Adultery: No Longer Shameful?

An interesting article from http://www.gnmagazine.org/ about Adultery. This follows this post  about Britian and America.  For a free magazine subscription click HERE! or call 1-888-886-8632.


Adultery: No Longer Shameful?


What does habitual and rampant adultery tell us about a person and a nation?

by Melvin Rhodes

Sordid scandals among the elite of society have dominated the news lately in several countries. It seems that extramarital relationships and political power go together. Some politicians abuse their position by taking sexual advantage of others. However, their supposed victims are not always blameless. To be able to boast of a relationship with a famous figure appeals to their vanity.



As King Solomon was inspired to write 3,000 years ago, "there is nothing new under the sun" (Ecclesiastes 1:9). Solomon was an authority on having multiple bed partners; the Bible tells us that he had 700 wives and 300 concubines (1 Kings 11:3).



Solomon might have excused himself by claiming that he was only following the lead of other monarchs in the Middle East at the time for whom multiple wives and concubines were a sign of status and prestige. But he should have known better. After all, he had access to the true God. The Bible also tells us that Solomon's pursuit of many women of various religions led to idolatry and "turned away his heart" from God.



More recently King Charles II of Great Britain (1660-85) was publicly known as a philanderer. He left illegitimate heirs, but no children to take the throne. Charles had apparently been influenced by the French court of Louis XIV. Like most European monarchs at the time, "Louis lived an atheist and died a Catholic" (Durant, The Age of Louis XIV). Religion was not taken seriously, and deathbed repentances were common.



In contrast, Queen Victoria (1837-1901) was a pillar of rectitude. She was a committed family woman, remaining faithful to Prince Albert and not even remarrying after his death. But her son and successor earned a dubious reputation.



Some American presidents have not set a good example of fidelity. A 19th-century president was known to have had a mistress and an illegitimate child. Recent revelations show that more-recent presidents have indulged in extramarital relationships.



Some would say that the only difference between then and now is the publicity given today's leaders. Back then the press kept quiet. As part of an unpoken gentlemen's agreement, reporters did not betray the dalliances of politicians, princes or kings.



An Age-old Temptation

Adultery is nothing new. Nor is prostitution, commonly referred to as the world's oldest profession. Throughout the ages men (with the complicity of women) have tried to justify sex outside of marriage, sometimes even to legalize it.



The early theologian Augustine, who fought a long personal battle with sexual temptation, taught that the woman was the criminal when it came to adultery, the man being a mere accomplice.



How should we view public morality? Some think that affairs should be a politician's private business.



Should society turn a blind eye to sexual shenanigans in high places? Certainly we shouldn't clamor for every lurid detail. The apostle Paul admonishes us in Philippians 4:8 to think on "whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things."



This advice would preclude Christians from focusing their attention on the seamier side of life and gossip about the rich and famous.



But it still matters. Adultery always matters. Whether the adulterer is John Doe, a king or a president, adultery matters and adultery is always wrong.



What Does God's Word Say?

Politicians and the public may have varying definitions of adultery. But adultery, by biblical definition, is the violation of the marriage contract by either or both partners in the marriage through sexual activity with a third person. The commandment against adultery should be understood to include fornication (sexual relations before marriage), incest and male and female homosexual practices, all of which are outlawed in the Bible.



Adultery is considered such a serious sin by Almighty God that its prohibition constitutes one of the Ten Commandments. Our Creator says: "You shall not commit adultery" (Exodus 20:14; Deuteronomy 5:18).



God was and is serious about this sin. In ancient Israel people who committed adultery suffered capital punishment (Leviticus 20:10). Adultery is described as an abomination in God's eyes (verse 13).



It is interesting that, whereas some may feel that any sexual activity short of intercourse is not a sin, the Scriptures show us that anything involving "uncovering nakedness"—for the purpose of sexual misbehavior—is a sin (Leviticus 18:6-19). Jesus Christ went so far as to say that even desiring to interact sexually with someone other than your marriage partner is a sin (Matthew 5:28).



Deeper Dimensions

When we take time to look at the Ten Commandments more closely, we see that in principle committing adultery is not just breaking the Seventh Commandment. James 2:10 reminds us that "whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all."



It's no good blaming it on somebody else, either. The same apostle also wrote that "each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death" (James 1:14-15).



Earlier in the same chapter James, the Lord's brother, said that "blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love him" (verse 12).



Clearly, the matter is serious. Like breaking any of the Ten Commandments, committing adultery endangers our happiness and jeopardizes our eternal salvation (Romans 6:23).



But why is it so important to God?



Adultery is an issue that comes down to character. God wants us to "be perfect" (Matthew 5:48), even as He is perfect. God is love (1 John 4:8). It is essential therefore that we learn to love as God loves. God's love is completely selfless, not selfish. God's love is concern toward others. He does not want to hurt anyone (Isaiah 11:9). He gave His law to protect us and those around us from harm's way.



God is vitally concerned about our happiness and wants us to have lasting, loving relationships rather than pursue self-gratification at the expense of others. Breaking God's law, or any one of His commandments, results in hurt and pain for all involved—even the one who might get some temporary pleasure from sin (Hebrew 11:25).



In contrast to what God says, illicit love affairs are often depicted in a favorable light in films and other entertainment media . Not only do the purveyors of popular culture neglect to focus on the dark side of adultery as an act of betrayal of the marriage vows, but they often overlook the dire consequences that follow.



Jonathan Rauch, correspondent for The National Journal in Washington, D.C., observed that "adultery represents a serious problem for society as well as individuals on a variety of levels. Society has a strong interest in binding people together into long-term couples. Marriage civilizes and settles men (especially younger men), promotes secure homes for children, helps achieve economic stability for both partners, ensures that everyone has somebody to look after him or her in times of ill health. To serve these functions marriages must be durable."



But today's casual acceptance of adultery is the archenemy of long-lasting marriages.



Many Sins Involved

Breaking the Seventh Commandment is a character issue. Not only has the guilty party broken the marriage vow, but he or she has allowed another person came before God—thereby also breaking the First and Second Commandments.



This sinful, shameful act also shows no respect for parents and in-laws who also suffer when adultery is committed—thereby breaking the Fifth Commandment (Exodus 20:12).



The Eighth Commandment has also been broken in that the affection, love and trust of someone else's spouse was stolen (verse 15).



And the Ninth Commandment is also broken because lying and deceit are involved (verse 16).



We see that at least six of the Ten Commandments are broken in adulterous acts—sometimes more, if the sinful act should lead to murder (verse 13) or taking God's name in vain (verse 7), which can be done when people try to justify their sin.



