IN GOD WE TRUST
With the fourth of July holiday, I am reminded of a time in American History not too long ago when Americans celebrated this country proudly. Today, we as Americans have a holiday for every different view, race, nationality, and creed. Our society has become as divided as the many diverse cultures represented here. The worst factor of this enlightenment is that these differences are what make this country the greatest in the world.
The very weapon that the government and media use to divide us is the very thing that makes us unique. We live in a land that represents freedom to the entire world, yet that freedom is slowly being abandoned. I am a Christian, but in this land, you do not have to be. You have the freedom to decide for yourself what you believe in and how to worship. However, our forefathers foundational belief in God was what built this country into the superpower that it is and without God this country will founder.
It is a free space to do and be whatever you want, but this freedom is not free. Today our society has forgotten the many lessons from the past that blood was shed for. Our ancestors died on the beaches of Omaha, beaten in the fields of Georgia, shot down in the dead of night on the plains of Montana, and fought the terrors of the middle east for decades. The history of this great nation is full of grime stories from the past. If we cover up this history, we lose the lessons that must not be repeated. The ways in which the English went about creating this country are not commendable, but look at the beautiful country that was achieved from the evil mistakes of the past. We must not forget the past, but we have to live in the present.
I am proud to say that I am an American and I willingly admit I place my trust in God. I know there are great people here from many diverse backgrounds that feel the same. If we come together and stand united, we will not fall. Being Christ-like does not mean everyone will agree with you and it does not mean everyone will believe in Jesus too. You must dust off your feet, keep seeking Him, and sharing the redemptive story of God with others. I have heard many say this country is doomed, but this country is not finished until my God says it is. I pledge allegiance to this country and I will stand for Jesus until the very end. America is the land of the free and it serves as a beacon unto the world for Christ.
“Love and War” Photographed by Steven Willis
