Does the American government really focus on or trust in God?
Many Americans are frustrated about the current leadership. What is the real cause of humanity’s problems in government? What is the real solution?
America’s government has been the topic of many conversations for a long time now. Many people are just tired of politics—from the deeply divided presidential campaigns to the non-cooperating Congress.
Many Americans don’t have confidence in our current leadership. The 11th-hour solution to the fiscal cliff was only a bandage at best, as this issue will have to be addressed again in only a few months.
Congress doesn’t seem to have the courage to face America’s ever-increasing national debt.
But isn’t the behavior of the elected officials representative of those who elected them?
One nation under God?
When the United States was formed, the founding fathers placed great importance on God’s laws and morality in government.
George Washington, America’s first president, said, “Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. … And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion” (The Washington Papers, edited by Saul K. Padover).
This does not mean that America has been a truly righteous nation. We believe God blessed America, not because it was a righteous nation, but because of ancient promises He made to Abraham. However, God has always taught that continued and increased disobedience would lead to His blessings being taken away and would bring curses instead.
It is quite clear that God has been removed from public places today. In President Washington’s day, public officials got in trouble for not involving God. Today officials get in trouble if they seriously mention God.
Biblical morality is rarely taught today. It is considered old-fashioned and out-of-date. But is it mere coincidence that the more our morality decreases, the more our problems increase?
America is no longer one nation under God.
Years ago, America was one of the most respected nations on earth. But as we have continually rejected and abandoned God, is He removing some of those blessings?
Not the first time God has been removed
A long time ago when God brought the Israelites out of enslavement in Egypt, He promised them national greatness if they followed His laws.
But history shows that they didn’t want God to be their leader. Ancient Israel’s heritage was a pattern of following God, then forgetting Him. And this pattern produced a heritage of blessings and cursings.
Israel’s determination to do things their own way came to a head during the time of the prophet Samuel.
“Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah, and said to him, … ‘Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations’” (1 Samuel 8:4-5).
This request greatly upset Samuel. Yet God told him to give them a king, “for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them” (verse 7).
The results of removing God
God went on to tell Samuel what Israel’s kings would do to their citizens, including a heavy burden of taxes (1 Samuel 8:11-17).
Some of these things still happen today. Who will pay more taxes and how much is a big dispute in the fiscal cliff dilemma today.
How many special perks do government officials have at the expense of the citizens?
God went on to say to Samuel that once the king enacts all these things, the citizens would cry out because of the burdens (verse 18).
Are Americans crying out today?
Can America’s problems even be fixed now?
Just looking at our nation today, we can see the results of government without God.
But some believe that it is too late now. As someone once told me, “We have swum too far out now. We can’t make it back.”
And that’s easy to believe with an economy in shambles. America has ever-increasing debt with ever-decreasing growth potential. The future doesn’t look good.
But God says He can fix all of our national and personal problems if we turn to Him.
“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).
Even though we’re in water over our heads, God can still rescue us if we repent and wholeheartedly seek Him.
The future of America’s government
God says that He ultimately decides who gets into power. And many times He even allows unqualified people to be in power (Daniel 4:17).
Yes, sometimes God gives us what we deserve instead of what we need when we reject Him.
Unless the American people repent, our economy will fail. National disasters, diseases and tragedies will continue to break us.
The Bible says America—just like the ancient Israelites who rejected God—will finally suffer military defeat and end up in captivity, a period referred to as the “time of Jacob’s trouble” and the Great Tribulation (Jeremiah 30:4-7; Matthew 24:21-22).
All because we have turned our backs on God.
But after we have learned our lesson through captivity, America’s descendants will repent and be rescued by Jesus Christ. Then they will again be a nation, but this time ruled by His government.
During this time under Christ’s rule, this “new” nation of Israel will be the model nation of the world.
“In those days [during Christ’s rule on earth] ten men from every language of the nations shall grasp the sleeve of a Jewish man [one of the 12 tribes of Israel], saying, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you’” (Zechariah 8:23).
And God will be with you and me today if we honor God and keep His 10 Commandments.
So, regardless of what our government does, let’s follow God in our personal lives. Only He can be our refuge in the troubled days ahead.
Learn more about what the Bible says about America in the section “Where Is America in Prophecy?” And learn more about how to turn to God in the section on “Repentance.”
Date Posted: January 9, 2013
About the Author
Tim Groves
Tim Groves attends the Jefferson, Georgia, congregation of the Church of God, a Worldwide Association, where he serves as a deacon.
He has been married to his wife, Teresa, for over 30 years. Together, they have two daughters and two sons and live in South Carolina. They moved there from Ohio in 1997 to flee the cold northern winters and allow him to do the things he really enjoys, like roaming though automobile junkyards looking for hidden treasures from times long past.
by Tim Groves