Adultery's Consequences

How can any adulterer ever be trusted on any issue? If so many of God's Ten Commandments are broken when adultery is committed, then adultery is a major trust factor. The guilty party has lost the trust of others, not just that of his wife or her husband.



As Jonathan Rauch put it: "An adulterer is a missile with many warheads, capable of wrecking a series of homes." How tragically true. Adultery has a wide-ranging ripple effect. It often leads to divorce, which in turn divides families. Not only are the husband and wife affected, but the children, any grandchildren, parents on both sides and even society at large.



A recent British survey on the reasons for divorce showed that adultery was the biggest reason by far, contributing to 31 percent of divorces (The Daily Mail, Jan. 26). Also, in Britain "it's an uncomfortable fact that 50 percent of divorced and separated fathers lose contact with their children after just two years" (Independent on Sunday, Feb. 15). No wonder Malachi 2:16 says that God hates divorce.



The verse continues with a strong warning to our nations: "Divorce ... covers one's garments with violence." Much of the violence in our society is the direct result of broken homes—often broken as a consequence of adultery.



God cared enough for Israel's greatest king that, after his act of adultery, which in turn led to deceit and murder, He sent the prophet Nathan to King David to help him face up to his sin and repent of it. "Why have you despised the commandment of the Lord, to do evil in His sight? You have killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword; you have taken his wife to be your wife ..."



The result? "Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife" (2 Samuel 12:9-10). Adultery has consequences that can last for generations.



No Exemptions to God's Commands

Not only politicians are guilty. Others who hold high office have fallen victim to this sin. This sadly includes religious leaders, who know better. They know the Word of God but sometimes fall into the trap of rationalizing that their supposed special relationship with God somehow protects or exempts them from the consequences of sin.



God doesn't see it that way. "The wages of sin is death," He inspired the apostle Paul to write (Romans 6:23). And "God shows no partiality" (Acts 10:34).



The same apostle listed the qualifications of a minister in his first epistle to the evangelist Timothy: "A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife ..." (1 Timothy 3:2). Adulterers should not be ordained to the ministry, and adultery is grounds for expulsion from the ministry. Ministers "must have a good testimony among those who are outside [of the church], lest [they] fall into reproach and the snare of the devil" (verse 7).



This is not to say that those who have committed adultery cannot repent and be forgiven. When the woman caught in the act of adultery (John 8) was brought before Jesus by religious zealots who wanted to see the full penalty of death carried out immediately, Jesus defended her by turning to her accusers and saying, "He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first" (verse 7).



Because no one was willing to self-righteously proclaim that he was without sin, everyone walked away. Then Jesus turned to the woman and said, "Go and sin no more" (verse 11). Although He defended her, He did not defend her sin, and He unequivocally told her never to sin again.



To those who have committed the sin of adultery, this passage should be encouraging. Jesus Christ paid the penalty for all human sin—but, on repentance, it is absolutely essential to cease the practice completely.



This is more easily said than done. Some have a habitual sexual addiction on a par with heroin or alcohol abuse. The sinner often needs help from others. The ministry or reliable and trusted personal friends can be of inestimable help, but in stubborn cases competent professional assistance should also be sought.



No one caught in the grip of sexual addiction should hesitate to seek help. Calling for assistance is a solid sign of a repentant attitude and a sincere desire to overcome. Those who are called on for assistance should never look down on anyone genuinely seeking help nor betray a confidence (Galatians 6:1-2).



Repentance Requires Change

Here lies good advice for anyone caught in the sin of adultery, even prominent people in our society. When this sinful act has been committed, trust has suffered. If that trust is to be regained, sincere repentance must be in evidence, as was the case with King David (2 Samuel 12:13). "A broken and a contrite heart—these, O God, You will not despise"—a quote from verse 17 of David's heartbroken prayer of repentance (Psalm 51).



Although world and national leaders may follow in the footsteps of Kings Charles II and Louis XIV, their deathbed repentances are not what God wants. It's no use living a sinful life while hoping to put things right later. God wants a change of heart now—not only for His sake, but for ourselves as well, individually and collectively.



Solomon wrote: "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people" (Proverbs 14:34). It's difficult for other nations to take leaders seriously when they are surrounded by sordid rumors. Perhaps many have not really understood the seriousness of sexual misbehavior. Clearly, our current Western society takes infidelity far too lightly. This is all the more reason to heed the advice of the apostle Paul to the Athenians: "Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent" (Acts 17:30).



The sooner leaders start living by the laws of God, the sooner they and those who naturally regard them as role models will become the kind of examples Jesus Christ described: "the light of the world" and "a city set on a hill ... Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:14-16). GN







Related Resources

The Seventh Commandment: Protect the Marital Relationship

Unless the natural desires that attract us to members of the opposite sex are channeled exclusively toward a loving marriage relationship, the temptation to engage in sexual immorality can easily overpower our self-control. This weakness is the focus of the Seventh Commandment.

God's Purpose for Sex and Marriage

We live in a world saturated with sex. But are we missing an unrealized dimension when it comes to sex and marriage? When and how did sex originate—and why?

Tisha B'Av: Fall of the Temples

An interesting article from www.ucg.org/brp about the readings during the Fall of the Temples. This follows this post analyzing the Ten Commandments. This follows this post about Liberty. For more interesting stories like this click here to follow this blog.

