Under God
9/20/16
This phrase has been an integral part of our nation and for many of us personally for quite some time now. The concept of this nation being a godly one has been marked since our initial foundation many centuries earlier. However, it is now a matter of contention and outright animosity to use this phrase in public and there are measures being partitioned to have it removed totally from our lives. While it is a choice to have this declaration as a part of our national and personal existence present, it will be allowed to be taken down if the people decide. Having this phrase as a motto presents a symbol of protection that automatically covers us, but the steps that we have taken in recent years have proven we no longer desire God to be a part of our lives. If we wish our foundation to be made on manmade ideas then so be it but we must prepare for those foundations to be wiped away as well.
The phrase “under God” has a significant meaning to many of us in this country and around the world. It is a phrase that defines authority and the One who we believe rules over our existence. For as long as I can remember this phrase has been a part of our National Pledge and even a similar phrase is engraved on our currency. Churches grace almost every corner of our towns and cities yet the growing public cry is for God to get out of our lives because we have come to the conclusion that our thoughts and wishes for societies are far greater than His. These thoughts represent a normal place setting to have humans believe that their decisions are better than others so why not include God in this belief? This is a grave mistake and one that has many historical examples that we can study, but for some reason, each generation has taken further steps of humanistic values instead of godly ones. The power of words do have an impact on our lives and on others’ as well; don’t be fooled by the old tale of “sticks and stones” because words do hurt and they will hurt enough to follow us into eternity.
It would be extremely difficult for me not to hear this phrase being used in some of the pledges, songs, and anthems that I have grown up with, but if I said that it would be impossible for my ears to become deaf from hearing this phrase used, I would be lying. It is no secret that many wish for this phrase to be eradicated from our vocabulary and if one looks through the shades of the world it would seem a logical thought, but in truth and far beyond science itself it is a fool’s gesture and will only provide a destructive lineage that will never change no matter how much effort humanity tries. To end this phrase in our society stimulates the mind to react violently for if any societal norm that represents God is removed of drastically changed only animosity can ensue. Think about that last statement for it defines the battle that each one of us faces whether we know it or not. We need to be under God and we need to proclaim this truth every second of our lives, for if we throw this away we throw our future away as well.
There are two passages that God is giving us for this article and both directly relate to the subject at hand. When we accept the phrase “under God” as our motto it tells the world and the spiritual world where our lives desire to be. Likewise, when we remove this motto from our heart’s vocabulary we send the opposite message to both of those kingdoms and the procedures for standardization reverses and further dealings with our enemy increase. Our problem is that we have now “evolved” enough to warrant no belief in any spiritual enemy and that we can only focus on worldly enemies, not knowing that with this concept in hand inseparable division among the people of the world will be the only result. When a person, group, state or nation chooses the world they subject themselves to the world’s leader which is the immortal and eternal enemy of God.
The two passages mentioned in the previous paragraph are well known especially to those who have attended church for some time; however, in all honesty, these two verses are heavily recognized by those who do not go to church or even have a relationship with God, a definition of how many people choose to live if the truth be told. One of the passages comes from the Old Testament and the other is from the New Testament. Both passages are equal in nature and have direct meanings to our status concerning who we believe leads us through the journey of life. The first passage that we are going to discuss comes from Psalms 23, but we are not going to talk about the entire passage just a couple of pieces of it. There is a bit of history here that will come into play as the article progresses but God is showing us the difference of when we allow Him to rule over our lives versus when we allow the world to rule over our lives.
Psalms 23:1 - 3 states the following: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me besides still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”
It is this portion of one of the most popular Scriptures that God wants us to understand what it means to have our lives “under God” and His laws. The very first portion of this passage makes a bold and clear statement about who controls our steps and what the relationship is between God and mankind. This first statement proclaims that the author has God as his ruler and thus nullifies the self-issue that the world teaches. With this passage coming from the Bible it is automatically accepted that when David is referring to the “lord” he is mentioning God, for this is a biblical text and the reference is quite clear. David is proclaiming that God is his shepherd which means that David follows God and the ways that God has established. This portion of Scripture also refers to the claim that God is different from the world and that he has chosen to follow God and was not forced to do such an act of admission.
