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Where In The Bible Will I Find... That Righteouness Exalteth A Nation?
Gary Colley |
This is not a "chimney corner" scripture, but is found in Proverbs 14:34: "Righteousness exalteth a nation; but sin is a reproach to any people." The word "exalteth" indicates continual action, meaning righteousness keeps on exalting a nation as long as it is practiced. (Psa. 119:172), and the apostle John said, "Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous." (1 Jn. 3:7). God's plan for making man righteous today is found in the gospel (Rom. 1:16-17). The gospel declares that man is made righteous before God by faith (Rom. 10:17), repentance (Lk. 13:3, 5, Acts 2:38), confession of Christ as God's Son, (Rom. 10:9-10, Acts 8:37), and baptism into Christ for the remission of sins (Rom. 6:3-4, Mk. 16:16, Gal. 3:27). Man continues to be righteous in harmony with the grace of God by doing the works ". . . which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them" (Eph. 2:8-10), and he does this by ". . . denying ungodliness and worldly lusts . . ." and lives "soberly, righteously and godly in this present world." (Tit. 2:11-12). In reality, only individuals can be Christian. But when men speak of this as a "Christian nation," we understand they speak of a nation in which men seek to honor God and His word. Can this be said of America today? Indeed, there are many faithful Christians in this great nation who strive to uphold the principles of righteousness. But there are many — including those in high government positions — who are tearing apart the moral fabric of this nation. In 1962, prayer was banned in public schools. In 1980, it was officially forbidden to display the Ten Commandments in schools. All of these things were declared illegal, while the teaching of "safe sex," and passing out birth control devices were declared "legal!" On January 22, 1973, nine black-robed U.S. Supreme Court justices decided that the founding fathers meant to constitutionally allow American women to kill their unborn children, and enacted a law that has resulted in more than 20 million innocent babies being slaughtered in their mothers' wombs under the euphemism of "abortion." In America, young girls can now have an abortion without the permission of their parents, but cannot take an aspirin in school without parental permission. These unrighteous acts do not exalt our nation, but drag it into a slime-pit of immorality. |