The 2020 election was 3 months ago, but America is not yet able to move forward. In counseling we sometimes refer to this as being stuck and “spinning our wheels”. Spinning wheels are an indication of an unresolved issue. Certainly America has many unresolved issues. The last time we had such a divided country civil war resulted. I believe most Americans are trying desperately to avoid another such event. But how do we do that? What are the hidden issues, and how do we move beyond this moment in time?
Sometimes we need to look backward before we can move forward. That is what the children of Israel were required to do before they entered the Promised Land. Many times the prophets reminded the people of their identity as children of the living God and warned them not to forsake Him. The choice was theirs, i.e. blessings for obeying God or curses for following other gods. They had been given the 10 Commandments so they knew what God expected. I believe the primary hidden issue for America now is that we have failed as a nation to obey God. We have murdered babies in the womb, embraced homosexuality, and challenged God on His creation of us as male and female. We have expelled God from our schools and our conscience. We have told Him He does not exist or if He does, we are smarter than He is. Imagine!! I do believe we are reaping some consequences.
America is at a crossroads and needs to look back. We need a huge history lesson. The Pilgrims came to America in search of freedom from the tyranny of the King of England. They wanted relief from “taxation without representation,” but their highest priority was freedom of religion. They rejected the control of the Crown over the Church of England. This was the basis for the concept of the separation of church and state in America. (The phrase is not actually in the US Constitution.) Our founding fathers based our system of government, justice, and education on the moral standard of God’s Word. Their foundational premise was that a free society depends upon God and righteousness. Faith must direct government and society, but government and society must not direct the Church. We can never forget this. To cancel our American heritage is to destroy America as we know it. Our only hope is to turn back to God.
On a hill in Plymouth Massachusetts stands a huge solid-granite monument. It is the largest free-standing monument in the world. The “National Monument to the Forefathers” is a tribute to the Pilgrims who arrived at Plymouth on the Mayflower in 1620. It was erected in the late 19th century and is 81 feet tall and took 30 years to build. A 36’ sculpture representing faith stands atop the monument. Allegorical figures on attached buttresses surround the monument and tell the story of the faith of our founding fathers and the essential character of a free nation. There are four figure groupings: 1. Morality, Prophet, and Evangelist; 2. Law, Justice, and Mercy; 3. Education, Youth, and Wisdom; 4. Liberty, Tyranny Overthrow, and Peace. Morality requires Prophet and Evangelist; Law requires Justice and Mercy; Children require Education to gain Wisdom. Liberty requires Tyranny Overthrow to gain Peace. Much is inscribed on the monument, including the names of the Pilgrims, the monument’s dedication, and a quote from William Bradford, Governor of the Plymouth Colony. (www.atlasobscura.com)
The monument must be seen to be fully appreciated. Written words alone don’t do it justice. Kirk Cameron’s movie “Monumental: In Search of America’s National Treasure” features the monument. Mr. Cameron walks the audience around its circumstance as he describes it and reads inscriptions. I highly recommend this movie. Though produced in 2011, it is urgently relevant right now.
To be sure, the commitment, travail, suffering, and innumerable losses of the Pilgrims in order to establish us as “one nation under God with liberty and justice for all” were monumental! The task of building the “National Monument to the Forefathers” was monumental. The challenges of our great nation through events such as the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, Pearl Harbor and 911 were monumental. All required monumental courage. We are currently living in an equally threatening time. We must turn back to the God of our forefathers with humility and monumental courage.
Following the King of Kings,
Elsie