The word shepherd in this portion of the verse should be paid attention to as well for it directs lineage and who is exactly in charge. This simple word directs the authority to one person and it is not the author of the passage either. In fact, it proclaims all subjection to that single person and through a willing obedience agrees to follow His commands. The word shepherd also allows us to understand what capacity that He has committed to for a shepherd is not needed when the flock is inside the corral or housed securely within an enclosed area. The majority of the time the flock is out and about completing their daily needs and operating as life should warrant and it is these times that the flock needs to be on the lookout for the shepherd and to be listening to His voice for instruction. But we all know that this setting does not always occur and the flock invites trouble into their realm.
There is an important lesson here that needs to be addressed before moving on to another portion of this passage and it has to deal with the world and what it brings. If the world produced an environment of utopia there would not be any need for any shepherds, guardians, parents or leaders because everyone would be able to conduct their lives without any guilt. We all know that this is not the case and it shall never be the case simply because of how the world operates and functions. So, if the Bible teaches that we need to be dependent upon God and His ways for true guidance why do we continue to fall back on the “shepherds” of the world for our choices? The answer should be evident before our eyes yet we continue to choose the world’s ways instead. It is amazing to me that we do our best to justify human ways and then cry out in anger or protest when each one of them crumbles in front of us.
The phrase “green pastures” in this verse is highly significant because it represents a conditional state of peace and restoration. As the flock constantly move about the area the ground – or place of residence – can become beaten down and hard to manage, both on a personal level and an overall standard. Ask yourself these questions, when times become tough in your life, how do you respond, what is your immediate reaction and who do you look for to provide you with the answers you need at that moment? It is easy to believe and to say that God is the first source that we think of but in reality why do sheep go off on their own or follow false shepherds? An important identity that we need to keep in mind when we make these claims, for many times we fail to truly define God’s presence in our lives. Green pastures present such a resting area that all should seem to be in perfect order, and that is the way our holy Shepherd intended that we should live. Because of our tendencies to waiver and wander the travels towards these green pastures may seem a bit tough and to others down out right hard, but we should always be aware of the true Shepherd for it is He who will lead us out of those dark places in order to return to the green pastures of His choosing.
This passage states that the shepherd leads the sheep (author) to the green pastures, to this place of calm, peace and restoration. Isn’t it everyone’s desire to have and to be in this place? We hear it every day of our lives from countless sources of them trying to find the happiness that is so desired, yet after a while, we read these same people crying and hurting because the beliefs that they once held so close and true have proven to be lies. This is not what God can supply, He cannot go against anything that has to do with death, He must create life in all things unknown and known to mankind.
How important is this phrase, you ask? Well, I read an interview some time ago that the interviewer was talking to a Satanist about this passage. I do not know why the interview was conducted or why it was initiated, to begin with, but as I was reading this interview I found an interesting portion from the Satanist when the person interviewing him came to this Scripture. From what I had read to the point the Satanist seemed quite calm and tenured in his responses and had no real controversial things to say. When this passage of Scripture was mentioned the words of the Satanist changed and I could almost feel the setting of that interview change for it was the first time that the man stated a claim against God.
He stated that he was literally appalled to think that someone would have control over his life and how dare anyone that would take that individual power away from him and to lead him to a place in which he did not know where it was. In no way was this person going to take away his right to live according to his choices and direct his paths in life. The interviewer seemed a little taken back with the attitude change of the person being interviewed but in reality, it should not have because this person displayed the exact beliefs of the one he serves. This action should raise our eyebrows pretty quickly because this attitude (spirit) is in full bloom in our societies today. The world’s projections have not changed since sin entered into our lives so please do not believe that the world can offer you anything but selfish pain and suffering for it cannot due to its nature.