Introduction to Lamentations (Lamentations )
The author of Lamentations is not named in the book, but it is traditionally attributed to the prophet Jeremiah. "In fact, some copies of the ancient Greek Septuagint translation begin the book with these words: 'And it came to pass, after Israel [i.e., the remnant of Israel—Judah] had been carried captive, and Jerusalem became desolate, that Jeremiah sat weeping, and lamented this lamentation over Jerusalem.' Crediting Lamentations to Jeremiah is based on the following considerations: (1) Jeremiah was known as a composer of laments (see 2 Chr. 35:25). (2) Jeremiah was the prophet who mourned, 'Oh, that my head were waters, and my eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!' (see Jer. 9:1). (3) In [Lamentations] 3:1, the author seems to identify himself with Jeremiah when he says, 'I am the man who has seen affliction by the rod of His wrath.' (4) There are many linguistic similarities between Lamentations and Jeremiah" (The Nelson Study Bible, introductory notes on Lamentations.)
"In the Talmud (Baba Bathra 15a), this book is called qinot ('Lamentations')... The name commonly used in Hebrew, however, is ekah ('How'), the first word of the first, second, and fourth laments [that is, chapters 1, 2 and 4]. In the Hebrew canon it stands in the Writings as the third of the Megilloth, or Scrolls, between Ruth and Ecclesiastes" (Expositor's Bible Commentary, introductory notes on Lamentations). We are reading it now to keep it in the context of its writing in the wake of the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple.
"The five chapters of Lamentations are five poems with ch[apter] 3 as the midpoint or climax. Accordingly, the first two chapters build an 'ascent,' or crescendo, to the climax, the grand confession of 3:23, 24: 'Great is your faithfulness. The Lord is my portion.' The last two chapters are a 'descent,' or decrescendo, from the pinnacle of ch[apter] 3... The poetry of the book enhances its purpose and structure. Chapters 1 through 4 are composed as acrostics of the twenty-two letters of the Hebrew alphabet. Each verse or group of verses begins with a word whose initial letter carries on the sequence of letters in the Hebrew alphabet. This would be similar to an English poem in which the first line begins with A; the second begins with B, and so on. One purpose of this device was probably to aid in memorization of the passage. The acrostic also suggests that the writer has thought things through and is giving a complete account of the subject" (Nelson Study Bible, introductory notes on Lamentations).
While chapter 1 is a perfect acrostic, chapters 2-4 are slightly imperfect, and oddly enough for the same reason. In each case the 16th and 17th letters of the Hebrew alphabet (ayin and pe) are swapped—for what significance we don't know. The acrostic in chapter 3 comes in groups of three—that is, each of the first three verses begins with the first Hebrew letter aleph, each of the second three with the second letter beth, etc. (see Expositor's, introductory notes on Lamentations). And then there is the mysterious chapter 5, intriguingly not an acrostic even though it still seems to divide up into 22 verses. "That chapter 5 has twenty-two verses has caused some to suggest that the laments were first written in normal verse and then rewritten to include the acrostic. This idea is ingenious but unprovable" (same note).
Other laments are written in various books like the book of Psalms, but this is the only book solely devoted to lamenting. Orthodox Jewish custom requires that this book be read aloud on the fast of Tisha b'Av, the ninth day of the Hebrew month of Ab—the traditional day on which the temple of Solomon was destroyed in 586 B.C. and on which the second temple was destroyed by the Roman army in A.D. 70. Jeremiah was present at the destruction of Solomon's temple as Jerusalem was overrun and sacked by the Babylonian armies. He saw the horrifying imagery described in the book. And yet the terrible suffering portrayed seems to reflect even more than what occurred at that time. It evidently anticipates suffering that was, and still is, yet to come—for the judgment described here is what is to befall "all the dwelling places of Jacob...every horn of Israel" (Lamentations 2:2-3), not just Judah. The book, as we will see, calls for the coming of the Day of the Lord and the final judgment on Israel's enemies. Yet there is no question that the ancient anguish and suffering of Judah is also vividly revealed in the pages of this deeply emotional account.
In its introductory notes on the book, The Bible Reader's Companion (Lawrence Richards, 1991) states: "Lamentations does maintain a consistent theological outlook: Judah's [and later all Israel's] loss can be traced to God's sovereignty, His justice, and His commitment to a morality which His people abandoned. Yet Lamentations is primarily a book that plumbs the depths of human sorrow, not from an individual's perspective, but from the perspective of an entire people. Reading the book we experience something of the overwhelming sense of despair that can grip communities and even whole nations. Even the prayers recorded in Lamentations are desperate prayers; cries of anguish rather than affirmations of hope. It is terrible as well as wonderful to be human. It is terrible indeed if we surrender to our human bent to sin. The day must come when we will look back on our lost opportunities, and realize that the misery we endure now is a consequence of our own chronic craving for sin. If nothing else, reading the Book of Lamentations reminds us the pleasures of sin are at best momentary, the painful consequences lasting and deep."

Coninued here

BP Oil Spill Evidence of Need for Competent, Caring Leadership

An interesting article from www.ucg.org/commentary about the Gulf Spill. This follows this post about fear. For more interesting stories like this click here to follow this blog.

BP Oil Spill Evidence of Need for Competent, Caring Leadership
A commentary by Larry J. Walker

The BP oil spill, which threatens to become the world's worst such disaster, continues to spread its sticky mess to an ever-expanding area of the Gulf of Mexico, leaving a wake of pollution and disaster at a cost projected to soar to multiple billions of dollars.
Crisis of incompetent leadership
It now appears that attempts to deal with the problem are in just as big of a mess, as government and industry leaders in affected areas charge the oil company and federal officials with organizational incompetence, red tape, chaos and disorder.
Billy Nungesser, president of Louisiana's Plaquemines Parish, recently lamented to a Senate subcommittee, "I still don't know who's in charge. Is it BP? Is it the Coast Guard?... I have spent more time fighting the officials of BP and the Coast Guard than fighting the oil." What is needed, he said, is someone "with the guts and the will to make decisions."
Similar problems and complaints were voiced regarding the handling of relief efforts following Hurricane Katrina. Some compare federal response to the BP crisis to its handling of Katrina: too little, too late—implying disengagement and incompetence.
Crisis of caring and concern
Yet another area of controversy has been the image created by comments made by BP executives. The reference to the citizens of affected areas as "little people" and BP Chief Executive Tony Hayward's remark, "I'd like my life back," have come across as cavalier, self-serving and uncaring—thus adding insult to injury.
Crisis of compounding problems
Experts continue to ratchet up estimates of the volume of oil gushing from the leak and the astronomical monetary cost of damages resulting from this ongoing crisis that is now projected to continue at least until fall. We can expect to be reading news reports about ongoing developments for weeks or months to come.
Newspapers and other news media are dominated by the bad news of mankind's ongoing problems of war, crime and pollution. The BP oil spill is one of many items of bad news that we are bombarded with daily and only one of the many challenging problems facing the United States and other nations around the world.
Many of these problems are frightening and overwhelming—how much more so the staggering combined weight of all of mankind's problems? Where are we headed? Are there any solutions? Who knows and cares enough to be able to tackle them? Or are we hopelessly rushing uncontrollably toward universal chaos and disaster on a scale that threatens the very survival of the human race?
Good news for the future
Is there any good news, anything to look forward to on the horizon? Or are we all doomed to perish in a dramatic collapse of civilization as we know it? Is there anything you can do to assure a positive future for you and your loved ones?
Some 2,000 years ago, Jesus Christ addressed the threat of human survival. In the famous Olivet Prophecy, He warned that mankind's problems would escalate to the point of the potential destruction of all mankind: "In fact, unless that time of calamity is shortened, the entire human race will be destroyed." The good news is that Jesus went on to promise, "It will be shortened for the sake of God's chosen ones" (Matthew 24:22, New Living Translation).

Who are "God's chosen ones," and how can you become one of them? Where can you find out more about the encouraging details of God's plan to save mankind? For more information, be sure to download or request our free booklets The Gospel of the Kingdom and What Is Your Destiny?

