I was surprised to read the following Thanksgiving Proclamation by the President of the United States, because it clearly violates the principle of the separation of church and state:
“Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor – and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me “to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.
“Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be – That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks – for his kind care and protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation – for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable inter-positions of his Providence which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war – for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed – for the peaceable and rational manner, in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted – for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.
“And also, that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions – to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually – to render our national government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed – to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shown kindness onto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord – To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us – and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.
“Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.
“George Washington, President”
President George Washington was not concerned with violating the separation of church and state, because it did not exist. It was not (and is not) in the Constitution. It was not a law passed by Congress (nor has any such law been passed since his time). It was an invention of an activist court, improperly interpreting the Constitution.
Mr. Washington expressed the feelings of the people of the United States. And I believe that the majority of the people in the country would still identify with this Proclamation, in spite of the continuous attempts at brain-washing them by the Liberal media.
As I read through this Proclamation, I remembered that almost every president throughout our nation’s history has expressed similar thoughts – and not just at Thanksgiving. Most of our presidents have been men who recognized that without the hand of Almighty God on our nation, we would be like most nations on this planet – lost and without direction.
Unfortunately, much has changed in the United States in recent years. We have been told that God is no longer welcome in our public life. Expressing faith and belief in the Word of God has been deemed “hate speech.” And Obama has declared that America is not a Christian nation.
We would do well to remember that this exceptional country was founded as a Christian nation, and that it has been abundantly blessed because of a few important things:
1) We have acknowledged God’s hand and blessing on us, and have been thankful to Him for that.
2) We have sent more missionaries to spread the Gospel than any nation in history.
3) And we have blessed Israel, as God has commanded us in His Word to do.
If we will turn our faces toward God again – and choose leaders who trust and believe in the Bible – the Lord will bless us again. God’s word, as given in II Chronicles 7:14 is as true today as it was when it was written thousands of years ago…
“If my people, which are called by my name, shall 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 will heal their land.”
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