Why the huge change in attitude from a simple phrase? It is quite simple and it is a direct reflection of how our lives are to become if we continue our course away from God. From this small phrase alone and the reaction that this Satanist gave, states that there is a force that is totally against God and everything that He stands for. Why would this person give a perfect interview and then all of a sudden explode with a complete change when the way to achieve perfect conditions mentioned in the Bible in concordance with the mentioned shepherd, which he claims to have, differs from the concept that he has? There can only be one answer to this change and it is truly sad that this person is so blinded by the lies he has been told that he is unable to understand exactly what is going on. If this blindness has affected his life then how much more changes in attitudes can we expect to see when society completely gives itself to the same power? This can only draw one conclusion and truth, the Bible is the true and unadulterated Word of God and everything that is stated in its contents comes from the Creator Himself.
The second passage that God wishes to use in this message comes from another well used and known portion of Scripture and that is from Matthew chapter 6 when Jesus is instructing those around Him about how to pray. It is commonly known as the Lord’s Prayer and it serves as a powerful message to anyone who wishes to understand its truth and meaning. The specific passage that is going to be used is once again only a portion of the passage and it entails verse 9 of Matthew Chapter 6. And more specifically we will be learning about just a portion of that verse.
Verse 9 states as follows: “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.”
The portion of this verse that we are going to use is the first two words “Our Father”. Being raised in church I have heard this entire passage spoken about numerous times. It too is a famous passage that many people, churchgoers and not, have either heard it, read it or recite it on occasion. The first two words are the ones that stand out for this message and it also these two words that tie together the passage of Psalms 23. I find it intriguing that many people do not believe God’s Word to be alive and current for today’s problems but when He shows us the connection between the verse in the Old Testament and the New Testament and then demonstrate that they are still relevant in our society today, it is nothing less than priceless. The same setting is issued here when Jesus is talking about how people should pray but it is these two words that set the tone for the entire prayer and right off the bat brings into the direct relation of God’s authority over the person praying.
The word “our” means that there is a connection between God and the person praying to Him. The words spoken are not directed to a statue, or to the wind, or to a false pretense that has no personal meaning. The person praying is specifically calling on someone that they know is there and that person that they are speaking to must be alive and have the capability of hearing those words as well. Why would anyone speak to something that does not answer back? It is a logical question because throughout human history countless people have done just that with their idols and gods. All of their examples prove that their gods are false and are not alive which means they cannot answer those “prayers”. The same setting is in play here as in the Old Testament reference above that people find it difficult to accept this type of activity because of their worldly influences around them. With this word spoken the person is not talking to a void or empty space but an eternal entity that can hear and respond accordingly.
But the usage of the word “our” stimulates a response because it is a word that means unity or togetherness, more than one and this statement was issued to a group of people that Jesus was talking with. Jesus knew that with this choice of words He was directing these people towards His Father because God is the author of all Creation and Created beings which means that He is alive and well on His throne and can be heard when we speak to Him. It is a proper address and a common address all rolled up together and it is a word that grabs His attention because one of His children is about to call Him “Father”. The word “our” also means that the ones who use this word in reference to God look at God in the same manner, in other words as one just as the flock does in Psalms 23.
The word “Father” in conjunction with the word “our” says a great deal about how we should view God in our hearts and immediately recognize Him as the authoritative figure that He is. There is so much controversy about who is a father these days, or so it seems. Jesus makes it very clear who His Father is and by speaking this name in this passage He makes the same claim on our lives as well. Once again if a person reads history it will become clear that this issue has been at the forefront of every society and if the question of who is the father then it is the authority of that person; the stomach turns with such discontentment with this topic. This passage of Scripture addresses the simplest form of communication, the verbal and direct and it reflects many things when these two words are spoken. Another example of why it is so important to keep your dominion intact and pure, both physically and spiritually.
First off, the person speaking understands that they have a father and they know who that person is. The word father is a singular term, not a group name so that means there is only one that can represent this accolade. Yes, there is a plural form of the word father but it does not apply to this situation nor does it recognize the original orientation of God when He formed man. It is through this word (Father) that the person speaking directly relates to a single person and in this case, Jesus is referring to His Father and our Heavenly Father, God. One detail to keep in mind here is that we understand who “our Father” actually is and what He represents in our life. God is the true Father of all things living and He cannot change this status, it is us who have to claim this truth. Creation is just that, creation which is required to live by all means possible.