Why Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem?

An interesting article from http://www.ucg.org/commentary about Jerusalem. This follows this post about the United States in the bible.For more interesting stories like this click here to follow this blog.

Why Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem?
A commentary by Peter Hawkins
British Isles

While most of us live generally peaceful lives, news reports bring into our personal space the tensions and troubles at home and abroad.
Tragedy in Cumbria; conflict in the Middle East
Just over a week ago my wife and I were part of a group touring around the north and central parts of the beleaguered land of Israel. Amazingly, we felt safe in both Israeli and Palestinian areas, in spite of the fact that Israel is surrounded by nations that would be glad to see it removed from the map. Still you could feel the tension of a nation continually on guard against terrorist attacks or possible invasion.
After returning home, Sonja and I expected to settle back into relatively calm Britain. Barely a week ago, however, the tranquillity of Cumbria and the Lake District was shattered by mass murder.
Known for its beauty and as home to several past authors and poets, Cumbria has also become an area of tragedy. This time Derrick Bird, a quiet taxi driver, "snapped." His day of rage left families and villagers mourning as he fatally shot 12 people and 12 more were seriously wounded. Mr. Bird also killed himself. It was a reminder that no place in this world is safe or immune to the violence plaguing human nature.
At the same time news from the Middle East told of another conflict brewing in this international flash point.
Terrifying experiences and expectations
Israeli security forces are on the alert to prevent additional weapons and jihadists from reaching its enemies. Israelis point out that this vigilance has subdued the spate of bombings that claimed the lives of both Palestinians and Jews a few years ago. Having been close to a small bomb blast in the 1970s in Johannesburg, South Africa, I know it is a terrifying experience.
Yet in many countries, not only Israel, people live their lives with violence and indiscriminate destruction all around them. It is not only a suicide bomber or an I.E.D. (improvised explosive device) that is a danger. Missiles are also a constant threat in border regions.
While we were visiting Israel, local news reported the delivery of longer-ranged Scud missiles to Lebanon. So while diplomats talk, the next round of the Middle East conflict is ready to erupt. Residents of cities like Haifa and Tel Aviv live with the expectation of sirens that will trigger a rush to the bomb shelters.
Londoners who survived World War II would remember the V2 rockets overhead; when the engine stopped, the bomb was on its way down. Today, there is little time to warn residents of incoming missiles. It must be emotionally draining to live with that constant expectation.
There is no doubt the Israelis would be willing to strike at the nuclear facilities of Iran before nuclear bombs travel skyward toward their own cities and installations. Even if the rest of the world dithers as to how to handle the situation, Israel knows that without a preemptive strike, it would have only a few minutes to react to a nuclear attack.
Shalom? When will it come?
The common greeting in Israel is "shalom" or "peace," but the reality for inhabitants is that war is an ever-present threat.
As we see prophecy marching on towards the return of the Messiah (whom Jews believe is coming for the first time), it is good to know that God's eyes are continually on that land (Zechariah 2:8)—focused on the eventual return of the house of Israel to join with the house of Judah under the resurrected King David (Jeremiah 30:9; Hosea 3:5).
We stood in the excavated City of David in what was probably the foundations and broken walls of the palace of King David. It is a couple hundred yards from the steps leading up to the Temple Mount, where his son Solomon built the first temple. The Holy of Holies and the Ark of the Covenant were probably in the area presently enclosed by the Dome of the Rock.
Jesus Christ, a descendant of David, traveled the countryside, villages and towns we visited. When He returns to the Mount of Olives (Acts 1:11), Jesus will come to restore peace.
We are encouraged to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, which will come when the resurrected saints are there with the returned Messiah, working together to bring peace that will spread to the whole world!
"Jerusalem, what a strong and beautiful city you are! Every tribe of the Lord obeys him and comes to you to praise his name. David's royal throne is here where justice rules. Jerusalem, we pray that you will have peace, and that all will go well for those who love you" (Psalm 122:3-6, Contemporary English Version).
For further details, be sure to request or download our booklet The Gospel of the Kingdom.

Coping With a Growing Economic Crisis

An interesting article from http://www.ucg.org/ about how you can deal with financial crisis.This follows this post about Jesus' Olivet Prophecy. For more interesting stories like this click here to follow this blog.

