Wake up America! Do not forget the religious aspect of our origin.

Our fathers were brought to these shores by their reverence for the Christian religion. They journeyed by its light and labored by its hope.

They sought to incorporate its principles into the elements of their society and to infuse its influence through all their institutions, civil, political and literary. Let us cherish these values and extend its influence more widely; in full conviction that the happiest society partakes in the highest degrees of the mild and peaceable spirit of Christianity.

Why has our political system come to deny the expression of our hope in Christ by removing from our schools the display of The Bible on a teacher’s desk, a plaque displaying The Ten Commandments, the Nativity at Christmas time or any show of respect for God and America’s belief in the one true God of the universe, upon whose council our great nation was brought into existence?

We acknowledge the right of our citizens to choose their personal religion. But it needs reflect like values of love and respect for God and countrymen, these attributes of the Christian religion toward our neighbors near and abroad. The following prayer was a testimony to our first president’s faith in our Lord. Do we see this type of reverence and trust in our leaders and citizens today?

Washington’s prayer: “Almighty God, we make our earnest prayer that thou wilt keep the United States in thy protection, that thou will incline the hearts of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to government; to entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another and for their fellow citizens of the United States at large and finally that thou wilt most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that charity, humility and that pacific temper of mind, which were characteristics of the divine author of our blessed religion and without an humble imitation of whose example in these things we can never hope to be a happy nation. We beseech thee, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.”

God places a condition upon his blessing for the nation of Israel and also upon any nation that would seek his favor.

“If my people which are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways. Then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” — II Chronicles 7:14.

When we do this, His Word says, “Then I will hear, forgive and heal.” God’s promise of blessing to Israel is threefold. God begins this healing process from within the heart of his people.

Let us pray fervently for our nation’s leaders that they seek God’s counsel as to His will in confronting the issues concerning his people, Israel and America today.

DONALD E. FRAZEE

Ironton