the welfare of the nation that men’s lives be based on the principles of the Bible. No man, educated or uneducated, can afford to be ignorant of the Bible [9].”
—Theodore Roosevelt, twenty-sixth U.S. president
“All must admit that the reception of the teachings of Christ results in the purest patriotism, in the most scrupulous fidelity to public trust, and in the best type of citizenship [10].”
—Grover Cleveland, twenty-second and twenty-fourth U.S. president
“The only means of establishing and perpetuating our republican form of government is the universal education of our youth in the principles of Christianity by means of the Bible [11].”
— Benjamin Rush, signer of the Declaration of Independence
* * * * * * * * * *
I pray, Heavenly Father, we might experience a fifth Great Awakening in America! Pour out your refreshing, purifying Spirit, bringing the hope of Jesus to the millions who don’t know you and are living unaware of your loving care, peace, joy, help, and more.
For those of us who do know you, I pray we may become the purest patriots of YOUR kingdom, eager to serve you in a hurting world.
[1] https://www.azquotes.com/quote/1936?ref=christian-patriotic
[2] https://christianheritagefellowship.com/christian-quotes-from-the-founding-fathers-2/
[3] https://gracequotes.org/author-quote/daniel-webster/
[4] https://lajuett.com/patriotic-religious-quotes.html#:~:text=%22I%20tremble%20for%20my%20country,His%20justice%20cannot%20sleep%20forever.%22&text=%22I%20have%20sworn%20upon%20the,over%20the%20mind%20of%20man.%22
[5] https://www.heritage.org/crime-and-justice/commentary/8-cities-help-explain-national-crime-wave
[6] https://thefulcrum.us/corruption/corruption-perception-index-2023-2667125422
[7] https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2023-11-14/more-than-1-in-6-u-s-adults-teens-have-substance-use-disorder
[8] https://lajuett.com/patriotic-religious-quotes.html#:~:text=%22I%20tremble%20for%20my%20country,His%20justice%20cannot%20sleep%20forever.%22&text=%22I%20have%20sworn%20upon%20the,over%20the%20mind%20of%20man.%22
[9] Ibid.
[10] Ibid.
[11] Ibid.
Art & photo credits: http://www.azquotes.com; http://www.commons.wikimedia.org; http://www.picryl.com; http://www.flickr.com (2), photo of drug addicts by Tim Dennell; http://www.pxhere.com; http://www.flickr.com; http://www.rawpixel.com.
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I long for leaders who embody these truths. I fear we will get the leaders we deserve for our failure as a people who reject God and live for self alone.
May we repent and return to our gracious and forgiving God!
Thanks for sharing these words of wisdom, Nancy, Happy 4th of July. Once we return to a mantra of “One Nation Under God” we will fully return to the ultimate destiny the Founding Fathers envisioned.
Thank you, Gene. No doubt if the Founding Fathers could see us now they’d be highly disappointed. BUT–we are never without hope! Along with numerous other Christians, I continue to pray for revival.
It’s a challenging dichotomy – on the one hand we pray for a transformed nation; on the other hand we pray for a Christian response to a Godless society.
You’re right, Malcolm. We need to pray for both!
Awesome quotes! Thank you for sharing the wisdom of these great men, especially Reagan. Have a wonderful Independence Day, Nancy! 🙂
Thank you, Nancy. The vision and discernment of these men (and others) are quite astonishing. May there be leaders in our day who heed their warnings and wisdom!
These quotes include so many words of Godly wisdom that have gone unheeded. “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14 🙏
That’s been our prayer for decades, hasn’t it, Linda. (I remember singing that verse back in the 1970s!) God has been more than gracious to stay his hand of righteous judgment on America.
great collection of thoughtful quotes. I did spent part of the 4th of July in prayer for our country and our world.
Thank you for praying for us all as a nation, Jean! We DO need it!
Timely and inspiring. Thank you, Nancy, and let freedom ring!
Thank you, Dave. Indeed, let freedom ring–because freedom is critical to our strength, and strength allows us to promote peace and prosperity around the world.
Very needed truth for today, Nancy. The destruction we see all around us from not following God is stunning, but not surprising. Yet for many who are scratching their heads and asking what is wrong with the world, they do not want to hear that it’s our neglect of God that is the cause. Satan has surely blinded eyes and hearts to truth today. God have mercy on America.
Couldn’t agree with you more, Patty. Indeed, may God have mercy!
Joining with you, Nancy, in praying for “a fifth Great Awakening”! May our Father hear and grant our prayer out of His great bounty, through Christ who is the Savior of the world.🙏🏽
Amen, Dora!
It is our abandonment of God that has led to the current state of affairs. Only fools would describe this as progress.
Agreed, Anna!
How wonderful to see how our early presidents and other leaders were so determined and diligent in their desire and dedication that our country follow Christ and educate the young people accordingly. I pray that we return to Christ as a nation. We need to continue to pray for our country and not abandon hope.
I find hope in the fact we have many praying with us, Cheri!
Nancy, thank you for this godly perspective in the midst of yet another turbulent, crazed electoral process. I’m finding that keeping my eyes on Jesus keeps me from getting swept up into the fray. Knowing that He has written the end of the story brings peace, no matter what happens. I’m so grateful.
Amen to that, Linda. God WILL bring us through whatever may be in store!
May God help us! We need to be cautious not to put our trust in the arm of flesh…the Bible warns that they will fail.
Amen, my friend! I pray more and more people will seek Christ and his truth as wrongdoing and lies are exposed. The latter never provide deep and lasting satisfaction as does knowing Christ and living his ways.
Amen.
Moral integrity, human dignity, heartfelt responsibility are part and parcel of what Jesus teaches us in His grace and love. This is so timely, especially now with the elections drawing near. We need to be reminded that political power can’t save us–only Jesus can. The words of these men really resonate with what the world needs today–not just in our country, but everywhere. Thanks for this, my friend.
You are so right, Dayle, that political power can’t save us–only Jesus can. How comforting to know that he will see us through whatever the future may bring!