In truth, when we use the word “father” it means that we are a direct descendant of that person, and it means that we understand his ways and are willing to admit that he has standards associated with his name. Jesus uses this word right at the beginning of His statement, which when used immediately grabs God’s attention because one of His children is speaking directly to Him. It is through this personal recognition of who He is, by our own personal admission that God identifies with us. It also proclaims that we understand that when we pray that we are talking to our heavenly and eternal Father and not referring to our earthly one. In earthly terms, we may not always agree with our physical father and some may not even know him personally but it is God’s desire that those thoughts of denial and separation from Him be totally erased, and when we come to Him with a pure heart with these two words uttering from our lips, God says He hears us and shall respond as a true father should.
It is also understood that when we use the word Father in reference to God, we are verbally submitting our lives to His authority. This means that in order for us to speak this term, and use it correctly, we must be in line with His ways and be willing to lay aside all of our human lusts first. We must willingly obey His ways and voluntarily submit our entire lives to God in order for us to claim freedom from the world. Therefore, when we quote this passage of Scripture we are submitting ourselves to God, or under God in this context because of the previous statement. If we do NOT agree to all of God’s Word then we are approaching God with a lying heart; I will let you test those waters for a moment. In order for God to grant us the desires of our heart and to provide for us our needs, we first need to be under His law and therefore Covenant. I am not saying that God shall not bless us when we choose to violate His Covenant but I will state that He shall eventually stop those blessings and take action against the violations of His children.
The phrase “Our Father” sums up this entire topic because it sets into motion whether or not we really mean these words. If we are willing to rid ourselves of self itself and place God as #1 in our lives then we can boldly approach the Throne of God with these words and have the assurance that God will listen to our needs. However, the opposite is true that when we place self first in our lives then God cannot operate in the magnitude that He so desires. The “whatever feels good” attitude – to be addressed in the future – is a destructive concept and belief that we like to function in, and its presence is so prevalent today. But through this selfish proclamation of ours, God must take a backseat and cannot provide as His Word tells us. What I find hilariously sad is that when we realize that God is not bestowing His presence on our lives any longer we turn around and argue with Him through our own popular trends. What a mockery!!
In both of these passages, we have learned that if we allow the Great Shepherd control over our lives that He will constantly lead us into the path of prosperity and safety. E have also learned that if we are honest enough with God and come to Him with a pure and clean heart, He is faithful and just to grant us the needs of our heart. Likewise, if we run rebellion against the Shepherd or Our Father it places us in a position of jeopardy in which God will run after us. But as His Word states from the first verse of the Bible until the last word, it is strictly up to us to accept Him or not. We are not in control if we allow Him to lead us and we are not in control if we truly say “Our Father”. Of course, our enemy is going to place it into many hearts that this phrase is insignificant and does not need to be cried from the heart, but in reality, this phrase is the single lifeline that will grab God’s attention and protect us when we obey His voice in response.
These two passages have great meaning in the Church yet the Church has purposefully driven the truth from these passages. She has begun a crusade against God being in control of our lives and have replaced Him with our own selfish desires of lust, popularity, greed, and countless other worldly possessions. In other words, we are the examples of what occurs when we lie to God and run away from His flock. Yes, God shall pursue us to return to Him but He shall never beg for your attention and heart. Church your King and Shepherd calls out for you to return to Him so that we can once again effectively bring in those who do not know Christ as their eternal Savior. Now is the time that we put aside our differences and function as a flock of Christ and to pray as Jesus said we should. Through these simple truths, we can allow God to restore our lives and put us back fulfilling the mission that is before us, for His Word is completely alive. Both passages tell us that God shall supply our needs if we are willing to lay down our worldly self and come to Him with a repentant heart. It is through this key that God will allow us to do our part for the Kingdom of God.
DLB
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