“I did not consider it any part of my charge to invent new Ideas, but to place before mankind the common sense of the subject, in terms so plain and firm as to command their assent.”   ~Thomas Jefferson

I could not have said it any better.  It is not my part to prove or invent but to merely present for your consideration a small sampling of key components which impact this nation’s past and present. The purpose is to help us move forward into our God given destiny.  To that end we cannot go much further without taking into account Divine Providence (aka God) and His involvement in a free nation.  Others have compiled overwhelming evidence of His influence and involvement by clearly presenting legal documents, diaries, letters and more which state the intentions of our Founders on this matter. (See recommended reading)  Yet for my part I simply desire to add a little common sense perspective while at the same time challenging you to think outside of the “box” that we have attempted to keep Him in for far too long.

A CHRISTIAN NATION?

Are we a Christian nation?  We are a nation founded upon biblical values, which has declared our dependence upon the Judeo-Christian God, and one in which the vast majority of Americans continue to at least profess some form of Christianity as the core of their faith.  Conservatively, over 75% and possibly as many as 92% of Americans are professing or active Christians, based on Gallup Poll data compiled in 2008, 2009 and again at the end of 2015. (1) (2) (3)  In this sense we are indeed a Christian nation. 

Therefore the next question is this:  does being a Christian nation in this sense pose a threat to the non-Christian?  Absolutely not.  First of all, the first amendment to our Constitution ensures the rights of the non-believers every bit as much as those of believers.  No one is or ever shall be forced into any type of religion or non-religion so long as we hold to the integrity of this document.  Secondly, the true God of the Bible which the Christian serves does not demand acceptance or submission and in no way seeks to limit our freedom in any way, shape or form.  He knows that love cannot be programed into us like a computer, but must be freely given in order to have any value.  From the beginning we were given a choice to accept or reject Him, and because of this the freedom of all humanity is of the utmost importance to Him.  So greatly does He value our liberty that He even gave us boundaries which would, if followed, safeguard those liberties.  Consider:

“Thou shall not kill” – protection of self

“Thou shall not steal” – protection of personal property

“Thou shall not commit adultery” – protection of relationships, etc.

They are nothing more than the values which we find undergirding our Constitution and are no less than those which were spoken of in our Declaration of Independence:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

It was self-evident (obvious, undeniable, indisputable) to our Founders that we were given these rights, and self-evident that they were given to us by God.

SO WHAT, AND WHO CARES?

As a result of having “declared” our reliance upon Him it is only logical then that we should need to communicate and interact with the One in whom we trust and rely upon.  How many of you would depend upon your attorney if all you ever did was talk to them and give them your input, without getting their advice in return?  Absurd, right?  If we are going to depend upon someone then we need their input, direction, and feedback; we need to know them well enough to trust them.  In short, we need to be able to hear their voice.  As Christians we serve a God who offers no less.  Not only are we able to talk to Him, we are able to hear His voice. (4)  God speaks to both the believer and the non-believer if they would choose to listen.  In fact this book was written for just one simple reason – because one night while I was sitting in my living room praying (communicating, speaking and listening to Him) He told me to write it.  Now if someone had told me I’d be writing a book prior to God speaking to me about it, I would have laughed and listed a multitude of reasons why I was the least qualified candidate to be writing books.  However when God speaks, the unqualified become qualified, the unbelievable becomes believable, life changes…and so do you.

A word from a friend is helpful, but a Word from the Living God will rock you to your core; you will not remain unchanged.

Aside from telling me to write it, He also spoke to me that night of things which He desired to impart through me to the nation; to the believer and unbeliever alike.  What follows is just the first half of that word.  It was given for you, the reader, regardless of your station in life, and it was given to this nation to help continue what He has already begun through others:  a rekindling of the spirit of revolution.

