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38th Street Church of Christ 3904 38th Street NW Canton, Ohio 44718 330-492-5523 Fax: 330-493-7119 |
“One Nation Under God” |
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I. Introduction.
A. On September 11th, 2001, the lives of many people were
changed, quickly, and dramatically. The lives of everyone
were affected, in this nation, around the world. The results
of “9-11” were multiple, and varied.1. People lost loved ones in the attacks in New York
City, Washington, D.C., and in the crash of an
airplane in rural Pennsylvania. Their families, and
family life, had changed.2. People were made fearful that more attacks would
come. Everyone went on a high level of alert based
on that anxiety and anxiousness.3. Increased security required changes in procedures
everywhere and suspicions of certain people were
heightened in the days that followed. At times
those suspicions manifested themselves in anger
and actions, not unlike the reactions following Pearl
Harbor, in 1941, when Japanese-Americans became
the object of peoples’ fears, and hatreds.4. From the basest of human reactions and emotions,
you also had demonstrated the most-noble and self-
sacrificing, the most caring and giving and loving of
reactions. People risked their own lives – gave their
own lives – to save others, or to attempt to. It was
not thought, or reason, that prompted this – it was
purely adrenalin and an immediate human response
to an incomprehensible situation.5. There was another human response that was
immediate, and widespread, to what people saw,
and heard, and experienced that terrible day. People
turned to God.
B. In times of crisis, in moments of fear and uncertainty, when
the unimaginable or unthinkable becomes reality – people
turn to God. What we cannot face alone, we can confront
with God. When nothing else provides solace, or comfort,
or hope, we can turn to God. That’s what happened in
America that day, and for days and weeks after that.1. But, fear only motivates us for so long, then the
source of fear fades and the motivation goes with it.2. As we reflect, today, on the tragic events of a year
ago, as we think about the changes that
September 11th, 2001 brought upon this land and its
citizens, let’s remember something that was true
before “9-11” and remains true today – we are still
“One Nation Under God.”C. Songs: “God Of Our Fathers” (#1025).
“My Country, ‘Tis Of Thee” (1024).
II. The God Of Creation.
A. The Psalmist, in Psalm 33, speaks of God as Creator and as
the One Who directs all history. Our plans are temporary,
His are eternal. Our control is temporal, His is infinite.
We are weak, and He is powerful. He blesses when we
follow the course He sets for us.1. “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord . . .”
(Psalm 33:12). (Of course, first addressed to
ancient Israel; but, principle remains the same in
all generations).2. This nation had moved farther and farther away
from a reliance upon God. Are forces still at work
to deny the very existence of God, to see ourselves
as strong on our own; self-reliant; self-sufficient?
September 11th, 2001 was a temporary blow to that
type of thinking, but it has not been eliminated.3. To be blessed, we still need to come back to God,
and to make His will our will and His way our way.
If it cannot be done nationally, it must still be done
individually.B. Read quote many years ago: “America is great because
America is good. If America ceases to be good, it will
cease to be great.” (Spoken by Alexis De Tocqueville who
toured the United States in 1830’s). Great truth there.
There are many who still like to refer to the United States
as a “Christian “ nation. Not so sure that term applies. In
fact, by strict definition of word “Christian”, it does not
apply.C. But, question is not how we see ourselves, but how God
sees us.D. Reading: “Thankful To Be An American.” How do we
see ourselves and our nation?Alone among the great nations of the world, Americans
define their identity outside the boundaries of geography
or common ethnic ancestry. For us there is no fatherland;
nor can most of us trace our ancestors back five and six
generations or more, as the British, French, Norwegians,
and Irish so proudly do. (Statement of President Franklin
Roosevelt in speech to D.A.R.).We are a people who have come from every corner of the
globe, most families in the last century, and all in pursuit of
a most noble and remarkable vision – that in this land men
and women could live in freedom and liberty with their
God-given rights respected.It is a common creed, not common ancestral roots, which
binds us together. That creed was best expressed in the
Declaration of Independence which announced, “We hold
these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created
equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain
unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and
the pursuit of Happiness.” Americans are forever indebted
to those who pledged their “lives and fortunes and sacred
honor” to make this experiment in ordered liberty possible.“Gratitude,” G.K. Chesterton wrote, “is the mother of all
virtues.” As Americans we have reason to be filled with
gratitude at all times; gratitude to God who gave us the
opportunity to come to this land and to live in freedom,
gratitude to our Founding Fathers who set forth those
principles that constitute our creed, and gratitude to
generations who have defended us.This should inspire and encourage in Americans a sense of
civic duty and responsibility far greater than loyalty to
nation or ancestry.
The history of the past 232 years shows what a difference
loyalty to principles beliefs can make. America has never
sought wars of expansion. It has sought to liberate and
restore those it has defeated. It has shared its bounty and
wealth with the poor. It has rescued the suffering. It has
done this not because the fatherland orders it, but because
our devotion to human dignity and human liberty demands
it. America is different – it is a vision, a noble idea – and
for that extraordinary difference, Americans should give
fthanks to God each day and pledge anew to do their duty
out of gratitude to Him and to those who’ve come before
us.“God Bless America” and may we remain a free people
in a free land.E. Song: “America The Beautiful” (#1007).
III. Conclusion.
A. If September 11th, 2001 gave us no other lessons, it did,
once more, show us how fragile life really is, how uncertain
it is, how quickly it can be taken from us.B. Refer to Benjamin Franklin’s comment on the “sun”
symbol on the chair George Washington sat in as president
of the Constitutional Convention at Philadelphia, 1787.
(“rising sun” or “setting sun.”).C. This nation has stood united for most of its history
(interrupted only by Civil War). Phrase from “Lincoln’s
Gettysburg Address”, November 19, 1863:“. . . this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of
freedom; and that government of the people, by the
people, for the people shall not perish from the earth.”
(Writing of song by Julia Ward Howe, February, 1862.).D. Song: “Battle Hymn Of The Republic” (#1009).
(Prayer)
E. Invitation.
One day when the Civil War was raging its worst, a
minister said to Lincoln: “I surely hope the Lord is on our
side.” To which Lincoln replied, “I am not at all concerned
about that, for I know that the Lord is always on the side of
the right; but it is my constant anxiety and prayer that I and
this nation should be on the Lord’s side.”Are we right with God?