For those who question the religious origins of our country and the emphasis placed on the ideals and principles on which it was founded, perhaps this quote by John Jay, a patriot and first Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court, will be helpful.

“I often note with equal pleasure that God gave this one connected country to one united people — a people descended from the same language, professing the same religion, attached to the same principles of government, very similar in manners and customs, who by their joint counsels, arms, and efforts, fighting side by side through a long bloody war, have nobly established general liberty and independence,” Jay said in 1787.

There are numerous other examples, however I realize no amount of indisputable evidence or hard proof of the Founding Father’s intentions will ever convince those unwilling to embrace the truth. All that can be accomplished is to refute the lies they keep trying to enshrine as urban legend.

The question becomes, I suppose, as to how did we allow our country to drift so far from its founding ideals and principles? At the risk of alienating all the pulpit ministers around, perhaps Charles G. Finney was prophetic when he said; “Brethren, our preaching will bear its legitimate fruits. If immorality prevails in the land, the fault is ours in a great degree. If there is a decay of conscience, the pulpit is responsible for it. If the public press lacks moral discrimination, the pulpit is responsible for it.

“If the church is degenerate and worldly, the pulpit is responsible for it. If the world loses its interest in religion, the pulpit is responsible for it. If Satan rules in our halls of legislation, the pulpit is responsible for it. If our politics become so corrupt that the very foundations of our government are ready to fall away, the pulpit is responsible for it.”

I suppose it would be simple to lay it all at the feet of the pulpit, and truthfully, I believe some blame must be placed there.

For the most part, I believe the pulpit has become timid and allowed government and anti-Christians to bully them using as weapons the Church’s strict adherence to Biblical teachings, and its tax status. It is a form of censorship by intimidation and an abridgement of free speech.

Clearly, the pulpit and Christians have an obligation to speak out on issues pertaining to scriptural truths and teachings. They should not be swayed by the whims of secular society. Jesus said: “Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s.” Mathew 22:21

However, as is with most everything, there is ample blame to spread around for our dilemma. God help us.