A WORD FROM THE LIVING GOD…PART I

            “My beloved people, you have captured my heart from the inception of your nation.  You have been from the beginning and remain a people of passion, purpose and destiny.  Though spiritually you have fallen asleep, My love for you remains as strong as ever.  I have also watched as some who serve Me and some who would claim to serve Me have risen up in their own strength to serve their own selfish ends.  Leadership, both political and that of my church have abused their power and injured many.  But what grieves Me most is how this has fractured and divided My Church, wounding and abandoning thousands upon thousands in the process, and causing many to turn their backs on Me entirely.  My Church has left her original mandate, and many have just cause to look on her in scorn, and disappointment…but where many have failed, there are still those who have remained faithful, and can be found across every dividing line that is within My Church.  I have heard their cries, and the cry of the lost, the hurting, and especially of those who have been injured in any way by My Church…and I ask your forgiveness on behalf of those who misrepresented Me to you.  I have seen and collected every tear that you’ve cried as a result of the abuse and pain which My Church has caused you through the years.  Please know my child that it was not I that abused you, for in My love for you I desire nothing but blessing upon blessing.”

“And know too that the cleansing of MY house has already begun, and will continue to increase in the coming years.  I have shown great mercy and compassion to My Church, and given many of her leadership time to repent, and change their ways.  But for the sake of My people, their time draws short, and if they do not repent they will continue to be removed.  My people have prayed that I would cleanse this nation and heal this land, and this I am both doing and about to do in ways which will become increasingly visible.  But in order to cleanse your nation I must first start with My own household.  I will continue to remove the “hirelings” throughout My Church and it will become much harder for them to pose as something they are not.  For the light shall continue to grow ever brighter, and the darkness ever deeper. Discernment between good and evil will greatly increase and not just inside of the church, but outside as well as people begin to perceive and acknowledge My Word which I have written upon their hearts.  This will happen because I have poured out my Spirit upon all flesh and not just the few “elect.”  Evil will not simply disappear but rather it will begin to be exposed for what it truly is much sooner and much easier.  The righteous will begin to stand up for what is right and what is good in greater and greater numbers.  This groundswell of holy righteousness will begin through acts of selflessness and self sacrifice as men and women put reputations, political careers, public standing, popularity, financial gain and even their very lives on the line in some instances in order to stand up for what is right and for what is good.  What has begun in small “pockets” will swell up into a wave of holy righteousness that will sweep across the nation and touch every level of social, political, and religious life and activity.  It will be a time of renewing and mending of the nets.  Connections will be established across various denominational, racial, societal, and political lines in order to prepare for what is yet to come.  Before true revival can take place, My church must first be restored, find her identity, and begin operating within her true purpose and authority.  The days of pew sitting are drawing to an end.  For men and women will either be drawn to engage, or will fall away.  Sitting on the fence will no longer be an option.  I am much more than what many have come to know of Me.  They have sat back and fallen into a coma of boredom, thinking that this [pew sitting] is what Christians do, and that this is fulfilling what I want them to do.  I do not require that you merely come to church, and you do not become a better person or more acceptable to Me by doing so.  I desire to know you, to have relationship with you, and you with my people as I dwell in them and in you.  If you are going to church to impress Me or others – STOP!  Don’t try to impress Me – talk to Me, listen to what I have to say to you – spend time with Me and know the depth, the height, the vastness of My love for you.  Begin to know the purpose for which I created you and called you.  Yes, called YOU!  I have not just called the pastors, the priests and the “leaders,” I have called every one of you by name, and each has a purpose, a calling, and gifts which I have given, or will give, in order to fulfill what I have called you to do and to be.  Press into Me, press into My people!  DO NOT STOP TRUSTING simply because some have taken my Name and used it for their own purposes.  I am deeply grieved when I see those that I have truly called, abusing and using others that I have called for their own ends, to serve their own needs.  Make no mistake, justice will be served in the end for those who would do this and severely if they do not repent.  But know too that even these I love and desire for them to walk in the fullness of what I have called them to do and to be – not what they have shown you in their foolishness.  I beg of you to forgive them and not to judge Me based upon how you have been treated by the “wolves”, the thieves or some of the misguided and severely injured shepherds in My Church.  I AM safe!  And I AM worthy of your trust like no other!  I have and will continue to raise up even more godly men and women of character and integrity whom you can trust and in whom you can find safety and restoration…”

RECOMMENDED READING:

Dialogue with GOD, Opening the door to two-way prayer; Mark and Patti Virkler, 2005

-This is an absolutely wonderful book whether you are a new believer, a veteran of the faith, or simply curious about this whole Christianity “thing” and hearing God’s voice.  Easy to read, deeply rooted in Scripture, and will challenge you to the core.  Good stuff!

