Who or what is it that is dividing these United States of America? Is it Donald Trump and his MAGA agenda? Is it the radical socialist policies of Democratic party? Perhaps both?  Historically there have always been differences between left and right, red and blue, GOP and DNC, however something has changed over the last few decades which seems to be causing the rift to widen. These once United States of America don’t seem very united anymore, and I would propose that it is more than just politics that is at the root of it. 

What’s the question?

I believe it might be helpful to first examine what it was that united this nation in the first place? It is almost ironic that in 1776 the thirteen colonies were initially united by an act of rebellion…by joining together to throw off the tyranny of a common enemy. In other words, a bunch of rebels joined forces to throw off what they felt was an unbearable yoke of servitude to the King of England. It is perhaps somewhat of an oxymoron, in the sense that the colonies were united by dividing from the motherland. The result of that initial conflict, which history records as the War of Independence was the  formation of these United States of America. 

We Are the Champions!

There is a natural camaraderie that develops when we humans achieve a common goal, or overcome great peril together. We feel united by that event, and those ties often last a lifetime. This kind of bond is often formed in athletic teams that win a championship together, or military veterans who risk their lives together on the battle field. However, it is rare for those ties to last beyond one generation.  In this case there seems to be something stronger and more lasting that was created when those early Americans won their independence from England. Something was established that  has now lasted nearly two and a half centuries.  It is only in these last two or three decades that the fabric of American unity appears to be fraying at the edges.

Holding it together…

If the War of Independence was the initial bond that caused that first generation of Americans to rally around the flag that represented their new found freedom, what is it that has continued to hold that bond together over that past two hundred years? Allow me to suggest two key factors that I believe form the glue that continues to hold the nation together. The first has to do with the founding fathers, who did not stop at merely winning the War of Independence. These men who risked their lives to birth a new nation, by inking the declaration of independence, put together some powerful documents.  The first was the declaration of independence, and the second was the constitution. Some might argue that it is the constitution alone that keeps the nation together, and I would agree that it contributes mightily to that end. I would, however offer that the  second key factor holding the people of this great nation together is the stronger of the two. That factor is a common Judaeo-Christian belief in God, and a system of ethics built upon that belief. 

A Christian Nation?

Many hours have been wasted on social media arguing about whether or not the United States was founded as “A Christian Nation”. It is my opinion based on my minuscule knowledge of American history, that it was not the founders intent to establish a Christian nation. It is however also clearly evident that most of the founding fathers demonstrated overtly Christian values and beliefs. There are frequent references to the Bible and to faith in God by the founders recorded in the early history of America. It would seem fair then to assume that the founding documents were profoundly influenced by the Judaeo Christian values held by the framers of those documents. 

Under God…

As I again appeal to my minuscule knowledge of American history, I am reminded that the earliest pledge of allegiance was created by a veteran of the civil war in 1887 one George T. Balch, which read: “We give our heads and hearts to God and our country; one country, one language, one flag!” A few years later, in 1892 Francis Bellamy composed something closer to what is currently used, which reads: “I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” Since that time there have been several more minor revisions, the latest of which being the addition of the words “under God” in 1954. It is also no coincidence that minted on every American coin, and printed on all American paper currency, we find the words “In God We Trust”. 

A New Allegiance… 

Something significant began to change in the culture of America in the 1960’s. Almost as if in reaction to adding “under God” to the pledge of allegiance. A movement began to gain momentum attempting to remove references to God from public life.   In 1962 the supreme court ruled that school sponsored public prayer violated the establishment clause of the first amendment. In 1992 public prayer at public school graduations was challenged in court. More recently Joe Kennedy, a varsity coach at Bremerton High School, lost his job in 2015 for publicly praying with his team on the field, and fought a years long legal battle to get it back. In 2012, the city of Bloomfield, New Mexico was ordered to remove a monument displaying the Ten Commandments from public property to nearby church property.  The point being that since the 1960’s there seems to have been a concerted effort to remove all things Christian from the American public sector. As this secularization of public agencies gained momentum we also saw a correlating decline in regular church attendance. The question we might consider then is whether this also correlates with the rise in division between right and left. Is it possible that as the a growing number of American people abandoned their faith in God in exchange for a faith in government, that the rift is not so much between GOP and DNC as it is between faith in God and faith in government. If that is true, then perhaps the root of what is dividing America is actually a spiritual issue.

A Search for Truth…

There is a well known historical event recorded in the Bible in the Gospel of John which records a short conversation between a Roman politician named Pontius Pilate, and a Rabbinical teacher who was being framed by the Jewish religious leaders. The conversation is recorded as follows in John 18 beginning in verse 33.

33 So Pilate went back into the governor’s residence, summoned Jesus, and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” 34 Jesus replied, “Are you saying this on your own initiative, or have others told you about me?” 35 Pilate answered, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own people and your chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?”

36 Jesus replied, “My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my servants would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish authorities. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.” 37 Then Pilate said, “So you are a king!” Jesus replied, “You say that I am a king. For this reason I was born, and for this reason I came into the world—to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” 38 Pilate asked, “What is truth?” (John 18:33-38 NET)

Jesus does not answer the question. Pilate tries once more after this conversation to release Jesus, but the Jewish mob on his doorstep insist that he release a convicted insurrectionist named Barabbas instead. Pilate then asks what they want him to do with Jesus to which they respond “Crucify Him!” …and if you’ve ever been to church on Easter Sunday you know the rest of the story. If you haven’t ever been to church on Easter Sunday maybe it’s time you give it a try? 

Defining Truth…

That question “what is truth?” is perhaps the most critical question we will need to find the answer to if we sincerely want to find healing for this nation. Jesus told Pilate he came into this world to “testify to the truth”. Jesus also called himself “the truth” when he said to his disciples “I am the way the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father but through me.” in John 14:6. So Jesus knew exactly who he was talking about when he said “Everyone who belongs to the truth”. What I am leading up to is the truth is found where heaven meets earth. The Christian faith teaches that Jesus was “God incarnate” meaning God in the form of a human. He is called the Son of God, the second person of the trinity. The Father is the first, and the Holy Spirit is the third. Three persons in perfect unity they are one God. The creator and sustainer of all things. Utterly beyond human ability to fully comprehend, yet knowable in a personal way so intimate it is difficult to describe. This is the truth we all seek. That’s why I say truth is found where heaven meets earth. When we find this truth and submit ourselves to it, then and only then are our eyes opened to the deception that previously held us in bondage. 

The Power of Love…

So you see, what America needs most is not some slick polished politician to work some kind of magic to bring left and right together. What America needs most is honest spiritual revival. When the Holy Spirit is allowed to take control of a person, there is no room for deception, fear or pride. When the Holy Spirit is allowed to reign in a persons life, love takes over. There is no fear in love. The most powerful force in the universe is love. Not the romantic love between two people, but the love of God that drove Him to become one of us and die a criminal’s death in our place, so that we might through Him be set free to know the power of His love.