JC Bunkhouse

Pastor Wes Kinder One Nation Under God

Everyone be safe leading up to this Independence Day. I don’t miss the days of “friends” lighting firecrackers packages in my back pocket and bottle rocket wars and such. Did I type that out loud?

I am thankful that our area enjoyed decent rains this spring, but Lord, we could use a bit cooler temperatures now.

With all that is going on, I just had to re-post some thoughts I’ve shared in the past.

Does it ever seem to y'all as if Independence Day should also be a Christian holiday? When I look at what God was doing in 13 British colonies just near 250 years ago, that is the only conclusion I can come to! But there are many folks that don’t agree!

We don’t even say the Pledge to the flag anymore because it might offend someone. The first verse of our National Anthem and God bless America are still sung at baseball games, but for how long? It might offend someone.

But what about our founding fathers? If you were to have asked the King of England or the officers in his army they would tell you the fifty-six signers of the Declaration of Independence, nearly all devout Christians, committed treason. And even though the colonists won the war, most of those 56 paid dearly in many ways for what they signed and believed in. They signed and fought for our freedoms!

I’ve mentioned about this thing of “separation of church and state” on previous occasions. Many people are convinced this language is somehow hidden within our Constitution. IT IS NOT! The First Amendment simply states: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievance.

President Jefferson wrote a letter to Danbury Baptist Assoc.: …I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature would 'make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,' thus building a wall of separation between Church and State. – Thomas Jefferson, Jan. 1. 1802 Jefferson emphasized that the government was to stay out of the church. However, note that nothing is ever said about keeping Christians or Christianity out of the government.

In 1947, the Supreme Court, in reviewing a case, said: 'The First Amendment has erected a wall between church and state. That wall must be kept high and impregnable. We could not approve the slightest breach.'

But in 1962, that same 1stAmendment was suddenly turned 180 degrees to be used against itself. Separation would now mean that God and His existence would have to stay out of government, even though He breathed our nation into existence! I just don’t think that’s why 56 men gave everything they had to sign a document dated July 4, 1776. Let’s be heard!

And we continue to have national laws going into effect that go against God’s laws, and we are supposed to just accept it. We have to make a choice; for me it is simple – follow God. It’s time to pray for our nation, its people, and leaders. Pray for the election coming up.

This may seem like dark times, but I just can’t help but think about the verse God shared with Solomon: ...and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land. (2 Chron.7:14 nasb) Have a safe and awesome 4th of July!

Choose Jesus, choose life! And find a Bible believin’ church where you “fit in” and know, grow, and follow Christ! Tell others! See y’all at church and keep PRAYIN’ for HIS HARVEST! And y’all please KEEP PRAYIN’ for RAIN! It keeps the drought away! Amen.