“IN GOD WE TRUST” by Karen A Roth
On July 4th, the United States of America commemorates the signing of the Declaration of Independence and our 243rd birthday. Seems like a long time ago … until I remember my Dad will also be celebrating his 92nd birthday. Relatively speaking, it’s not that many generations back to 1776. It equals the timespan between Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and up to two years before the birth of Joseph.
God promised Abraham land for his future generations. Therefore, “Abraham looked for a city that has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” (HE 11:11) Not just any city—it had to be God’s promised land. Joseph’s bones were carried back to Israel after the Egyptian Bondage to be planted with all the forefathers in the land of Israel up to the 4th generation. Today all eyes are on Israel with expectation: “The whole of creation is standing on tiptoe just to see the wonderful sight of the sons of God coming into their own.”
We thank God for His blessing of covering on the U.S. in our Pledge of Allegiance—”I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” Not until 1954 did a President add “under God” to ensure future generations knew America’s dedication to God as a Christian nation. It was important to make the statement and not just take it for granted. “What you take for granted is that which you blind yourself from seeing… and that which you end up losing.”
= LIBERTY IS THE ‘GIFT OF GOD’
“Can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are … the gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath?” ~THOMAS JEFFERSON
Prior to the conception of the United States, gatherings or congresses convened to establish foundational principles. They went to war to create a nation with God-given inalienable rights—”the gift of God” to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
Quite remarkably, the pioneers desired to form a government that would be consecrated to God. It’s similar to King David searching the scriptures to draw up the blueprints of service in the Tabernacle. He even made personal provisions for building a new Temple for God to dwell with them in Jerusalem.
The Tabernacle of David established the groundwork for kingdom government. David had divisions of officers, judges, gatekeepers and what we call the ‘ministry of the saints’—those who served God or praised with musical instruments and song. Later in the Book of the Acts, a deacon will be as mighty as an apostle in the restored Tabernacle of David—Philip served tables but was as powerful in the Spirit as any apostle or prophet.
= OUTWORKING OF THE TABERNACLE OF DAVID
“After this I will return and will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will set it up; so that the rest of mankind may seek the LORD, even all the gentiles who are called by My name” says the LORD who does all these things. ~ACTS 15:16-17
In Israel, God called out a people for Himself and gave them a homeland, and laws of government. In the New Testament, those called to rebuild the Tabernacle of David discovered they moved beyond religion to reconnect to Christ—the Spiritual Tabernacle of God in the Earth.
In the 1500’s, men like Martin Luther and John Calvin became instrumental in rebuilding the Tabernacle of David. John Knox led the Reformation in Scotland using Calvin’s writings and principles and set the moral tone of the Church of Scotland—influencing their democratic form of government.
America’s founding fathers shared a common thread. They studied the books written by the Reformers and chose to set up a government according to those biblical truths and principles—an outworking of the Tabernacle of David into a nation founded under God.
The founding documents (Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights, the Federalist Papers, etc.), marked the birth of our American Republic that’s maintained its significance for well over two hundred years. The Constitution outlined our government by defining our rights—so that all Americans are protected from the intrusion of government. They sought to establish a government through which these God-given ‘rights’ prevailed. The preservation and furtherance of these truths are imperative for maintaining freedom in future generations—‘rights’ that cannot be given away or taken away.
= EVIDENCE OF GOD’S PRESENCE
“The Constitution of the United States was not made merely for the generation that then existed but for posterity—unlimited, undefined, endless, perpetual posterity.” ~HENRY CLAY
Just as the Spirit of God hovered over the inception of Israel, America has evidence of His Presence in its formation. Our early history testifies of Divine Providence—as though taken out of the pages of scripture. But its also important to remember our independence came at a tremendous cost of life, “yet men did not love their lives to the death.” (RV 21:11) They regarded their personal loss not to be compared to the establishing of a new nation under God. They zealously fought for freedom and the shedding of their blood birthed a new nation sealed with God-given “inalienable rights.’
The founding generation gave their lives and their fortunes to ensure our future by founding a nation that destined liberty for all. If that liberty is withheld from some—then all our ‘inalienable rights’ are threatened. These documents have become a beacon of light to the men and women of America who value freedom. They’re as meaningful today as when they were written. It is now our generation’s turn to “preserve, protect, and defend” the principles set forth in our nation’s founding documents.
What other men and women fought and died for cannot be given away. Just like Israel cannot give away any of its land—America cannot give away any of our God-given gift of liberty. If we do not desire freedom to worship Almighty God and liberty for all— even the UNBORN, then our rights become useless and “within a generation it can be squandered away.” God shed His grace upon our nation to establish firm ‘inalienable rights.’ May America not squander the rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness… nor infringe upon the life and breath of our infants.
= IN GOD WE TRUST
So all the men of Israel were gathered against the city, united together as one man. ~JG 20:11
The motto ‘E PLURIBUS UNUM’ (out of many, one) was ratified by the first Congress and appeared on its Great Seal and on their minted coins after 1782. A sense of national pride united the colonies as the collective states of one nation under God. It’s similar to the scriptural phrase of Israel—“they rose as one man.”
But during the Civil War, many requested to add a reference of God on our coins, even though everyone took it for granted. They felt if America became “shattered beyond reconstruction”—there’d be no evidence of an allegiance to God and thereby “the antiquaries of succeeding centuries rightly reason from our past that we were a heathen nation.” Beginning in 1873, ‘In God We Trust’ appeared on all U.S. minted coins and after 1956, on all paper currency.
‘In God We Trust’ was challenged several years ago. The lower federal courts rejected the challenge, and the Supreme Court of the United States declined to review the case. In 2019, America’s federal courts still uphold the founding documents which positions us as devoted to Almighty God. Thank You God!
Happy Birthday United States of America! We pray that the founding documents continue to withstand challenges and protects the rights infringed of the unborn … that America remains pledged as one nation under God and displays the lifestyle of: ‘In God We Trust!’
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Karen Roth is the wife of Dr. Roger Roth Sr., and a ministry son of Dr. Mark Hanby. They are the set ministry of a local church in Northeastern Wisconsin, and oversee the Bloodline Network Newsletter. They consider it an honor to work with Dr. Hanby for many years, helping to oversee the ministry of Papa Mark’s extended family—”The Father’s Heart.”
Any questions or comments please contact them at rogerandkaren@live.com
thank you for extra volume on insight of spiritual and natural connection for country. felt honored to be American!