WHAT THE CROSS MEANS TO AMERICA: TRADITION ---

Psalm 33:12; 11:3; Proverbs 14:34; Psalm 9:17

“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom He hath chosen for His own inheritance. If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do? Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people. The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God,”

July 4th each year allows Americans to look back, to look around and to look ahead—to look back on America’s past, to look around at America’s present, and to look ahead on America’s prospect.

In our celebration we should look at the influence of Christ and His cross on America’s freedom.

1. The Cross in America’s Past.

Jamestown, Virginia, is known as the first permanent settlement in America and was in fact dedicated to God and to the expansion of the Christian faith.

In 1606, after the failure of Sir Walter Raleigh to establish an English colony (1584-1586), King James I (of King James Bible fame) granted a royal charter for another attempt to colonize Virginia. A band of nearly 150 men left England for America in December, 1606. Their royal charter establishing Virginia emphasized the Christian character of the expedition's purpose:

“We, greatly commending, and graciously accepting of, their desires for the furtherance of so noble a work, which may, by the providence of Almighty God, hereafter tend to the glory of His Divine Majesty, in propagating of the Christian religion to such people as yet live in darkness and miserable ignorance of the true knowledge and worship of God, and may in time bring the infidels and savages living in those parts to human civility and to a settled and quiet government, do, by these our letters patent, graciously accept of, and agree to, their humble and well-intended desires.”

After a rough Atlantic crossing, on April 26th 1607, the colonists landed at Virginia Beach. The London Company intended that every new colony would become its own church community with its own minister. That man was Robert Hunt, who became the first pastor at Jamestown.

Upon landing on the Tidewater beach, Pastor Robert Hunt called for three days of prayer and fasting in repentance for sins and in preparation for dedicating this new land to God. On April 29th, crew members took timbers from their ship and constructed a makeshift cross. Dragging it ashore, they planted the cross firmly in the sand. Kneeling in humility, Pastor Hunt prayed and dedicated this New World to God. He prayed that the Gospel would be preached from these shores to the uttermost parts of the earth. This colony, beset as it was with ongoing difficulties, nevertheless established a monumental covenant with God there in the sands of Virginia, one that laid the foundation for the birth of a new nation founded on the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

Fourteen years later, in 1620, the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock, Massachusetts. They were coming to America to shake loose from the bonds of the Church of England so they could worship God as they believed scriptures taught. They had braved sixty-three stormy days on the Atlantic. It was Saturday and they were about to land when a sudden storm arose and they were driven to the shore of Clark Island where they disembarked and made shelter for the night. The next day was Sunday. But instead of reloading their ships and sailing for Plymouth rock, they spent that day in prayer, praise, thanksgiving, and worship of the Almighty God. Then, on Monday, December 11, 1620, the Pilgrims set sail and landed at Plymouth rock. William Bradford wrote, "Being thus arrived in a good harbor and brought safe to land, they fell upon their knees and blessed the God of heaven, who had brought them over the vast and furious ocean, and delivered them from all the perils and miseries thereof, again to set their feet on the firm and stable earth, their proper element... But here I cannot but stay and make a pause, and stand half amazed at this poor people's present condition; and so I think will the reader too when he well consider the same."

It is often said that “American is the land of the free, and the home of the brave.” In reality, America was “the home of the brave” long before it was “the land of the free.” England saw the early colonies of America as a place for Protestantism to grow and flourish and dominate. The few Baptists who came to America at that time were the only ones who advocated complete religious liberty for all faiths. Roger Williams (1603-1683) was ordained into the Church of England and arrived in America in 1630. Williams served as an assistant minister for a congregational church in Boston for a time, until they forced him to leave for preaching “Baptist heresy,” which was adult immersion, something clearly taught in the Bible. Rogers Williams is often credited with founding the first Baptist church in American in 1639 in Providence, Rhode Island, when in fact six month earlier John Clarke (1609-1676) founded a Baptist church in Newport, Rhode Island. And Roger Williams left the Baptist church in Providence after only six months, renouncing his Baptist beliefs, and becoming a member of the “seekers,” a mystical group somewhat like the Quakers.

