A Message for You and Me

It was in Europe that people began to question the divine right of rulers. Over generations of time this questioning led to the kind of democracy which created the representative form of government in the United States.

The capacity to read, to think, to make decisions became the possession of all people. No longer was knowledge the sole property of an elite group. Printing was invented, books became available. The store of information grew. Electricity was harnessed. Homes and buildings had a new source of light. The telephone and the airplane were invented and perfected. Subsequently computers and "e-mail" came into common use. Communication and transportation were available to the humblest person.

Human slavery was an accepted way of life throughout the known world - until, in the eighteenth century, certain Europeans and Americans began to question that practice. The result was that early in the nineteenth century England abolished slavery throughout its Empire. In the middle of that century the United States ended slavery.

Why did all this happen in Europe and The United States of America? The answer to that question is to be found in the existence of a book. It was the influence of this book upon the people of Europe, and on the people in the British colonies which became The United States, that these cultural differences happened. That book, which opened up the minds and hearts of people, was (and is) the Bible.

European Christianity was challenged by Martin Luther about the time of the invention of the printing press. Luther translated the Bible into the German language. Others did the same thing in the English language. In a few decades many people were reading the Bible. In the intervening centuries it has been a best-selling book. Since 1950, in "western world", the Bible has become the book many know about, but few read.

Today, in the Western World - (Europe, the Americas) - many people no longer believe in God. Others question the idea or existence of God. Some dismiss God as irrelevant.

The people who created The United States of America harbored no such thoughts. They had differences of opinion about the nature of God, but all accepted the concept that there was a Supreme Being. They believed that this Person was the Creator of all that is. They accepted the idea that human beings appeared by action of the Creator. They learned these ideas from their study of The Bible.

Not a great deal has recently been written about the "religious" beliefs of the members of the Convention to create a Constitution. But each of them had a religious view of their lives and the world in which they lived. All believed firmly in the sovereignty of God. This is clearly shown by remarks made by Benjamin Franklin. From the records kept by James Madison, released by his widow in 1840, we have a thought proposed by Franklin. His words were spoken after the assembled representatives from the various States had been meeting more than a month. Apparently there were strongly held, and differing views, on the issues at hand.

To soothe these harsh feelings Franklin is reported to have said: "In the situation of this assembly, groping, as it were, in the dark to find political truth, and scarce able to distinguish it when presented to us, how has it happened, sir, that we have not hitherto once thought of humbly applying to the Father of lights to illuminate our understandings?" As Franklin reminded them, they all were dependent upon and believed in God and His rule in the world.

As we observe the break-down of the social order in the United States, and wonder how to restore trust and decency, I believe we need to start by introducing people to God as He is found in The Bible.