God Shed His Grace on Thee
By Pastor Fred Rubi
"There is a providence that protects idiots, drunkards, children, and the United States of America." – Otto Von Bismarck
The German chancellor’s observation (sans the continental arrogance and envy) is undeniably true. Time and time again, in our relatively short history, the United States of America has benefited from the favor of God. Bismarck’s dig indirectly raises a good question: Is there a reason America has been graced by “providence that protects”?
Our visit to Washington, D.C. this summer confirmed in me the idea that it’s more than dumb luck. For starters, we had founding fathers devoted to the proposition of self-rule in the form of a democratic republic. Add to that the United States Constitution, Bill of Rights, Federalist Papers and other brilliant documents articulating freedom, rights, and responsible government and you can make the case there was a little cooperation on the part of our founders. Moreover, there was an overwhelming consensus by the colonists and their representatives that faith in God was the greatest freedom of all. As I took in the sights of our nation’s capital, I discerned three unshakable convictions that guided the Continental Congress as they laid the foundation for a new nation:
1) They believed that God is the only King. The Lord’s word to Samuel, “they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them” informed our framers that deference to God means man is better off without a king. This is the basis of the belief that we have an inalienable right to rule ourselves. It was not lost on them that many of the first settlers came here with the express purpose of escaping the reach of kings, popes, and tyrants. Protecting the idea of self-determination gave birth to our greatest freedoms: religion, speech, the press, and self-defense (the right to bear arms). Our open and free elections and peaceful transitions of power have long been the envy of the world. However, unless our nation continues to acknowledge God, it’s doubtful the concept of a “government of the people, by the people, and for the people” will survive. Ronald Reagan, in reference to John Winthrop’s vision of America as a “City on a Hill,” warned, “The city of man cannot survive without the city of God; the visible city will perish without the invisible city.”
2) They believed that man is a sinner. The brilliance of the framers was not only revealed in their distrust of monarchies but also in their distrust of each other. Our three-prong government (Legislative, Executive, and Judicial) is a testimony to the fact they believed that no man is morally capable of holding absolute power. Separation of powers was instituted so each branch of government would keep the other two honest. They did not trust the idea of a big, benevolent government because as the Gospel of John states, “no need that anyone should testify of man for [they] knew what was in man.” Thomas Jefferson succinctly put it this way, “Government is best that governs least.”
3) They believed an empowered people of good conscience are capable of much good. The framers’ inherent distrust of overbearing government did not reflect their view of a strong populace. In fact, they believed the first two points (restricting kings and government power) would result in a strong and industrious people. They were right. The contribution of the American people to modern life is astonishing-- accomplishments too numerous and obvious to mention. Even today, immigrants who come to America with the mindset of opportunity thrive. It’s also important to note, of the three great buildings that house the President, the Supreme Court, and the Congress, only Capitol Hill is considered the “Center of Democracy.” The reason is simple: the number of tenants (435 Representatives and 100 Senators) makes the Capitol Building closer to the people.
Three and a half decades after the death of Bismarck, Germany appointed another Chancellor – this one became a dictator. He also disdained America, idiots, drunkards, and a host of others that he deemed weak and worthless. A free people were forced to confront him, defeat him, rebuild his country, and ultimately give it back to the German people. God’s providence, no doubt.