Coping With a Growing Economic Crisis
Last year was the worst year for U.S. home foreclosures since 1932, at the height of the Great Depression. The economy may be in trouble, but you can take steps to prepare for the growing downturn.
by Melvin Rhodes
On a recent Sunday afternoon, as my wife and I were leaving our home, a lady pulled up in a car and started to put a "For Sale" sign on our front lawn. I shouted out that I thought she must have the wrong house. She laughed and assured me that the other side of the sign had an arrow pointing to a house further down our street, which she was trying to sell.
The lady was a real estate agent, so I took the opportunity to get an update on the housing situation in our neighborhood.
"How are houses around here selling?" I asked.
"In this pocket," she answered, "better than average."
"Well, that's good," I responded. "How much have home values declined?" was my next question.
I was totally unprepared for her answer.
"Last year they dropped 19 percent! This year they are expected to go down a further 25 percent."
We bought our home exactly two years ago. I already knew that the average price of homes in the Lansing, Michigan, area dropped 11 percent in the first 12 months we were in our home. Our local newspaper confirmed what the agent said about the second year—in 2007 they dropped a further 19 percent and are expected to go down by 25 percent this year. This means that, by the time we have lived in our house three years, it will have lost about 50 percent of its value—half of what we paid for it.
According to the Lansing State Journal, in the fourth quarter of 2007 Lansing was the worst-hit urban area in the country ("Prices Cut, but Homes Unsold," Feb. 15, 2008).
We realize that we are not the only people in America who are losing. Hundreds of thousands, even millions, of couples find themselves in a similar situation. It's also the case that there are still some areas of the country where home prices continue to rise, so the situation across the United States is uneven. Other countries are also affected by the slump in house values.
In the United States, last year was the worst year for housing since 1932 at the height of the Great Depression.
Not the only negative
Housing is not the only negative in the U.S. economy at this time. NBC's Brian Williams highlighted four big problems on his nightly news program Feb. 26.
"A long string of rather scary indicators today . . . ," began Mr. Williams.
In elaborating, he listed four negative economic indicators:
"Inflation heading sharply higher . . . Home prices sharply lower . . . Oil prices setting another record . . . Consumer confidence plummeting . . ."
The nightly news failed to mention the other big financial negative news of the same day—the U.S. dollar falling lower, crashing through the psychological barrier of over $1.50 to the euro.
The following evening, the BBC News' Katty Kay quoted the chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve, Ben Bernanke, who had earlier updated Congress on the economic situation: "The U.S. economy is faltering and something must be done about it." Ms. Kay added, "How to fix it, though, is the hard part because there are so many things going wrong at once."
An EU finance minister a few weeks ago criticized the U.S. federal government, blaming the world's financial crisis on its reckless overspending. A few hours later, the Bush administration announced the economic stimulus package, which will only add to the deficit, causing recurring seismic shockwaves around the international financial markets.
The upcoming U.S. election is not going to cure anything, with candidates making careless promises of further deficit spending, either on universal health care or stronger defense.
Overspending by the federal government only worsens the financial crisis confronting the American people. Deficit spending drives the dollar down. In turn, this raises the cost of oil (gasoline) and other commodities, thereby driving up the rate of inflation. Additionally, we are passing on the debt with added interest to our children and grandchildren, leaving them with a burden they will not be able to bear.
Prepare for challenges ahead
What can Americans, Britons, Australians and citizens of other Western countries do to prepare for tougher times ahead?
1) Before buying a house, count the cost.
This is a biblical principle. Jesus Christ said, "For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it—lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish'" (Luke 14:28-30).
It's still that way in much of the world. When a man has money, he will buy land. He will start building when he comes into more money, but won't finish the house for many years.
In the Western world, we borrow from banks to buy houses that are already built. Many banks lend 100 percent of the money required without carefully checking to see whether the borrower can actually afford the loan.
These loans, known as "subprime mortgages," are a primary cause of the current housing crisis. Encouraged by banks and other financial institutions, themselves under pressure from the government to make more loans to those with lower incomes, people borrowed more than they could afford to pay back.
It is a very good idea to make sure that you plan your budget wisely, ensuring that you have enough to make that monthly mortgage payment. You shouldn't assume that your income will increase. Rather, plan for the possibility of a decrease or even a temporary loss of job.
2) Get an education or qualification and work hard.
Not everyone is "book smart." But most people are smart in at least one area. Those who are book smart should go to college and earn a degree that can ensure a good career. Those who are more skilled with their hands should make sure they get qualified as a mechanic, plumber, electrician or other professional.
Realize that any career can be affected negatively by a slump in the economy, but by becoming qualified you are doing what you can to ensure steady employment.
However, a qualification is meaningless if we don't work hard. We should all heed the advice of King Solomon: "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might" (Ecclesiastes 9:10).
Also: "Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise, which, having no captain, overseer or ruler, provides her supplies in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest" (Proverbs 6:6-8).
Ants are diligent, always working hard, always preparing for what's ahead. We need to be at least as smart as ants!
3) Beware of borrowing.
The United States is the most indebted nation in the world—indeed, the most indebted in history. According to a recent report on the BBC World Service, Americans lead the world in personal debt, with Britain and Australia in second and third place.
Former French President Charles de Gaulle famously refused Britain entry into what was then the European Common Market, dismissively referring to the Anglo-American economic model as "the Anglo-Saxon debtor countries." Accumulated debt has, of course, given these countries faster growth rates than the Continental Europeans in the past, but perhaps that is now going to change as the debts are finally catching up.
Whereas countries that use the euro are forbidden to overspend by more than 3 percent, the U.S. government routinely overspends by more than twice that percentage. With the economic stimulus package, a further 1 percent has been added to that debt load.
But governmental debt is only part of the problem. Personal debt is also at an all-time high, and Americans and Britons, in the main, are likewise addicted to deficit spending at the household level.
Money Week magazine stated: "We [in the United Kingdom] have even higher personal debt levels" than Americans (March 21, 2008, p. 7). "What does this mean for the UK? . . . The UK is vulnerable to all the same problems as the US. Many of our own banks have heavy exposure to the kind of toxic debt that has inflicted such carnage on US balance sheets. Our house-price bubble was even worse than America's, and our consumers more indebted (UK consumer debt stands at 175% of disposable income, compared to 138% in the US)" (p. 30).
Now that credit has become harder to obtain, the result will likely be a recession, with the economy going backwards for a while.
Americans, Britons and people in other countries similarly affected by the credit crunch are going to have to learn to spend less.
An item on a television news program in February highlighted auto loan debt. Some people "have" to get a new car every year or so, whether or not they have the money. Before they have paid off one car, they buy another new one, raising the outstanding amount from their earlier loan.
Some people with average incomes have car payments of more than $600 a month! No wonder so many are defaulting on their car loans.
Others are addicted to other material possessions. If not cars, it might be electronic equipment, cell phones, DVDs or video games. Such addictions are nothing less than coveting, the breaking of the Tenth Commandment (Exodus 20:17). People want what they can't afford and get themselves into deep financial trouble because of it.
Sitting in a restaurant recently with my wife, we noted that the number of customers remained the same in spite of the dire economic situation Michigan finds itself in and increased restaurant prices. Where do people get the money? The vast majority simply pay with a credit card, borrowing against tomorrow.
On the brink of a recession, the less debt a household has, the better prepared they are to weather the storms that lie ahead.
Our suggestions are: Stay out of debt. Pay down debts you already have. Live within your means. If you don't have the cash to pay for it, you can't afford it.
4) Stay close to God.
Americans are learning, as many around the world already know, that no human government or man-made economic system can provide total security, financial or otherwise. Only God can—so it's important to always stay close to Him.
Jesus Christ understood fully the folly of looking to material possessions for security.
"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matthew 6:19-21).
Another important factor in sound financial management is the biblical principle of tithing. A tithe is 10 percent of a person's increase.
Note the following words and apply them to America and other Western countries during these difficult economic times. "Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, 'In what way have we robbed You?' In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed Me, even this whole nation" (Malachi 3:8-9).
In the next verse, the nation is promised great prosperity if it returns to God, which includes obeying the instruction to tithe. As it is with nations, so it is with individuals. (For further information about tithing, download or request our free booklet What Does the Bible Teach About Tithing?)
A house is just a physical possession like any other. It's been inspiring to see, when natural disasters strike and people lose their homes, how they pick themselves up and move on, building again and looking to the future. Take note of the principles given above and try to weather the growing financial crisis. Other generations have survived. We can too. GN

Recommended Reading
In our uncertain economic times, we could all use sound guidance on our finances. Who wouldn't like time-tested advice on handling money—especially when it's free? We've prepared a helpful booklet, Managing Your Finances, to help you better manage your household finances and budget. Download or request your free copy today!
Beyond Today: Surviving an Economic Crisis How can you get control of your life, behavior and money? The answer comes from a surprising, yet very wise source.

Practical Christian Living: Tattoos

An interesting article from www.ucg.org about Tattoos. This follows this post about homosexuality that should definitely be read in these times! For more interesting stories like this click here to follow this blog.

