It is with puzzlement and dismay that I hear so many in our great nation disparaging our heritage, history, traditions, and morals. They have now taught generations of children in a manner that destroys our identity and erases the amazing events that unfolded in America’s first 200 years. Patriotism has been stigmatized and supporting an America-first agenda has branded us as the nation’s largest threat. Due to these events, I feel it necessary to articulate the excellence of America and to celebrate it with unabashed joy.

Why do I love America? In a word, she is exceptional. This is not to say that Americans are superior to others in the world, rather it is stating that the form of government, liberty, and economy enjoyed by Americans has led to unprecedented ingenuity and innovation. Furthermore, the expression of individual liberty has put America in a position wherein she can be and is the most benevolent nation in the world. It is within this framework of liberty that people can pursue the gifts and interests given to them by God and in so doing, better the world the around them.

In the words of the great Ronald Reagan:

“If we look to the answer as to why for so many years we achieved so much, prospered as no other people on Earth, it was because here in this land we unleashed the energy and individual genius of man to a greater extent than has ever been done before. Freedom and the dignity of the individual have been more available and assured here than in any other place on Earth.”

A considerable reason that America is exceptional is that the Constitution by which our land is governed, is the longest lasting national constitution in the world. This is due in large part to the fact that it is heavily undergirded by Biblical principles that work. Even if you do not believe in God, you must be intellectually honest enough to recognize that the moral standard set forth by the Bible is one that led us to be the greatest nation on earth.

When Alexis Tocqueville came to America in 1831 to study her nascent arrival on the world stage, he observed that:

“I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her commodious harbors and her ample rivers, and it was not there; in her fertile fields and boundless prairies, and it was not there; in her rich mines and her vast world commerce, and it was not there. Not until I went to the churches of America and heard her pulpits aflame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power.”

Years ago, there was a study done by two learned professors, Dr. Donald S. Lutz and Charles S. Hyneman. They set out to determine who and what influenced the Founders in their deliberations to establish the Constitution. In their study of over 15,000 items such as newspapers, pamphlets and other writings it was discovered that amongst the sources cited, the Bible was cited 34%. This is a considerable percentage when you look at the fact that the second highest number of citations were from Montesquieu who comes in at 8%. Clearly Biblical principles contributed significantly to the underpinning of the Constitution.

Many people disenchanted with America will point to the evils of slavery to argue that America is anything but exceptional, and they attempt to delegitimize our greatness by ceaseless reminding us of our past sins. Slavery was a great sin, but pointing only to American slavery divorces the event from its historical context. Slavery was happening all over the world and had been for centuries. What makes America exceptional? She was the only nation to wage a civil war, wherein 620,000 – 720,000 people died to end slavery. Only in the fertile fields of American soil can the seeds of liberty grow thereby enabling us to right civil wrongs. Another example of this is the women, who were considered property themselves as far as political rights go and look at us today! In the words of the famous Virginia Slims advertisement, “You’ve come a long way, baby.”

The rights to our civil wrongs and our meteoric rise to greatness was spurred on because we were a nation that honored God in many ways. Now we as Christians have allowed the secularists and other groups like the LGBTQ or the ACLU, to run roughshod over our 1^st amendment rights. As a block, Christians make up a large percentage of America’s population, yet we rarely hear from them. As Nixon said, we are “The great silent majority.”

Where is our voice? Can we return to the principles that make this an exceptional nation? The answer to this is a resounding yes. As God says in II Chronicles 7:14

“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.”

As Christians, lets heed this verse and claim this promise by humbling ourselves before the one living God and beseeching His assistance. Pray, pray, pray. Pray for revival in America, pray for our leaders, our military, our first responders. Thank the Lord for the great gift of living here.

After doing this, we need to educate ourselves as to the Christian truth of our founding, the heroism of Americans, and the Constitutional principles that have stood the test of time. A great place to start is by reading, America’s Providential History by Mark Beliles and Stephen McDowell. It was published in 1989, but is relevant, nonetheless. By reading it I learned how God feels about America, and it brought me to tears. Great read.

Once you have learned the magnificence of God’s hand in our founding, and HIS original intent for this nation, there are ways for you to get involved regardless of your comfort level. You can be behind the scenes writing letters to the editor, attend your monthly local precinct meetings for your political party, keep track of bills presented at your state legislature and testify on the issues that matter to you, or even run for an office yourself. Some of the above can be done in a mere two hours a month.

America will only remain exceptional when she has a virtuous, informed, and engaged citizenry. If Christians remain silent, we will lose this greatness and I assure you that we will not get it back. Even now, it is in great peril; largely due to the silence of Christians.

Remember that the opportunity to participate in your own governance is a gift from God and He expects us to be good stewards of what He has given us. Never forget how exceptional America is and how worthy she is to fight for. In the words of Calvin Coolidge:

“To live under the American Constitution is the greatest political privilege that was ever accorded to the human race.”