Thank God for the Christian Church in America!

John Hatcher is pastor of Outreach International Center, 1091 South Jeff Davis Drive, Fayetteville, Georgia 30215. 770-719-0303

By JOHN HATCHER
Contributing Writer

In the early 1830s, a Frenchman named Alexis de Tocqueville came to America to examine its civil institutions. His studies were recorded in the classic work, Democracy in America.

In it, he wrote, “I sought for the key to the greatness and genius of America in her harbors...; in her fertile fields and boundless forests; in her rich mines and vast world commerce; in her public school system and institutions of learning. I sought for it in her democratic Congress and in her matchless Constitution. Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits flame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because America is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great.”

That was 1830. America was barely a half-century old experiment in Democracy. I believe, however, his conclusion is as true today as 175 years ago.

Today, de Tocqueville would have examined America’s vast transportation system with every interstate full of 18 wheelers constantly replacing the inventory of stores of every kind. He would have been amazed that someone can drop a letter with FedEx this afternoon and it would be on someone’s desk on the west coast the next morning. But again, he would have concluded, the greatness of America is not its transportation system.

He would have examined our vast communication network that encompasses everything from the ordinary telephone to Bluetooth technology. Anyone can stay in touch and be in touch in a moment’s time. But, he would have concluded, America’s greatness cannot be found in its communication and information networks.

He would have strolled through Wall Street and watched the action on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. He would have been staggered by Bill Gates’ accumulated worth of 46.5 billion and still insisted the greatness of America cannot be found in its wealthy elite, financial institutions and economic power.

He would have been astonished that the middle class in America lives like kings and queens in many countries around the world. Yet, America’s greatness cannot be found in its middle class regardless how much the political parties pander to it.

Take away the churches and their messages of righteousness and America would be ruined. The strength of America is not its great military, but in its mothers who regularly take their children to church where they hear of the virtues of goodness and kindness, generosity and sacrifice.

Some statistics say there are more than 305,000 Christian churches in the United States. That means that at least there are 600,000 times every week at which the message of Jesus Christ is preached or taught from sea to shining sea.

Just think, 305,000 prophetic voices calling America to live and act righteously. Take that away. America minus the pulpits with the Gospel and you have a moral vacuum that would suck every fiber of goodness from the hearts of the American people.

I believe it. Those 305,000 churches are essential for the future of America. Only a handful of those 305,000 are on the cutting edge of technology with power-point, etc., but almost all of them point candidly to the truth that without God, America is done for. Most of the 305,000 are neither Republican nor Democratic, but for sure they are on God’s side when it comes to most any issue in America. Although they may send their sons and daughters to fight America’s wars, they will stand against the government when corrupt and out of control

Most of the 305,000 churches are not the huge box churches you see on television. Most of them have memberships of around 75 faithful believers. But put them all together and you have a formidable force for God and his righteousness.

It’s estimated there are 150,000,000 Christians in America. That’s half the population. Pretty powerful number when one considers our diversity.

So, God bless the church of Jesus Christ. The reason our forefathers came to these shores in the first place was to build their own Christian churches and worship in them without the interference of the government. The cause of the church founded America. Then, they were the voice of liberty down through our history.

The Black Christian church led the movement for civil rights. And today, the Christian church holds this country together with the Word of God, the Bible, with prayers, and with a model of appropriate behavior for good folks.

Thank God for the church as we celebrate our nation’s independence.