A Pastor’s Ponderings

In Psalms 33:12 it says: ‘Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord…’

This wasn’t taught to me in public school but I learned of it later in life.

Alexis de Tocqueville was a famous 19th century French statesman, historian, and philosopher. He travelled to America in the 1830’s (1831) to discover the incredible success of the new nation. He published his observations in his classic two-volume work: “Democracy in America. ” He was especially impressed by America’s religious character.

Now I will quote a couple of his observations that aren’t as obvious as others, but that have stuck out to me in my mind.
Alexis de Tocqueville said:
“I sought for the key to greatness and genius in 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.”

Understand de Tocqueville was a philosopher, statesman and historian. But when he heard the preaching of the pulpits in the 1800’s he knew what made America great and where her power came from. It came from and still comes from the Almighty God, His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. 
de Tocqueville had heard the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and had been under the conviction of the Spirit. Else how could he have written what he did? Paul said in Romans 1:16 that he was ‘not ashamed of the gospel for it is the power of God unto salvation…’
Now America is not what it once was, we have traveled down a wrong broad road. 

But God does not change (Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8) and though the country and its leaders (spiritual and political) have sinned against Him and I won’t go into details now, He is still a holy and sovereign God and will heal our land if we’ll do what He said in 2 Chron. 7:14.

God bless.

Stephen Widener