Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"
In our 237 years since declaring our "independence," the United States has attained the power and prestige of a world empire. A former President openly said that we are the Roman Empire redivivus. While we bask in our political and military glory, we need to reflect on what led to the "decline and fall of the Roman Empire."
Our beginnings lay in the oppressed people of God searching for a land where they could worship God in purity and in freedom of conscience. Massachusetts offered free welcome at the public cost to Christians of any nationality who wanted to escape from wars or famine or the oppression of persecutors. The historian George Bancroft recorded that "one might be for years a dweller in the Puritan settlement, and not see a drunkard, or hear an oath, or meet a beggar." There was a serious purpose to live the principles of Bible righteousness. The feeble and isolated colonies grew to a confederation of powerful states; now the nation has become the marvel of world history. It has become the land of opportunity; the ambition of millions is to "come to America" and start life anew.
Those principles of uprightness, of Christian liberty of conscience as well as of civil liberty led to immense economic prosperity. "O beautiful for pilgrim feet / Whose stern impassioned stress / A thoroughfare of freedom beat / Across the wilderness! / America! America! God mend thine every flaw, / Confirm thy soul in self-control, / Thy liberty in law!"
Now everybody knows that America has bitter enemies. But if we faithfully adhere to the universally honored principles of our own Constitution, we can attract and hold the grudging respect of those enemies. The recognition of human sinfulness is universal in humanity; the poet's prayer is right--"God mend thine every flaw." As a nation, we should seek for and welcome that "mending." National arrogance has been wrong for America throughout these two centuries. A decent moral modesty will be a more effective defense against the horrors of terrorism than any military might.
"America! America! God shed His grace on thee / And crown thy good with brotherhood / From sea to shining sea!"
--Robert J. Wieland
From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: July 4, 2004.
Copyright © 2013 by "Dial Daily Bread."
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