What kind of nation do Americans want? May I suggest that even with the political polarization we see today at our core we want essentially what our Founding Fathers wanted for us, we want a "more perfect union," we desire "liberty and justice for all," we desire equality under the law, and we want to live in peace and brotherhood from "sea to shining sea."
Katharine Lee Bates, the author of now beloved patriotic American Hymn "America the Beautiful," was initially surprised by the poem’s success and the impact of her words. The beautiful poem written after she ascended the summit of Pikes Peak would become so beloved that she would later reflect upon the reason for the enduring “hold" her song had "upon our people," noting that it "is clearly due to the fact that Americans are at heart idealists, with a fundamental faith in human brotherhood."
I have sung the words of this beautiful song many times in my life and each time it fills my heart with stirring emotions which confirm the truth of the ideas communicated in each verse. Today as I sang this song in church a question came to my mind, "What truths can we learn from this song that would help heal our nation today and set us firmly on the path that leads to unity, peace, and brotherhood?"
A few key phrases stood out to me. First:
"America! America!
God shed his grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood."
First and foremost peace, unity, and brotherhood will come through God's grace, a gift we will receive only through our faith and "good works." God will "crown" our "good" with the gift of brotherhood. The relationship between grace and good works has been diminished by moral decay that has touched us all, our families, our churches, and our institutions. The great majority of Americans define themselves as Christians and yet wickedness abounds. It should alarm us that this scripture describes our society today:
"They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate." Titus 1:16
If we truly desire a nation of brotherly kindness and unity we must first repent and return to good works. We cannot continue to listen to the comfortable sermons that preach grace without obedience, that promise faith without works. The apostles understood the relationship between receiving the blessings of grace through faith and receiving faith through works. James taught, “Though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?... Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works." (James 2:14-18)
Instead of moving forward in our progress toward national unity and brotherhood we are alarmed to see our nation backsliding. What Katharine Lee Bates said, "Americans are at heart idealists, with a fundamental faith in human brotherhood," remains true, but we are loosing sight of the foundational truths upon which human brotherhood is founded. Bates inspiring words give us further insight to the solid foundation upon which American equality, liberty and justice are built.
The second phrase from the song that stood out to me as I pondered the question, "What truths can we learn from this song that would help heal our nation today and set us firmly on the path that leads to unity, peace, and brotherhood," were these:
"God mend thine ev’ry flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law."
First, America is not flawless and has never been without flaw. While the founding of this nation was transformational for the principles of governance in this world, and while its impact on the spread of liberty in our world has been profound, Americans are aware of our flaws, of the shameful chapters in our national life. As Christians we have faith that God has power to mend our flaws and our faith should extend to a belief that God has power to mend the flaws of our nation, to wipe clean those national sins through faith, repentance, and obedience to his laws.
Upon what principles can we be free of these sins and put our feet on the firm path toward brotherhood? A clue is in the next line, "Confirm thy soul in self-control." A foundational principle of Liberty is self-governance. The individual morality of each citizen is essential to the retention of Liberty within a Republican form of government. God teaches us correct principles that we might govern ourselves, for when we prove unable to govern ourselves upon moral precept, the natural impulse will be to turn to government power to regulate the private concerns and conduct of citizens in a futile attempt to escape the collective consequences of moral weakness. The result of this path is the loss of Liberty and further disintegration of individual morality, the integrity of the family, and the stability and order of public institutions. Our Liberty is in law, in the obedience to law, God's law, natural law, and constitutional law.
Modern ideologies have weakened the relationship between the restraint of adhering to law and the Liberty that ultimately brings. Restraint and Liberty are not words that many of the rising generation believe to be compatible, but there is no Liberty without moral restraint.
Katharine Lee Bates, the author of now beloved patriotic American Hymn "America the Beautiful," was initially surprised by the poem’s success and the impact of her words. The beautiful poem written after she ascended the summit of Pikes Peak would become so beloved that she would later reflect upon the reason for the enduring “hold" her song had "upon our people," noting that it "is clearly due to the fact that Americans are at heart idealists, with a fundamental faith in human brotherhood."
I have sung the words of this beautiful song many times in my life and each time it fills my heart with stirring emotions which confirm the truth of the ideas communicated in each verse. Today as I sang this song in church a question came to my mind, "What truths can we learn from this song that would help heal our nation today and set us firmly on the path that leads to unity, peace, and brotherhood?"
A few key phrases stood out to me. First:
"America! America!
God shed his grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood."
