Published: July 16, 2008 01:17 pm            

Randy Sheridan: Wisdom from the past still relevant in today’s world

“The Christian religion is, above all the religions that ever prevailed or existed in ancient or modern times, the religion of wisdom, virtue, equity and humanity.”

This quote comes from a former president of the United States of America.

He went on to say, “I have examined all religions, and the result is that the Bible is the best book in the world.”

His name is John Adams.

These are pretty strong statements, but President Adams felt very strongly about his relationship with his maker. As an attorney, he had a reputation for ferocious fairness and justice. Later as a representative of Massachusetts, he stood and spoke eloquently and sometimes offensively about the cause of independence from England’s increasingly iron-fisted rule.

This is a far cry from today’s presidential candidates on either side of the aisle. In the name of tolerance and diversity, we have come to accept virtually anything that flies under the banner of religion.

Biblically based Christianity has fallen under foot of most politicians for fear of offending someone with its clear and concise principles.

The backbone of our great nation has weakened to the point of almost breaking in lieu of standing for what our brave forefathers fought so honorably to achieve.

Were they mistaken? Did they miss the mark when they penned the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights?

I think not.

If there has been any misguiding, it is in the steps we have taken in the past few decades that have led us farther away from the resounding reverberations of liberty that once struck the bell of Philadelphia.

Where does our backsliding stop? When is enough, enough?

We cannot continue to acquiesce to the naysayers of Christianity and give up virtually every freedom that has been purchased by the blood of martyrs, who willingly paid the ultimate price for future generations to enjoy the home of the brave and the land of the free.

In 1854, Congress stated, “The great, vital and conservative element in our system is the belief of our people in the pure doctrines and the divine truths of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”

Were they all Christians? Probably not, but they had enough respect for the precepts of the Bible and reverence for God that they understood with uncanny clarity that this new democracy had to stand on solid footing.

What shall become of us if we do not rise to the occasion with vigilance and fortitude to reaffirm our strong belief in the once revered documents our founding fathers wrote under divine guidance? Will we fall away like other civilizations? Does there need to be some revolution of sorts in the 21st century?

I’m not talking about taking up arms but arming our sons and daughters with the truth about what made this nation great and with the knowledge that will keep her great for future generations.

Dr. Benjamin Rush — a signer of the Declaration of Independence, surgeon general of the Continental Army; ratifier of the U.S. Constitution; “Father of Modern Medicine;” treasurer of the U.S. Mint, and “Father of the Public Schools under the Constitution” — spoke about as clearly as one could about their pursuit:

“I do not believe that the Constitution was the offspring of inspiration, but I am as satisfied that it is as much the work of a Divine Providence as any of the miracles recorded in the Old and New Testament.”

These men held the Bible in high esteem and with great conviction. They would not waver from the principles that had been passed down to them from their fathers. This unwavering confidence and passion set them apart from lesser men.

I think we can learn a great deal from these men of formidable character. Their wisdom stills permeates the halls of Congress and is etched in stone throughout Washington, D.C.

Have we become so educated we have outstripped these God-fearing and well-learned men?

I think we are kidding ourselves if we fail to look back to rightly assess our future. The wisdom their words have to offer, along with the Word of God, will aid us in righting the ship and perhaps save us from destroying ourselves as a culture that has “dumbed down” in the area of common sense about as far as we can go.

Everything from the way we handle the economy to our moral choices when it comes to life and family hinges on what we place our faith in — man or someone bigger and a bit wiser.



Randy Sheridan of Burleson is a speaker, counselor and mediator. He can be reached at drsheridan@aol.com.

        

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