How Deep Do Our Roots Go?
Our history and traditions are part of a culture that didn't begin with the founding of the United States of America
Recently I sat down with some friends to smoke some cigars, sip some whiskey, and rye, and rap about the state of the world as we are wont to do. I commented that I’ve seen more mentions of Constantine recently. He’s popping up all over the place now. They chuckled as if I meant that Constantine the Great was ignored until I wrote my book with his namesake. Of course not, but it is a funny coincidence.
I will not take credit for Constantine’s resurgence today. Although I did anticipate a growing attraction toward the old and true by a remnant in America. Constantine’s growing popularity should eventually result in more attention, and maybe a movie will be made about him. We all know Constatine was the first Christian emporer of Rome but he’s not put in proper context and his life’s impact was not well recognized. Explaining this big picture was my goal in the book The Constantine Doctrine. Now he’s getting more press but I still don’t think that people appreciate the fact that God plucked him from out of an empire that was persecuting Christians and through him converted it into a force for good.
A sense of history can be magnetic. It can pull us together and structure our thoughts. But, the story we tell ourselves as a people must conform to reality, or it is just propaganda. Many dictators and politicians attempt to control people by exercising a grip on the past and infusing a narrative with their agenda. This is what the media does every day in America.
Politico’s Heidi Przybyla (don’t trust anyone who’s name barely has a vowel except one tagged on the end) recently launched an attack on Donald Trump and Christian Nationalism that mirrors many of the prior attempts to take down this movement. As I have related in prior articles, I am Christian and I love my country. If that makes me a Christian Nationalist so be it. I am a Christian American, and a patriot. I oppose globalism and support an America first foreign policy that rejects the forever wars we are constantly fighting. And I want our economy to be stronger. But, I will never accept a slanderous attack on my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ associated with the racial division foisted upon the church by liberal Marxist atheists who are running an op against “Christian Nationalism.” Calling faithful Christians white supremisicsts, white nationalists or white Christians is idiotic and vile. It is designed to separate the church along political lines by representing conservative Christians as xenophobic bigots to make weak and wimpy Christians turn on their brothers.
Any Christian that hates his brother because of the rumors told by pagan reprobates is not worthy of the name. Maybe they remain saved, but it will be as one escaping the fire by the skin of their teeth (see: 1 Corinthians 3: 13-15). They are backstabbers. Some may become like Judas the betrayer, given over to Satan. They have no part in the fellowship of believers. “Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them (Ephesians 5:6-7).”
Our nation is Christian. Deal with it. At least America once was Christian and it must be again or it will cease to exist as we know it.
America doesn’t work if it is not Christian. We have been observing this in real time, a slow motion car crash that started in the 1960s. In the same way that Capitalism requires morality rooted in natural law and founded upon the tenants of the church, a Republic without religion is not viable. Is the People’s Republic of China or North Korea a valid alternative form of government to American Constitutional Federalism? No. It only works in the short term and only for those in charge. These are sham governments run by conmen, like most governments in history. We need to see more clearly the way that America serves the Kingdom of God instead of asking God to help us win the next election. Long term action is the solution to short term thinking. Then, maybe God will preserve this nation.
We’ve lost sight of the horizon and become unmoored from our past. We are now floating in open seas with a broken mast, no rudder, and no anchor. We are lost and we need our Lord God to guide us. If we would only turn back to him.
The best approach to establishing America’s right place in this world is not simply to assert that our founders were Christian. Of course they were, for the most part. We should agree about this AND we need to fight for greater agreement about larger truths.
We need to go deeper into our past and further upstream. We need to assert that not only were Americans originally Christian but that God used them to found a nation as a safehaven for the worship of Jesus Christ. And that this was needed because from the day our Lord ascended into heaven his church has been under assault. And yet it spread and has grown in the face of this opposition. “From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force (Matthew 11:12).” We are not called to roll over as our nation is destroyed and families killed. We can and should protect ourselves, and we are in a long line of bold and courageous Christians who have stood up for truth, justice, and freedom. This is our lineage and heritage. These roots run deep.
Every Christian of every nation can be your brother if you are sons of the most high. The blood coursing through our veins is covered by the blood Jesus Christ. We have a blood transfusion with the God of the universe, and now we live according to his word. His Holy Spirit lives within us. Starting with creation, through our ancenstors and partriachs, into the fathers of the faith, and arriving today God planned this all out. Since the foundation of the universe Jesus knew you. And you are alive right now because he has blessed you with the opportunity to serve him, magnify his name, and glorify him in everything you do.
Do not shirk from that calling. Rise up oh men of God! Bless his name today and every day. Live free and die striving to share the love of Christ with as many people as you can. That is what it means to take up your cross and follow Jesus. “And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me (Luke 9:23).”
Sing this Psalm when you need energy and focus. “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.” I will pray the same for you.