Practical Christian Living: Tattoos
Introduction
Body tattoos show up very often in today's culture. Once, these body etchings were limited to sailors and gang members, but this counter cultural phenomenon is tempting many to have ink injected into their skin. Is it right for a Christian to put marks on his or her body? Would God want you to use your skin as a billboard for your current philosophy of life? What if you change your mind? Tattoos are often painful and expensive to remove. Can we discover any principles in the pages of the Bible? Christianity is a way of life. Christians practice what the Bible teaches, for it is written three times in scripture that "man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God" (Deuteronomy 8:3, Matthew 4:4, and Luke 4:4). So, it is only natural that a Christian would study the Bible to see if it has anything to say on the matter of wearing tattoos. This guide will lead you to discover the Biblical principles that apply to tattooing one's body.
Why Wear a Tattoo?
People claim to get tattooed for various reasons: For membership in a gang or group, to be cool or even to show independence or rebellion. What other reasons, if any, do you know for acquiring a tattoo?
Relevant scriptures
LEVITICUS 19:28 — "You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on you: I am the LORD."
COMMENT: Bible scholars recognize that the context of the above verse is that of ways to worship God. Just as members of certain gangs today wear an identifying tattoo specific to their gang, worshipers of certain gods had tattoos to identify what god they worshiped. Children's transferable stickers or "tattoos" are not true tattoos as they wash off. Likewise the stamp that amusement parks often place on the hand to allow re-entry is not a violation of the commandment. The red dot that an Indian woman will place on her forehead when she marries (but removes should she become a widow) is not a tattoo. (However, any false religious significance given to the dot would violate the first of the Ten Commandments. The URL for the discussion guide on the First Commandment is www.ucg.org/teenstudy/1stcommandment.htm.)
1. Some feel that by having a tattoo of a Christian symbol or slogan (e.g. a cross, "Praise the Lord," "John 3:16") they honor God. Some say it reminds them of their commitment and making that commitment publicly known. What does the above verse teach us about using tattoos to worship or glorify the true God?
2. Do you think the principle of worship found in John 4:23-24 would apply to wearing a religious tattoo? Why or why not?
JEREMIAH 31:19 — "Surely, after my turning, I repented; And after I was instructed, I struck myself on the thigh; I was ashamed, yes, even humiliated, Because I bore the reproach of my youth.'"
3. Some want to be "in." Would you say wearing tattoos is a fad? Are all fads sensible? What criteria do you use to decide which ones to follow?
4. Fashions change, so one day tattoos will be out of style. How long do tattoos remain on the skin?
5. When tattoos are no longer chic, how would one feel who has one? Do Jeremiah's words come close to describing the feeling?
6. People change their minds about what is attractive. Have you ever changed your mind about a clothing style or hairstyle, and then made the change in wardrobe or hairstyle? How hard are tattoos to remove? How painful? How costly?
7. When should we allow the values (including fashions) of the world around us to determine our behavior? Before answering, read and consider James 4:4 and 1 John 2:15-17.
8. Which do you think is wiser: to do something that is permanent but will be popular for only a season, or to not adopt the popular, but passing, fad?
EXODUS 20:12 — "Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God is giving you."
Another reason some teens get a tattoo is to rebel against their parents. One recent article stated:
"For college students anxious to rebel against their parents' fashion sensibilities, getting a tattoo or piercing may be the modern-day equivalent of the 1960s-era fascination with long hair and love beads." ("Piercings Are A Girl's Best Friend? Body Art Study Shows Gender Preferences"; Source: University of Florida, 2004-12-09, URL: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/12/041203084256.htm)
9. What does God think of that attitude—i.e. rebelling against one's parents?
10. What benefit is there to honoring one's parents? Why do you suppose that is?
Our bodies?
1 CORINTHIANS 6:19-20 — "Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's."
1. To whom does your body belong?
2. How should we treat our bodies? Does a Christian have an obligation to God regarding caring for his flesh, or is a Christian free to decide what he will do to his flesh?
3. If the body is the temple of God, what do you think of the analogy of a tattooed body being like a temple with graffiti on its walls?
4. There is some evidence tattoos can have negative consequences on one's health*—enough evidence for some states and local communities to have regulations for tattooing facilities, and enough evidence to raise concerns by the European Commission. Is taking unnecessary risks to our health showing proper care for the temple of the Holy Spirit? Why or why not?
* Carolyn Chambers Clark, RN, EdD ( BellaOnline's Holistic Health Editor) lists among the "most common adverse effects of tattoos":
1. Hypersensitivity to the red dye, cinnabar which contains mercury (a known brain contaminant).
2. Photosensitivity to the yellow pigment, cadmium (another toxic metal).
3. Uptake of tattoo pigments by the lymph nodes has been documented, but the long-term effects are unknown.
4. Reports of transmission of syphilis and cutaneous tuberculosis have occurred.
5. Rare complications may include malignant malanomas, basal cell carcinomas, and granulomas at the design site.
6. The most well-known infection from tattooing is hepatitis, which has been transmitted from tattoos. In one study, tattooing accounted for 41% of hepatitis C infections.
(Source: http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art20387.asp)
Think positive
1 CORINTHIANS 10:31 — "…whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God."
1. In light of Leviticus 19:28 (quoted above), do you believe God is glorified by having a tattoo?
2. Who should we try in all things to please?
3. Instead of thinking negatively of what one can't do, think about how a person can apply this principle (doing all to God's glory) positively. That is, what are some things a person could do to glorify God in one's: Appearance, Dress, Body and Attitude
Summary
1. What is the popular opinion among your peers regarding tattoos?
2. Characterize God's point of view of tattoos based upon what you've learned from the Bible.
3. If a friend asked you for advice concerning whether he or she ought to get a tattoo, what would you say?

Related Online Resources
Bible FAQ: What does the Bible say about getting tattoos?Is there a relation between the ritual tattoos of ancient times and the "body art" of today? What biblical principles apply to deciding whether to get a tattoo or not?
Leave a Permanent MarkWhat's up with tattoos?

America's Astounding Destiny: Was It Foretold in the Bible?

An interesting article from http://www.ucg.org/ about America's rise on the world scene. This follows this post about Iran's potential to be a Mideast Power. For more interesting stories like this click here to follow this blog.

Click here to get this free book.

