“WE THE PEOPLE of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”
At the close of the solemn pledge to our flag, there is a small and simple phrase. Its words are often stated without much thought, but these words run deep into the founding and forging of our nation. This phrase is “…one nation under God.”
It is hard for us today, living in our routine and organized society, to imagine the struggle and sacrifices our forefathers made. A driving force that compelled them to carry on was their deep faith in God and the close ties of their families.
As we look back to the first settlers of the continent, we find the basic principles of liberty brought over with them. These simple people pulled up their roots and journeyed to an unknown land to escape the oppression of their government. Their reason was to be able to worship their God as they wished. Even their first contract of government, the Mayflower Compact, was signed, “In the name of God, Amen.”
As we follow the development of our nation, we see this spirit maintained throughout many trials. Even in revolution, our faith was never broken, for the Declaration of Independence was concluded, “with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine providence.”
America’s prosperity can be attributed to the hand of God. The greatest strength of American democracy lies not in its economics, but in the morals and ethics of her people. John Hancock stated before signing the Constitution– “The powers reserved by the people (under the Constitution) render them secure, and until they themselves become corrupt, they will always have able and upright leaders.” –adapted
SHARING
