DO YOU KNOW...? United States Congress used to issue proclamations calling for prayer to the Christian God?
MUST READ "Breach of Trust", by Tom A. Coburn, M.D.
1. COMMENTARY
"Good Stewards of our Citizenship"
(by Tim Ewing, Editorial Director/Publisher, Rare Jewel Magazine)
Recently I had a conversation with Gary Bauer, former Policy Advisor to President Reagan, founding president of Family Research Council, and 2000 Republican presidential contender. Today, Mr. Bauer is President of American Values (www.ouramericanvalues.org), a conservative, pro-life, pro-family think-tank. He also serves as President for the Campaign For Working Families (www.cwfpac.com). The CWF is a non-partisan political action committee (PAC) dedicated to electing pro-family, pro-life, and pro-free enterprise candidates to federal and state offices.
During our conversation, Mr. Bauer made some interesting points about Christians and their role as stewards of our nation. He pointed out that if a Christian is employed as a banker, a mechanic, or a teacher, for example, there is a mindset that as a Christian, this person is called to conduct him- or herself according to a higher standard. That as a Christian they are called to be a model for integrity, perseverance, to employ a strong work ethic, and conduct their self in an honorable fashion. After all, we are a reflection of Christ and our actions reflect back on Him.
Mr. Bauer begged the question, "Why then do we not view our role as American citizens with the same standard, and also for the job of a politician?" Many Christians tend to feel that it is inappropriate or at least not a priority to be an active citizen in our country, to attempt to influence public policy according to Biblical values, or for politicians to base their decisions on their Christian beliefs. However, as Christians, shouldn't we be model citizens, shouldn't we take with high regard the blessing of living in a democratic republic and therefore perform our duties as citizens with the highest integrity, perseverance, and diligence?
As citizens in the United States of America, we are blessed with the privilege of not just playing a role in our political system and our public-policy making process, but We the People are owners of the process. It is our responsibility to run the system and ensure it works as designed. Our Founding Fathers very much believed and drew upon their Christian beliefs in laying the foundation for our nation and shaping the principles and laws of our land.
On June 28, 1787, Benjamin Franklin, then Governor of Pennsylvania and the senior member of the Constitutional Convention at age 81, delivered a powerful speech to the 55 convention delegates, "I have lived a long time, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth?that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the Sacred Writings, that 'except the Lord build the House, they labor in vain that build it' [Psalm 127:1]. I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without his concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better than the Builders of Babel." [a]
Our Founding Fathers built our nation upon Christian principles while seeking Divine assistance to produce an enduring institution. We should similarly endeavor to restore our nation's heritage by drawing heavily on our Christian belief.
Jesus Christ says in Luke 16:10 (NIV), "'Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much.'" We citizens of the United States have been trusted with much blessing and freedom. Are we being the best possible stewards of this gift of God? Are we pursuing God's highest calling in our USA citizenship, just as we do in our other roles such as mother, father, student, teacher, pastor, etc?
[a] America's God and Country Encyclopedia of Quotations, by William J. Federer, p 248.
Do you know that fifteen times during the Revolutionary War the United States Congress issued proclamations calling for national days of prayer and thanksgiving, to the God of Christianity? Following are portions from two such proclamations [b]:
October 18, 1780 (after Benedict Arnold's traitorous plan was uncovered), "Whereas it hath pleased Almighty God, the Father of all mercies, amidst the vicissitudes [changes] and calamities of war, to bestow blessings on the people of these States which call for their devout and thankful acknowledgments, more especially in the late remarkable interposition [intervention] of his watchful providence in rescuing the person of our Commander-in-Chief and the army from imminent dangers at the moment when treason was ripened for execution...It is therefore recommended to the several States...a day of public thanksgiving and prayer; that all the people may assemble on that day to celebrate the praises of our Divine Benefactor; to confess our unworthiness of the least of his favors, and to offer our fervent supplications to the God of all grace...to cause the knowledge of Christianity to spread over all the earth."
October 18, 1783 (When word reached America that the formal peace treaty with Great Britain was signed), "Impressed, therefore, with an exalted sense of the blessings by which we are surrounded, and of our entire dependence on that Almighty Being from whose goodness and bounty they are derived, the United States in Congress assembled, do recommend it to the several States...a day of public thanksgiving that all the people may then assemble to celebrate with grateful hearts and united voice the praises of their Supreme and all bountiful Benefactor for his numberless favors and mercies...and above all that he hath been pleased to continue to us the light of the blessed Gospel."
Breach of Trust: How Washington Turns Outsiders into Insiders
Author: Tom A. Coburn, M.D. Published: 2003 by WND Books Reviewed by Tim Ewing
Dr. Coburn is a practicing family physician in Oklahoma. In 1994 he decided to run for U.S. House of Representatives and succeeded in defeating a 16-year incumbent. Remember Newt Gringrich's "Contract With America"? Coburn was part of that class of '94 that dramatically and unexpectedly took Republican party-control of the House for the first time in 40 years, and did it during Clinton's first term as president.
Coburn, like many of the class of '94 campaigned on term limits. He was one of the few however who actually keep his word and stepped down after three two-year terms even though the term-limit legislation was never passed. This kind of commitment to integrity sets apart Coburn from typical politicians who get seduced by the power and ego that come from running the most prosperous and powerful nation in history.
Coburn reveals in clear and easy to understand terms what life is like for an ordinary-citizen-turned politician who defied the odds and did not allow the system to turn him into a self-centered power broker.
I always wondered what happened to the "Contract With America"...it just kind of faded away after its first year. Coburn provides insightful and surprising commentary on the often ferocious politicking that goes on in the halls of Congress, and the gamesmanship which eventually led to the downfall of most portions of the "Contract With America." Coburn reveals, "...the problem that derailed the Republican revolution and is still preventing Congress from making the tough choices necessary to preserve our freedoms in these perilous times [is] 'careerism,' the self-centered philosophy of governing to win the next election above all else...the greatest threat to the continuity of our form of government is our government itself" (Coburn, pg XIX). [To that I add, "...and We the People who allow our elected officials to get away with putting their own job security ahead of what is best for our nation."]
Coburn presents the facts about how the Republicans, once they gained the majority in the House, no longer pursued the strategy that got them that control, but rather pursued a strategy of trying to maintain control. "Career politicians are more often preoccupied with how their decision will influence the next election than whether they are taking principled, or ideologically consistent, positions...The 'Contract With America' at its core was a commitment to the American people to restore our founding principle of limited government and to address the long-term challenges that are threatening our future prosperity and strength" (Coburn, pg. XXIV). Coburn shows us how the revolution of 1994 failed due to the "cowardice of political expediency."
Coburn also exposes facts about our out-of-control federal government that is threatening to bankrupt our nation due to "the impending bankruptcy of Social Security and Medicare, the unsustainable annual increase in overall federal spending combined with exploding deficits, and the ever-increasing costs of prosecuting the war on terrorism and securing the homeland" (Coburn, pg XXI).
Don't be dismayed though. Coburn ends his book with four practical suggestions for how concerned citizens can address the long-term challenges facing our country. We can turn our country around, but we must demand accountability from our elected officials and we must endeavor to learn more about how our government was designed to operate versus how it has been functioning for the past half-century.
Read this book and you will be alarmed (that is a good thing), and best of all you will discover how our government is supposed to function, you will better understand how to communicate with your elected representatives, and you will have more confidence to speak up and challenge them to lead our nation with integrity.
Editor's note: after a 4-year absence from Congress, Dr. Coburn is now running for U.S. Senate. For more information, go to: http://www.coburnforsenate.com/