America's Astounding Destiny: Was It Foretold in the Bible?
The rise of the United States of America from British colony to superpower is an incredible story worth retelling. Equally incredible is the fact that the rise of the United States and the British Empire was foretold thousands of years ago.
by Melvin Rhodes
Few people can remember a time when the United States did not dominate the world. At the dawn of the 20th century the country had only just emerged on the world scene after victory in the Spanish-American War of 1898. Forty years later, on the eve of World War II, the nation's military strength still ranked below that of Portugal and Greece, its army the size of Romania's.
Today it is indisputably the world's greatest power. Ten years after the demise of its Cold War rival, the Soviet Union, the United States is the only superpower.
Power and influence are not measured only in terms of military capacity. American culture is pervasive. Movies made in Hollywood are dubbed into countless languages and shown all over the world. Television stations in Prague, Hong Kong, Kampala, Melbourne, Johannesburg, Barbados and just about everywhere else broadcast American television shows. In most of the world's capitals fast-food outlets sell America's favorite junk foods, often washed down by those symbols of American imperialism, Coca-Cola and Pepsi.
No matter what you might think of the United States, the world would be a much different place if it did not exist. Without the United States the world would have succumbed to one or other of the two despotic tyrannies that struggled for world dominance for several decades from the 1940s through the 1980s.
Fascism and communism both threatened the peace and security of the world during that span of 50 years. Victory for either would have meant the end of life as we know it. The basic freedoms many take for granted today would have been denied this generation and future generations had not these twin evil ideologies foundered on the strength of American resolve.
Yet few people 200 years ago could have imagined that America's position of global leadership would be the destiny of the fledgling republic.
How did America reach a point of global dominance? Is it possible that the United States was overlooked in the biblical prophecies about our time? Or was everything foretold a long time ago? What does the future have in store for the nation?
America might not have been
Some years ago America's noncommer cial Public Broadcasting System televised a series of documentaries on the American Revolution. The historians researching and presenting the series came to the interesting conclusion that the Revolution should not have happened. Others through the years have said the same.
Gordon Wood, a professor of history at Brown University, wrote in his 1991 book The Radicalism of the American Revolution: ". . . The social conditions that generically are supposed to be behind all revolutions— poverty and economic deprivation—were not present in colonial America. There should no longer be any doubt about it: the white American colonists were not an oppressed people; they had no crushing Imperial chains to throw off. In fact, the colonists knew they were freer, more equal, more prosperous, and less burdened with cumbersome feudal and monarchical restraints than any other part of mankind in the eighteenth century" (p. 4).
Modern American history goes back 400 years to the founding of the English-speaking colonies of Virginia and Massachusetts. Later other colonies were added, settled primarily by people from the British Isles. Americans before the Revolution saw themselves as Englishmen and were proud of their heritage.
"In the year 1775, when the War of Independence began, the thirteen colonies had a population of perhaps 2,418,000 people, of whom possibly one fifth were black. Small Dutch, German, and Swedish minorities were included in these statistics, but the vast majority of white inhabitants were of British stock" (Russell Kirk, America's British Culture, 1994, p. 69).
The land of the free
In the 18th century the English were the freest people on earth. Englishmen living in English colonies were even freer than their kin at home. They enjoyed freedom of the press, free right of assembly and freedom to trade without the restraints that governments placed on people in other nations. Each colony had its own parliament. Eighty to 90 percent of all free (nonslave) men could vote. By virtue of an act of the English Long Parliament (1640-42), before the English Civil War, they even had the right to bear arms, without which the American Revolution could never have started.
The colonies were also the home of religious diversity. The colonial governor of New York, Thomas Dongan, wrote in 1687: "Here bee not many of the Church of England; few Roman Catholicks; abundance of Quakers preachers . . . ; Singing Quakers, Ranting Quakers; Sabbatarians; Antisabbatarians; Some Anabaptists[;] some Independents; some Jews; in short[,] of all sorts of opinions there are some, and the most part [are] of none at all" (Jon Butler, Becoming America: The Revolution Before 1776, 2000, p. 185).
Religion had played a major role in the development of the American colonies. The first British colony at Jamestown, Virginia, was planted by Anglicans; the Pilgrims set- tled at Plymouth 13 years later; the Puritans arrived at Boston in 1630—while Calvinists spread elsewhere throughout New England. Catholics followed in Maryland in 1634 and Quakers in New Jersey and Pennsylvania in 1682. Baptists and Methodists came later.
With all these basic freedoms, why did the Revolutionary War take place? The answer is quite simple: in order that Bible prophecy should be fulfilled.
The outcome of the Revolutionary War was far from certain. Historian Thomas Fleming, in a chapter titled "Unlikely Victory: Thirteen Ways the Americans Could Have Lost the Revolution," states: "When a historian ponders the what ifs of the American Revolution, chills run up and down and around the cerebellum. There were almost too many moments when the patriot cause teetered on the brink of disaster, to be retrieved by the most unlikely accidents or coincidences . . ." (What If? The World's Foremost Military Historians Imagine What Might Have Been, Robert Crowley, editor, 1999, p. 157).
But the Bible prophesied that the American and British peoples would separate.
Ancient prophecies fulfilled in recent times
In the book of Genesis we read of a time when the descendants of the two sons of Joseph, the 11th son of Jacob (also known as Israel), would become "a multitude of nations" and a "great" single nation (Genesis 48:19). This prophecy was never fulfilled by the people who now live in the Middle Eastern nation of Israel, either in ancient times or recently.
At the beginning of Genesis 49 we read: "And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, 'Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you what shall befall you in the last days'" (verse 1, emphasis added throughout). This was not a prophecy to be fulfilled in ancient Israel, but by the descendants of Jacob "in the last days"—before the second coming of Jesus Christ and the establishment of the Kingdom of God.
(We might note here that many people erroneously assume that when the Bible mentions Israel it refers only to the Jewish people. Biblical and secular history, however, shows that this common belief is wrong. In fact, the first time the Bible uses the term Jews, in 2 Kings 16:6-7 in the King James Version, they are at war with the kingdom of Israel! The story is spelled out in greater detail in our free booklet The United States and Britain in Bible Prophecy.)
Genesis 49 lists the strengths and weak- nesses of each of Jacob's sons. In verse 22 Jacob prophesies of his son Joseph's descendants: "Joseph is a fruitful bough, a fruitful bough by a well; his branches run over the wall." From Joseph's two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, were to come "a multitude of nations" and the "great" single nation that would be incredibly fruitful, industrious and productive, spreading out from their boundaries to other parts of the earth.
God had promised Jacob that his descendants would number "as the dust of the earth," spreading in all directions, and that "all the families of the earth" would be blessed through his offspring (Genesis 28:14). His descendants would also be blessed with great material and agricultural wealth and abundance and dominate other nations of the earth (Genesis 27:28-29).
Thousands of years were to pass before these prophecies would be fulfilled. Their fulfillment came in relatively recent times with the rise of the British Empire and Commonwealth, the "multitude of nations"; and the United States of America, the greatest single nation.
A separation prophesied
