George Washington's legacy and warning

[micah719]

Washington's Farewell Address, 1796
George Washington
President of the United States of America


From his Farewell Address, 1796:

"One method of assault may be to effect in the forms of the Constitution alterations which will impair the energy of the system, and thus to undermine what cannot be directly overthrown. . . .

"… the habits of thinking in a free country should inspire caution in those entrusted with its administration to confine themselves within their respective constitutional spheres, avoiding in the exercise of the powers of one department to encroach upon another. The spirit of encroachment tends to consolidate the powers of all the departments in one, and thus to create, whatever the form of government, a real despotism....

"Let there be no change by usurpation; for though this in one instance may be the instrument of good, it is the customary weapon by which free governments are destroyed. . . .

"Real patriots who may resist the intrigues of the favorite are liable to become suspected and odious, while its tools and dupes usurp the applause and confidence of the people to surrender their interests.....

"Of all the dispositions and habits, which lead to political prosperity, Religion and Morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of Patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of Men and Citizens. The mere Politician, equally with the pious man, ought to respect and to cherish them. A volume could not trace all their connections with private and public felicity. Let it simply be asked, Where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert the oaths, which are the instruments of investigation in Courts of Justice? And let us with caution indulge the supposition, that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect, that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.

"...virtue or morality is a necessary spring of popular government. The rule, indeed, extends with more or less force to every species of free government. Who, that is a sincere friend to it, can look with indifference upon attempts to shake the foundation of the fabric ?

"...a passionate attachment of one Nation for another produces a variety of evils. Sympathy for the favorite Nation, facilitating the illusion of an imaginary common interest, in cases where no real common interest exists, and infusing into one the enmities of the other, betrays the former into a participation in the quarrels and wars of the latter, without adequate inducement or justification. It leads also to concessions to the favorite Nation of privileges denied to others.... And it gives to ambitious, corrupted, or deluded citizens, (who devote themselves to the favorite nation,) facility to betray or sacrifice the interests of their own country, without odium, sometimes even with popularity; gilding, with the appearances of a virtuous sense of obligation, a commendable deference for public opinion, or a laudable zeal for public good, the base or foolish compliances of ambition, corruption, or infatuation....

"In offering to you, my countrymen, these counsels of an old and affectionate friend, I dare not hope they will make the strong and lasting impression I could wish; that they will control the usual current of the passions, or prevent our nation from running the course, which has hitherto marked the destiny of nations. ....that they may ... warn against the mischiefs of foreign intrigue....

George Washington, September 17, 1796

At his First Inauguration, April 30, 1789,

Apparently, George Washington placed his hand on a Bible opened to Deuteronomy 28. That page held a warning America would do well to heed today:

“Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the Lord your God will set you high above all nations of the earth....

“The Lord will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before your face.... The Lord will open to you His good treasure, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season, and to bless all the work of your hand. You shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow. And the Lord will make you the head and not the tail.... if you heed the commandments of the Lord your God." Deuteronomy 28:1-14

Does that promise remind you of America?

A long list of wonderful blessings follows – the kinds of favors God has showered on this nation. But verse 15 begins a parallel list of consequences for disobedience. May I suggest you read the whole sobering chapter. It ends with,

“But...if you do not obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments.... that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you.... The Lord will strike you with consumption, with fever, with inflammation, with severe burning fever, with the sword, with scorching, and with mildew.... The Lord will change the rain of your land to powder and dust.... The Lord will cause you to be defeated before your enemies....

"A nation whom you have not known shall eat the fruit of your land and the produce of your labor... Locusts shall consume all your trees and the produce of your land.... The alien who is among you shall rise higher and higher above you, and you shall come down lower and lower. He shall lend to you, but you shall not lend to him; he shall be the head, and you shall be the tail.... Because you did not serve the Lord your God with joy and gladness of heart...." Deuteronomy 28:47-48

Please pray with us that this downward slide to poverty, plagues, and servitude will not be the final page in the history of these wonderful United States under God.

That means taking George Washington's last point to heart:

"Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness - these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens. … And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion."

By "religion," Washington meant Christianity. He knew God’s Word and counted on His promises. Should we do less?

[mattfivefour]

I posted these before, micah, a year or two ago. More Americans should read them. I am always amazed when I read Washington's speeches and his private communications just how far the US today has strayed from the vision of its founding fathers. It appears even back then that few listened to his warnings. And that failure inexorably led to where America now finds herself. Now, compound that with both the abandonment and the corruption of the Christian faith that has occurred over the past generation and it is no wonder that Americans today are wandering aimlessly like lost rudderless ships, blown every which way by the contrary winds of events.

[Robert]

There is no freedom without responsibility, and there is no liberty without duty; sadly, this nation has forgotten both to the Lord.

"He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?" (Micah 6:8, NASB, emphasis mine)

( Note: This is NOT to promote legalism; no amount of law-keeping will ever save a person, nor does it earn favors from God. )

Our responsibility and duty before the Lord is spelled out in this verse, yet most in this nation emphasize their "freedoms". They do not realize that freedom means nothing unless you are FREE. And many use their "freedoms" to willfully ensnare themselves in physical addictions, fleshly lusts, and wanton sin.

They are NOT free.

They are plainly in bondage to the "feel-good" mentality; satisfying their lusts and desires. And because of this, not only will they despise any "religion" that denies them their desires, but they will allow leaders to be elected who will feed their habits and cravings. Such was the case with the last "election", where Obama promised "change". The modern-day bohemians and hedonists that comprise much of this generation greatly desired the "cradle to the grave" promises that were bandied about.

Now, America is beginning to see the terrible cost of this.

A man or woman is only as free as the "leash" of their desires allows them to be. But for those that serve the Lord and love him, they are truly free:

"Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. “The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever. “So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed." (John 8:34-36, NASB, emphasis mine)

From his own words, George Washington realized this and gave stern and grave warning should we forget it. Even graver and far more stern words are found in Exodus 28. But, such as is the way of hedonistic fools, many across the world will not listen to the precious words of God....

... but they will dearly wish they had.