With all of the barbecue, fireworks and other festivities, the real purpose of Independence Day seems to fade into the background.  On July 4, the sky will light up with skyrockets, flying spinners, sparklers and roman candles. With so much magnificence in the air, for some it’s hard to remain focused on the real reason for such a grand celebration. It is my hope and prayer that we never forget that we are blessed because we are “One Nation Under God.” Let’s think about the question, “is there such a thing as separation of church and state?” Some will say yes while others will say no.

Our first President, George Washington took America, session is opened with prayer. Does all that sound like the original intent was to take God out of government? Think about this mysterious question: why can members of federal and state legislatures pray but little boys and girls cannot?

Who decided to put “In God We Trust” on our coins? Did someone pull a fast one on the government that wanted to keep God out? Of course not. In 1956 Congress adopted the phrase to put on our currency. At the Constitutional Convention in 1787, Benjamin Franklin said, “God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid?” In 1917 Theodore Roosevelt, America’s 26th President, wrote, “In this actual world, a churchless community, a community where men have abandoned and scoffed at, or ignored their religious needs, is a community on the rapid down-grade.”

Gerald Ford, our 38th President, quoted a 1955 speech by Dwight D. Eisenhower on December 5, 1974, “Without God there could be no American form of government, nor an American way of life. Recognition of the Supreme Being is the first — the most basic expression of Americanism. Thus the founding fathers of America saw it, and thus with God’s help, it will continue to be.”

It was President Ronald Reagan who said, “If we ever forget that we are ’One nation, under God’, then we will be one nation gone under.”

The question is: Can you be the Christian you are commanded to be and not be involved? There are five things Christians must do for their government: participate in paying for government, pray for government, honor our government, participate in government, and persuade government.

So this Fourth of July, we should take time to remember that we live in a country where we have freedom and democracy because we are One Nation Under God. May we continue to be One Nation Under God, and may God bless the United States of America.