Christianity Unshackled: Are You a Truth Seeker?; Harold R. Eberle, 2009.

-Ok, yes I mentioned this one in chapter two, but it has significant application for the content of this chapter as well.  Once again this is an excellent book for the reader who needs to search things out a bit deeper, but desires a resource that’s easy to read, historically accurate, and yet holds nothing back.

In need of personal assistance?  Once again I would direct you to Appendix A (pg. 99) in the back of the book.

Bibliography

1. Newport, Frank. Easter Season Finds a Religious, Largely Christian, Nation. Gallup. [Online] March 21, 2008. [Cited: June 11, 2010.] http://www.gallup.com/poll/105544/Easter-Season-Finds-Religious-Largely-Christian-Nation.aspx.

2. —. This Christmas, 78% of Americans Identify as Christian. Gallup. [Online] December 24, 2009. [Cited: January 7, 2012.] http://www.gallup.com/poll/124793/This-Christmas-78-Americans-Identify-Christian.aspx.

3. —. Percentage of Christians in U.S. Drifting Down, but Still High. s.l. : Gallup, Dec 24, 2015.

4. John, Apostle. John 10:27. [book auth.] New American Standard Bible. The Holy Bible. Grand Rapids : Zondervan Publishing House, 1999, p. 1021.

5. McCullough, David. John Adams. New York : Simon & Schuster Paperbacks, 2001. pp. 65-68.

6. Jirtle, Randy. Nova, Science Now. Nova Web site. [Online] July 2007. [Cited: June 12, 2010.] Video on Epigenetics. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sciencenow/3411/02.html.

7. Merriam-Webster’s Online Dictionary. Merriam-Webster Online. Merriam-Webster Online Web site. [Online] 2010. [Cited: June 13, 2010.] http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/victim.

8. Prosperity from the Inside Out. Choosing Prosperity .com. [Online] 2002-2009. [Cited: October 10, 2010.] http://www.choosingprosperity.com/lottery.htm.

9. Stan Lee. A Tale of Pride and Power. The Uncanny X-men, Volume 1, No. 274. New York : Marvel Comics, March 1991.

10. Lopresti, Chris Claremont & Aaron. The end of the world as we know it! Excalibur, No. 14. New York : Marvel Comics, July 2005.

11. Lee, Stan. The Origin of Professor X! Uncanny X-men, Volume 1, No. 12. New York : Marvel Comics, July 1963.

12. Thomas, Roy. Uncanny X-men, No. 38, 39, 40, 41, 42. New York : Marvel Comics, November-March 1967-1968.

13. Pak, Greg. X-men: Magneto Testament. New York : Marvel Publishing, Inc., 2008-2009.

14. Claremont, Chris. Ashes of the Soul. The New Mutants. New York : Marvel, March 1987.

15. —. The Gentleman’s Name is Magneto. Classic X-Men. New York : Marvel, August 1987.

16. Sanderson, Peter. Ultimate X-Men, Updated Edition. New York : DK Publishing, Inc., 2003. pp. 16-17.

17. Merriam-Webster’s Online Dictionary. epigenetics. Merriam Webster Online. [Online] 2012. [Cited: January 28, 2012.] http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/epigenetics.

18. Moses. Exodus 1:1-40:38. [book auth.] New American Standard Bible. The Holy Bible. Grand Rapids : Zondervan Publishing House, 1999, pp. 52-93.

Copyright © 2016 by Frederick J. Garcia. All rights reserved