Until the 1770s the 13 American colonies were content to be a part of the British Empire. The colonists had recently fought alongside the mother country against France, winning a war that gave the English-speaking peoples domination of the eastern seaboard of North America. George Washington had fought in that war.
The British Empire was continuing to grow, with colonies and strategic sea gates around the world. Americans'security clearly lay within the empire, their freedoms protected by the Royal Navy and British armies. Each colony looked to the mother country rather than to neighboring colonies.
Then friction suddenly arose over taxation, the levies the British tried to raise to pay for the recent war against France. This discord rapidly escalated and led to the events of the Revolution and the eventual birth of the United States.
The events recorded in Genesis 48 show us that, for prophecy to be fulfilled, the United States had to separate from the British Empire. A distinction would eventually become apparent between the "multitude of nations" and the "great" single nation.
A rising empire
The British Empire, later to become the British Commonwealth, was then in its early stages. It would go on to encompass countries scattered around the globe. Some would be colonies ruled from London, represented locally by a British governor. Some would be protectorates, territories that in some cases had asked to be a part of the empire and retained their own traditional leaders.
The Indian Empire, with its 320 million people, was to be the jewel in the imperial crown. The dominions of Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa would become independent, sovereign nations, joined by the self-governing Colony of Southern Rhodesia. Altogether more than 60 countries around the world, each with its distinct culture and way of life, would form an empire upon which the sun never set.
These nations traded heavily among themselves. All benefited from considerable British investment. They enjoyed a common security backed up by the Royal Navy. But, above all, one institution united them—the British crown. Even the independent dominions, by their own choice, recognized the British monarch as their head of state.
For prophecy to be fulfilled America had to break away from this growing multitude of nations and sever its tie with the crown. There was no immediate demand for that drastic step when disputes arose between England and the colonists. The dispute was with the British government, not the king. The king was a constitutional monarch, seen as the guarantor of liberty against ambitious politicians, the symbol of unity for English-speaking peoples every- where regardless of their political affiliation.
Once the violence started, however, the bitterness between the belligerents grew so great that a total break—a severing of the tie with Great Britain and the crown—was inevitable.
John Adams, one of the leaders of the Revolution and America's second president, wrote to his wife,Abigail, on the day after Congress's approval of the Declaration of Independence: "It is the will of heaven that the two countries should be sundered forever" (William Federer, America's God and Country Encyclopedia of Quotations, 1996, p. 9).
After the war George Washington discussed with Charles Thomson, secretary of the Continental Congress, the idea of writing their memoirs. Historian Thomas Fleming writes that "between them the two men probably knew more secrets than the entire Congress and Continental Army combined."
But the two men decided that their memoirs would be a bad idea. "It would be too disillusioning if the American people discovered how often the Glorious Cause came close to disaster. They jointly agreed that the real secret of America's final victory in the eight- year struggle could be summed up in two words: Divine Providence" (Fleming, p. 186).
Birth of the republic
Some Americans, aware that the English Republic of the 17th century and others before it did not last long before succumbing to dictatorships, still wanted a king. Some put forth the name of George Washington, leader of the Continental Army, which had defeated the British.
Here we should note America's biblical name, Manasseh, the great single nation (Genesis 48). Manasseh means "forget." Americans were to turn their backs on Europe, forgetting their past. They were to build themselves up into the world's greatest single nation, expanding westward, developing a wilderness into the most powerful economy in history.
Washington, America's first president, was to warn against "foreign entanglements," alliances that would have been inevitable if America had adopted a monarchical system of government. The children of monarchs marry the children of other kings to cement alliances. Had America adopted such a system, it would have looked backwards rather than to the future. But Washington had no heirs, making the possi- bility of a monarchy much more difficult.
The fledgling nation's form of government remained an issue. No republic in history had lasted long. At the end of the Constitutional Convention, when the delegates emerged from the meeting hall in Philadelphia, a leading lady of Washington society called out to Benjamin Franklin: "What is it to be, Mr. Franklin? A monarchy or a republic?" Was the United States to be a constitutional monarchy, or a republic— a nation without a king? His answer: "A republic, ma'am, if you can keep it."
Stability: Key to a nation's success
America had already had representative government in colonial times. Now the new nation was to step out and boldly attempt representative government without a king. Here George Washington's leadership was crucial. After two terms as president—a total of eight years—he voluntarily stepped aside, setting a precedent that contributed substan- tially to America's stability as a republic.
This was no minor accomplishment. Often other nations that have adopted republican forms of government have failed in arranging the peaceful transfer of power from one president to another. America's political stability, however, has been a key to its success. The United States, without a doubt, has been the most successful republic in history, the country Sir Winston Churchill would call "The Great Republic."
Political stability was essential for prophecy to be fulfilled. Without stability, the country could never have become the greatest single nation in history.
The nation's spiritual beginnings played a crucial role in its stability. The United States did not have one official religion as other nations had. Instead, virtually all people belonged to various churches that shared a high regard for the Bible. The United States was founded on Christian ideals by men who for the most part were strongly and deeply religious and convinced God was guiding the country.
Almost 40 years after the events that surrounded independence, John Adams wrote Thomas Jefferson that "the general principles, on which the Fathers achieved independence, were the only Principles in which that beautiful Assembly of Gentlemen could Unite . . . And what were these general Principles? I answer, the general Principles of Christianity, in which all these Sects were United: And the general Principles of English and American Liberty, in which all these young Men United, and which had United all Parties in America, in Majorities sufficient to assert and maintain her Independence" (Federer, p. 12).
Separation of church and state did not mean that the country was not to be a Christian nation, based on Christian principles and the Ten Commandments. Rather, it meant that no one church should enjoy a special status as was the case in England.
The oath of office, written by the founding fathers, states: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of the president of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."
Washington, the first president to take the oath of office, spontaneously added, "I swear, so help me God," and kissed the Bible—a tradition that his successors have followed for more than two centuries. The sincere desire of America's founding fathers was that the republic would last. Built on Christian principles, with the Ten Commandments as its basic law, it would endure.
With a successful system of government in place,America was on course to fulfill its destiny as the greatest single nation in history.
In the next issue we will examine the astounding story of how the United States rose from newly independent former British colony to world superpower. GN

Recommended Reading
Where does the United States of America appear in Bible prophecy? Does Bible prophecy neglect to mention major nations such as the United States, Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom? In fact, many prophecies do mention these nations. But, without an understanding of history and the Scriptures, few can identify them and understand what lies ahead for them. The publishers of The Good News have produced an astounding, eye-opening book, The United States and Britain in Bible Prophecy.