On a trip to Boston in July of 1651 to visit a Baptist friend by the name of William Witter, Dr. John Clarke, with Pastor Obadiah Holmes, and Deacon Crandall, were arrested and committed to prison. Evangelistic services had been held in Witter’s home, which resulted in converts being made and immersed. This was against Massachusetts law. There was no jail in Lynn, so the alehouse was used. All were heavily fined, but Holes refused to pay and so strong were his principles concerning “religious liberty” that he suffered a public whipping of incredible severity. Holmes was taken to the Boston Commons, today a park, and was given 30 fierce strokes with a three corded whip. This action was supported by the Congregational clergy. John Wilson, pastor of “Boston’s first church” (Congregationalist), struck Holmes saying, “The curse of God or Jesus go with thee.” Holmes was left severely beaten and bleeding. Any sympathizers who came to comfort him were immediately arrested and jailed also. Massachusetts had been founded by Puritans whose colony guaranteed liberty for their religion only! Had it been left to the Protestants in the early 1600’s, we would have a different America.

John Clarke was sent back to England and secured the colony’s charter from King Charles II in 1663 by his own personal appeal and persistence. This guaranteed “full liberty to religious concernments.” This charter governed Rhode Island until 1843.

There can be no doubt that America was a nation whose founders were directed and influenced by Christian truth. The shadow of the cross extended across our forefathers, their families and this land.

In 1776 the Declaration of Independence stated, "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."

In 1777, during the Revolutionary War, the First Continental Congress called the Bible "the great political textbook of the patriots" and appropriated funds to import 20,000 Bibles for the people. Many do not know that the Continental Congress began its sessions with prayer, a practice that is still, (at least for the moment) followed by both houses of congress even today.

In 1791 First amendment of the Bill of Rights stated, “Congress shall make no law regarding the establishment of religion nor prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” It is clear there were two simple intentions of the First Amendment. One, to make sure the government did not establish a state church. Two, to make sure the government did not interfere with anyone's religious expression.

Richard Land says, “All the restrictions in the First Amendments are on the government, not on people of faith. Government can’t get into the religion business and the government cannot interfere with citizens’ right to express their faith,” (March 4, 2010, Truett-McConnell College, Cleveland, GA.).

Patrick Henry (1736-1799) said, "It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religions but on the gospel of Jesus Christ."

“The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were. . . . the general principles of Christianity,” said President John Adams (1735-1826).1

Yet, on a presidential trip to Turkey in 2009, President Barack Obama announced to the world that Americans “do not consider ourselves a Christian nation.” Had he failed to visit the places where he presides as President? The buildings in our nation’s capital provide clear evidence of our founders’ faith.

“The Christian influence in America is eroding daily. Opinion polls show that most Americas believe in God, but many lives as practical atheists, paying little attention to the Bible as God’s revelation. The proliferation of New Age thought, the radical individualism that clamors for personal rights, and the privatization of morality tears at the very fabric of our families and institutions. Humanism is now coming to its logical conclusions in education, law, and morality. The result is as bad as the founding father imagined it might be.”2

2. The Cross in now America’s Problem.

In recent years numerous federal courts have ordered the removal of Christian symbols from city seals, even if the symbols appeared for historic reasons. Leading the way is “the cross.” The cross, at one time proudly displayed in American cities and history, is now taken to court. What was once “the land of the free” is now the “land of the sued.”

For example, Zion, Illinois was founded in 1901 by clergyman John Alexander Dowie, who also founded the major church in the town. In laying out the city, the north-south streets bore a Bible name while the east-west streets were numerically numbered. There is no doubt of the significant religious influence on the formation of the town, and the city seal acknowledged that religious heritage, hence “Zion.” Nevertheless, a lawsuit was filed against the seal and in 1991 the federal courts ordered that the seal be changed.