First and foremost peace, unity, and brotherhood will come through God's grace, a gift we will receive only through our faith and "good works." God will "crown" our "good" with the gift of brotherhood. The relationship between grace and good works has been diminished by moral decay that has touched us all, our families, our churches, and our institutions. The great majority of Americans define themselves as Christians and yet wickedness abounds. It should alarm us that this scripture describes our society today:
"They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate." Titus 1:16
If we truly desire a nation of brotherly kindness and unity we must first repent and return to good works. We cannot continue to listen to the comfortable sermons that preach grace without obedience, that promise faith without works. The apostles understood the relationship between receiving the blessings of grace through faith and receiving faith through works. James taught, “Though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?... Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works." (James 2:14-18)
Instead of moving forward in our progress toward national unity and brotherhood we are alarmed to see our nation backsliding. What Katharine Lee Bates said, "Americans are at heart idealists, with a fundamental faith in human brotherhood," remains true, but we are loosing sight of the foundational truths upon which human brotherhood is founded. Bates inspiring words give us further insight to the solid foundation upon which American equality, liberty and justice are built.
The second phrase from the song that stood out to me as I pondered the question, "What truths can we learn from this song that would help heal our nation today and set us firmly on the path that leads to unity, peace, and brotherhood," were these:
"God mend thine ev’ry flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law."
First, America is not flawless and has never been without flaw. While the founding of this nation was transformational for the principles of governance in this world, and while its impact on the spread of liberty in our world has been profound, Americans are aware of our flaws, of the shameful chapters in our national life. As Christians we have faith that God has power to mend our flaws and our faith should extend to a belief that God has power to mend the flaws of our nation, to wipe clean those national sins through faith, repentance, and obedience to his laws.
Upon what principles can we be free of these sins and put our feet on the firm path toward brotherhood? A clue is in the next line, "Confirm thy soul in self-control." A foundational principle of Liberty is self-governance. The individual morality of each citizen is essential to the retention of Liberty within a Republican form of government. God teaches us correct principles that we might govern ourselves, for when we prove unable to govern ourselves upon moral precept, the natural impulse will be to turn to government power to regulate the private concerns and conduct of citizens in a futile attempt to escape the collective consequences of moral weakness. The result of this path is the loss of Liberty and further disintegration of individual morality, the integrity of the family, and the stability and order of public institutions. Our Liberty is in law, in the obedience to law, God's law, natural law, and constitutional law.
Modern ideologies have weakened the relationship between the restraint of adhering to law and the Liberty that ultimately brings. Restraint and Liberty are not words that many of the rising generation believe to be compatible, but there is no Liberty without moral restraint.
The final truth in this American hymn that that gives clues to our American revival were these: "More than self their country loved." More than self! Christ taught that upon two commandments hung all the law and the teachings of the prophets, that we were to love God "with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind," and the second that we were to "love thy neighbor as thyself." There can be no equality, peace, love, unity, or Liberty where there is no love for God and where selfishness abounds. Selfishness is a hallmark of moral decay and it is rampant in our society today.
"America the Beautiful" not only describes the America we love but it describes the America we seek to establish. It teaches us about the principles of truth upon which our American Dream is founded. The foundations of our unalienable rights are the Christian values of love of God and our neighbor and faith and obedience to law. With adherence to these principles and the private restraint needed to govern ourselves we will assuredly realize our shared ideals of a "more perfect union," "liberty and justice for all," equality under the law, and peace and brotherhood from "sea to shining sea."
America the Beautiful
Oh, beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea.
Oh, beautiful for pilgrim feet,
Whose stern, impassioned stress
A thoroughfare of freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God mend thine ev’ry flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law.
Oh, beautiful for heroes proved
In liberating strife,
Who more than self their country loved,
And mercy more than life!
America! America!
May God thy gold refine,
Till all success be nobleness,
And ev’ry gain divine.
Oh, beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam,
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea.
"America the Beautiful" not only describes the America we love but it describes the America we seek to establish. It teaches us about the principles of truth upon which our American Dream is founded. The foundations of our unalienable rights are the Christian values of love of God and our neighbor and faith and obedience to law. With adherence to these principles and the private restraint needed to govern ourselves we will assuredly realize our shared ideals of a "more perfect union," "liberty and justice for all," equality under the law, and peace and brotherhood from "sea to shining sea."
Oh, beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea.
Oh, beautiful for pilgrim feet,
Whose stern, impassioned stress
A thoroughfare of freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God mend thine ev’ry flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law.
Oh, beautiful for heroes proved
In liberating strife,
Who more than self their country loved,
And mercy more than life!
America! America!
May God thy gold refine,
Till all success be nobleness,
And ev’ry gain divine.
Oh, beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam,
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea.
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