- The following is an excerpt from my introduction to this Sunday morning’s sermon at Hillsdale Baptist Church titled, “America and the Church in Perilous Times”.
The “American Dream” has captivated the hearts and souls of men and women for nearly 400 years. From her founding by Pilgrim Fathers in the early 17th century to her Declaration of Independence in 1776, America has been the land of promise and hope to the world.
The Statute of Liberty has stood in New York City harbor for 130 years. Her torch serving as a beacon of hope to the world, Lady Liberty has greeted millions of immigrants who left home, family, and country in pursuit of freedom and the “American Dream”.
America is not, and has never been, a perfect nation. We have experienced racial strife, civil unrest and bitter political rivalries. Yet, in spite of her flaws, America, the most powerful nation the world has ever known, has balanced military might with compassion and the benevolent care of the world’s poor and downtrodden like no other nation before us.
I will argue that America’s greatness is inescapably intertwined with the Christian faith and the Church. While liberals celebrate what they call the “post-Christian era” of America; the majority opinion of American citizens is that something is terribly wrong in our great nation. While liberals revel in the waning of the Church and Biblical Christianity, the world is witnessing the diminishing of America’s power, prosperity and the “American Dream”.
I am afraid Americans will learn, perhaps too late, as goes the Church, so go our homes, communities, cities, and nation. The words of 19th century French historian Alexis de Tocqueville prove to be prophetic:
“America is great because she is good. If America ceases to be good, America will cease to be great.”
Copyright 2016 – Travis D. Smith