“ House on the Rock”

    Most people in church have heard of Jesus' parable of the wise & foolish builders from Matthew 4: 24-27. It reads: “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.  The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.  But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.  The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
    As we celebrate July 4th this month, it is wise to remember that this has more to do with our personal lives and government than with our houses.
    It has become popular for those to write history to judge the beginnings of this country through the lens of the present as far as motives and choices. I guess it makes people today feel as though they’re better people than they actually are, making smarter choices than they actually do. Many alterations of history come from this, such as the idea that the American Revolution was NOT all that revolutionary. That it was just a revolt motivated by money and the self-will of agnostics & deists, definitely not Christians. One must have an unusual pair of lenses to draw such a conclusion.
    In the 1600s, Wm Penn said: “Those people who will not be governed by God will be ruled by tyrants.” The idea that God gives us the “inalienable rights” of the Declaration of Independence--- came from 100s of sermons preached long before 1776.
    What a heritage the present-day patriot has.
    From the beginning, our nation had a solid foundation. Individuals like George Washington and John Adams honored God and revered Biblical principles. Many of the founding fathers were Christians--- in fact, of the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence, nearly half held seminary or Bible school degrees. They were unapologetic about their faith in Jesus and it provided our country with firm foundations.
    George Washington said, “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 add the more distinguished character of  Christian.”
    Atheism believes there is nothing but the material. It says it denies any  faith--Yet they have enormous faith in their own wisdom to conclude such a thing. A matter-based philosophy is fundamentally self-centered; therefore, though it may mouth patriotism, it is only patriotic when serving the self. “What’s in it for me?” “I’m on board as long as I get what I want out of it.” This necessitates elevating self—me—at the expense of God. Government gives me my needs and rights, so I can fabricate whatever “right” I want. In this mindset, The Constitution is out-dated, because it does not serve me first. These be dangerous waters.
    The revolutionary part of the founding of these United States is the idea that God has given us "inalienable rights" and that "We the people" allow our Republic some, limited, authority.
    I submit that True patriotism in the American Context, is not and cannot be based on atheism-or the "goodies" some politician promises to give you. They're usually at the expense of the real freedoms of the Republic.
    You’ll be happy to know that I’m not the first to think this. George Washington agreed in his Farewell Address, “Do not let anyone claim tribute of American patriotism if they even attempt to remove religion from politics.”
    And Patrick Henry said “It is when people forget God that tyrants forge their chains.”                                                                                                                                                                                                   Pastor Geoff