I have always loved American history.

I’m not sure why (whether my personality or experiences), but the courage and sacrifice of so many has always inspired me in a very deeply, honoring way.

Yet, since I’m a Christian, I’ve been careful not to put patriotism over my faith.

Recently, I’ve discovered Christians are being divided about how much involvement or concern we should have in politics. They refer to Jesus not being concerned with such things. And the Apostle Paul tells us to pray for those in authority, including kings.

We don’t see too much, if any, political involvment in the New Testament. The Gospel and establishments of churches was front and center, as it should be.

In the Old Testament, Joseph was Pharoah’s right hand man and Daniel was entrusted with interpreting King Nebuchadnezzar’s dreams.

I think we can have both.

So why dispute about it?

What’s the point?

Going too far either way, with anything, is not good. And frankly, I am getting weary of current events with all the criticizing and judgement with the either/or camps. This Christian/Politics thing is just another one and all it’s doing is bringing division in the Church.

That said, I honor the Founding Fathers and value our founding documents. I honor those who died in wars throughout our history.

We can debate the Founders had slaves. We can debate whether a war was necessary.

But I will take those opinions with a grain of salt until I know you cared enough to learn more about those time periods; until you put yourself in their shoes.

Today, movements like the 1619 Project and the popularity of Marxism and Democratic Socialism, is a dishonor to those who sacrificed for us and future generations.

God is the creator of order, laws, and ordinances. He knows our need for these things in order to survive in our communities. I wholeheartedly believe God is invloved in our human governments (if we want him) and the nations. The Bible is full of references about the nations of the earth.

America is not a “Christian nation”, nor do we want a theocracy. Yet, America was built on Judeo-Christian principles.

Consider Benjamin Franklin and his appeal at the Constitutional Convention in 1787:

“ … In this situation of this Assembly groping as it were in the dark to find political truth, and scarce able to distinguish it when presented to us, how has it happened, Sir, that we have not hitherto once thought of humbly applying to the Father of lights to illuminate our understandings? In the beginning of the contest with G. Britain, when we were sensible of danger we had daily prayer in this room for the Divine Protection. — Our prayers, Sir, were heard, and they were graciously answered. All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of a Superintending providence in our favor. To that kind providence we owe this happy opportunity of consulting in peace on the means of establishing our future national felicity. And have we now forgotten that powerful friend? Or do we imagine that we no longer need His assistance.

I have lived, Sir, a long time and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth — that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the sacred writings that “except the Lord build they labor in vain that build it.” I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without his concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better than the Builders of Babel: We shall be divided by our little partial local interests; our projects will be confounded, and we ourselves shall be become a reproach and a bye word down to future age. And what is worse, mankind may hereafter from this unfortunate instance, despair of establishing Governments by Human Wisdom, and leave it to chance, war, and conquest …”

This is how our country began, despite those who want to reject it. Like pruning a tree, change and progress is necessary and healthy even if it feels uncomfortable.

But destroying a tree’s roots will kill it.