It's
Wednesday, May 13, 2015, and we are having ourselves a rainy week here. Some localized flooding has taken place and a few folks have had to temporarily leave their homes. Thus far it has been nothing like the dangerous storms north of us. I saw a video clip posted on Facebook of one of the destroyed homes as a result of a tornado in Van, Texas. The people are shown going through the rubble. They find their American flag, retrieve it, and they find a place to attach it where the roof was before. That little clip showing the spunk of this family better defines the American spirit than any words that might be spoken. I know the current wave of opinion denies the Christian heritage that helped build the foundation for our American spirit, but with very little research this erroneous view is easily rejected. Here's what the man who would become the first president of these United States had to say at the end of one of the most trying times during the Revolutionary War: "
While we are zealously performing the duties of good citizens and soldiers, we certainly ought not to be inattentive to the higher duties of religion. To the distinguished character of Patriot, it should be our highest Glory to laud the more distinguished Character of Christian. The signal instances of Providential goodness which we have experienced and which have now almost crowned our labors with complete success demand from us a peculiar manner the warmest returns of gratitude and piety to the Supreme Author of all good." -- George Washington [Orders issued on May 2, 1778 by George Washington to his troops at Valley Forge]
All that from a video clip? In a word, yes. I know it has become popular for scholars to earn their stripes within the academic world by tearing down the character of those who sacrificed to build this nation. And, because those founders were 100% human there are faults to be found. Here's the part I think to be absurdly wrongheaded and unfair: They find a fault and as a result they attempt to destroy the good works done by that particular individual. That way they can revise history and turn our heroes into scoundrels. Example: George Washington owned slaves. In the mind of modern historians this fact discredits him and his contributions to the freedoms we enjoy today. Example: The early government and its authority was mostly all men therefore they were illegitimate for not including women. Here's what I say: I'll take them all as heroes along with their faults, failings, and blind spots. And, I pause to thank God for them. How ironic that these folks who trash our founders are actually exercising the rights guaranteed them by the blood, sweat, and tears of those they malign. Just in case you may have wondered what I thought about it.
Remind you to do what? Not to post or send me a clip like that? I'm not working my fingers here just for the fun of it. I actually believe in my assessment of our current situation. Lest you might wonder, I do not think it good to whitewash the past. It's okay to study all the truths about our history and those who helped to build our nation. I can take it. Read your Bible. God used flawed folks because all of us are just that, flawed. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David and so many more were champions for their faith in the Lord but they also made wrong choices at times. Many of those choices came with a heavy price that had to be paid. Did that mean their faith was voided? Obviously not since God chose to include them in His inspired faith hall of fame as recorded in the Book of Hebrews. It's called grace and we all stand in need of it from God. Our founders needed grace they didn't deserve and you and I are in need of that same undeserved grace today. And, I would add this: Those haters and revisionists that seek to destroy our past, well, guess what? They need the very same grace we all need. I say
Amen to that. And again I say,
Amen. .......More later.
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