In our sister state to the north, Oklahoma, the city of Edmond experienced a similar effort to censor an acknowledgment of its heritage. In 1887, Edmond was a watering point on the Santa Fe railroad line that stretched across the buffalo covered prairies of the Oklahoma Territory, and Catholic priests operated an Indian mission there. Following the Oklahoma land rush of 1889, Edmond grew into a full-fledged town. The Catholic mission built a church to serve both the Indians and the settlers, and other churches were steadily added.

In 1890, the Oklahoma territorial governor made Edmond the site of a state teachers’ college (now called the University of Central Oklahoma), and the college met in a church for its first three years. Not surprisingly, the city’s seal acknowledged the religious element in its heritage, but an unhappy dissident brought a lawsuit against “the cross.” In 1995 a federal judge ordered that the seal be changed. And get this. Rather than adding something new to the seal, citizens simply removed the “offensive” element and left that portion vacant.

The city seal of Los Angeles, California, also became the target of attack. Founded in 1771 (five years before the American Revolution), Los Angeles was birthed from the work of the Spanish padres, especially Father Junipero Serra. Spanish missions still dominate the landscape, and even the translation of the city’s Spanish name affirms its religious roots: “The City of Angels.” Without the work of the Spanish priests, Los Angeles well might not exist, so the city seal acknowledged (even though the acknowledgment was extremely minor) its profound debt to religion in its founding. The largest object is the Goddess Pomona, the Roman goddess of gardens and fruit trees, who is depicted from top to bottom in the middle of the city’s seal. Does it surprise you to know that it was not challenged to be removed.

Nevertheless, the ACLU, the American version of the Taliban, threatened a lawsuit, to which one city official poignantly replied: “Your failure to understand the history and to rewrite it from the so-called political correctness follows the hate of past book burners. . . . [The seal’s cross] does not mean that we are all Roman Catholic, or that everyone who resides in our county is a Christian – it only reflects our historical roots.” Nevertheless, in order to avoid the lawsuit, in 2004 the city supervisors voted 3-2 to change their seal by removing the cross.

The city seal of Las Cruces, New Mexico is the most recent to come under attack. That community had its beginnings in 1598, well before Pocahontas was born, Jamestown was settled, or the Pilgrims arrived on the Mayflower. Like so many other southwestern states and towns, Las Cruces, which means “The Crosses,” owes its existence to the Spanish Catholic explorers and priests. Thankfully, the US Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, on September 12, 2008, said it was okay to keep their seal. (www.ca10.uscourts.gov/opinions/06/06-2355.pdf)

No wonder Eric Schlosser states in his book, Fast Food Nation, that 96 percent of American schoolchildren can identify Ronald McDonald. The only fictional character with a higher degree of recognition is Santa Claus. "McDonald's Golden Arches," he writes, "are now more widely recognized than the Christian cross." What does the Bible say? “There arose another generation after them, which knew not the Lord,” Judges 2:10.

Historian Arnold Toynbee reminded us, “Few if any nations are ever murdered. They die by committing suicide!”

We are losing our freedoms, and that is to our shame. But, let’s keep it in perspective. God’s people for six thousand years have seldom enjoyed freedom as we have known it, yet they were very faithful to their faith. It has usually been “freedom” that has become the biggest hindrance.

3. The Cross is American’s only Hope for Peace.

Should we place our hope in our prosperity? How foolish that would be because we have a false economy build on greed and covetousness. The American government is about debt, bankruptcy, inflation, pork, and bail-outs. Do we want our American economy to recover and again become strong so we can continue to spread the gospel and send missionaries around the world, or so we can continue to be self-absorbed in our lives of luxury? Like one man said, “Living rooms in the American home looks like there was an explosion in a department store.” We have everything to live with, but nothing worth living for.

We are not morally superior to other nations. We are among the world’s worst. The Supreme Court of America by way of abortion have robbed us of more than fifty million babies who would by now be married, employed and raising their own children, Activist homosexual movements now intend to redefine marriage. American morality is in the gutter.

The reason most Americans do not share the Christian’s values is because they do not share the Christian’s Savior.

Our hope for America cannot be in our religiously purity. The United States has been the homeland of cults, charismatics and all kinds of religious crazies. They have bred faster in this country than mosquitoes on a hot summer’s night in Texas.

Our hope cannot be found in in Bible prophesy because the United States in not defined in the future events. The next great event in Bible prophecy is the rapture of the saints at the first phase of the second coming of Jesus. The economy of the world will be immediately destabilized, especially that of the United States. We cannot underplay how the rapture will change everything. With millions of born-again believers out of the way, the whole world would feel that destabilization. Assuming that a significant percentage of Americans are born-believers, their sudden removal would leave the United States of America a second-rate power, literally overnight. What happened with 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina would be like a Sunday picnic in comparison to that national crisis.

So what is America’s hope? The cross of Jesus Christ must stand alone, above all else as our hope, our only hope.

What are we to do? Christian people are Americans who have certain citizenship responsibilities to this world and for the world to come.

Praying for those who are in authority, 1 Timothy 2:1-4. Maybe our biggest concern is not to put prayer back in our public school but to put it back in our churches and homes and hearts.

Paying our taxes is a divine obligation, Matthew 22,21. How many like paying their taxes? That would be none of us. “Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s.” Think about it. Paying taxes in Jesus’ day meant supporting the Roman Empire. And it would be Roman soldiers who would ultimately lead in His own crucifixion. Yes, we are called to be subject to powers and programs and people with whom we disagree. But, don’t forget. Jesus also said we are to pay God what He is due, which is our love and devotion and service.

Purity is to be our personal priority. Instead of starting a “clean up the city” campaign, we need a “clean up the church” campaign. “Judgment must begin in the house of God,” 1 Peter 4:17. The real villains in our nations are not the ungodly outside the church, but the unrepentant who are in the church. According to 1 Corinthians 5 some forms of behavior and belief are not to be tolerated among those who claim to be Christians.

Presenting Americans with the saving gospel of Jesus Christ, Romans 1:15-16. The biggest lie hatched in hell believed my most Americans is that they can come to God is their own way. Erwin Lutzer said, “I grieve because for many observers the cross of Christ appears to the world as a dilapidated bulletin board cluttered with the whole host of issues,” 3 The gospel is plain and simple.

· Salvation is in Jesus only.

· His death on the cross is the single means whereby people can be forgiven. Only the cross can reconcile people to God.

· People can only be saved after being graciously confronted with the gospel.

· We are to use our freedom not to do what we want to do, but to take the message of the gospel to those near and far.

The American Christian’s agenda is not a tax break for its citizens, or gun rights, or a strong national defense, or anti-abortion and anti-homosexual legislation, or a political party. Our agenda, our hope, our passion must ever be the cross, the gospel. And the cross is not a club with which we use to beat up the world. The cross must be our center. And, again, when referring to the cross I am not simply talking about two pieces of wood on which Jesus died, but to His death itself and His resurrection and His victory.

Partnership with the nation of Israel is paramount to our survival. God said, “I will bless them that bless thee (Israel), and curse him that curseth three: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed,” Genesis 12:3. What is so special about the Jews? It was through the Jews that the world has three of its greatest gifts from God. First, we have the Scripture...the Bible is a Jewish book inspired by God. Romans 3:2 declares “unto them were committed the oracles of God.” Second, we have God’s Son...Messiah was Jew. Third, Salvation…”Salvation is of the Jews,” John 4:22. Satan’s final attempt to exterminate the Jews was not the Holocaust. Every day the Jewish state in under the threat of attack by Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran, and Jihadist terrorists who surround them. Because of the Muslim influence in the United Kingdom, America is one of Israel’s last true friends.

“The average person will never be convinced of the credibility of the cross until he becomes personally acquainted with someone who lives out the Christian faith, applying its implications to every situation, even at great personal cost.”4

1 The Works of John Adams, Second President of the United States, Charles Francis Adams, editor (Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1856), Vol. X, pp. 45-46, to Thomas Jefferson on June 28, 1813.

2 Edwin Lutzer, Why the Cross Can Do What Politics Can’t, p. 39.

3 Why the Cross Can Do What Politics Can’t, p, 51.

4 Erwin W. Lutzer, Why the Cross Can Do What Politics Can’t, p. 52.