What a foundation we have. We must never forget!

By: American Decency Staff

Four years ago as we purchased the church building that now serves as the headquarters of ADA, we envisioned using the auditorium as a means of reaching out into our community by hosting conferences, speakers, and special events to educate, challenge, edify.  As I look back over just the last few years I am amazed at the ways God has and is using us to do just that.  One of the many ways we have used our theater-style auditorium is to regularly host Christian films and documentaries which are open to the community free-of-charge. This past Friday evening we showed the powerful documentary America’s Godly Heritage to a nearly packed house.   America’s Godly Heritage lays out the truth of our nation’s Christian heritage that few really know. It was evident that those who attended our free movie night were not only blessed, but had their eyes opened as well. In yesterday’s email I wrote about the turmoil of the 1960s and the incredible cultural shifts we’ve seen since – deterioration of marriage and family, a removal of standards of right and wrong from our societal ethos, an entertainment industry that validates sinful lifestyles and mocks biblical morality.   I suppose one could point to a number of root causes. However, David Barton, in this documentary America’s Godly Heritage, lays out in a most profound way how one Supreme Court decision 1962 seems to have a correlation to the removal of God’s hand of blessing upon our nation. Many may scoff at such an idea; however we believers know that scripture teaches that God blesses the nation that honors Him.  (Psalm 33:12; Proverbs 14:34) After giving evidence upon evidence of Christian principles being purposefully woven into our nation’s founding documents, our government, courts, and schools for nearly two hundred years, Barton reveals how a rogue court – with no precedence or constitutional authority – threw out voluntary prayer in schools in a 1962 Supreme Court decision. The little prayer that led to this sweeping decision simply stated:  “Almighty God, we acknowledge our dependence upon Thee and we beg Thy blessings upon us, our parents, our teachers, and our country.â€Â Barton points out that this prayer asks for God’s blessings upon four categories – students (us), families (parents), schools (teachers), and the nation (country).  Barton then proceeds to give eye-opening, documented proof of the dramatic change in the downward spiral of these four areas beginning – in1962.  Teen, unwed birth rates, which had remained virtually unchanged for decades, dramatically sky-rocketed – after 1962.  Divorce rates and cohabitation in place of marriage showed similar striking changes –after 1962.  SAT scores which had remained at a similar high level since the inception of these standardized tests in 1926 began to plummet – after 1962. As Barton stated:  “The Founders understood that America could prosper only under God’s blessings and therefore refused to separate His principles from any aspect of public affairs.  …  The Founders recognized that for God to bestow His blessings, His principles had to be honored and embraced.â€Â It is more than evident that this nation, which once revered the Lord God, no longer honors and embraces His principles – rather they are mocked and undermined.  What began in those tumultuous 60’s has led to a floundering America.  Oh how far we are from our foundation!  Yet, as believers we also know there is hope and that answer also lies in scripture  – “If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.â€Â 2 Chronicles 7:14 That is really at the root of all we do here at ADA – first humbling ourselves before the Lord, but then calling on the people of our nation to recognize their sin, turn from it, and turn to the Lord. And that is what David Barton of WallBuilders is doing, as well, as he reveals the truth of our nation’s Christian underpinnings and calls for a return to those principles.  We encourage you to order his powerful documentary, America’s Godly Heritage, to share with your family, friends, church groups.  You can order it on our website at: To view a sample clip of America’s Godly Heritage click here: www.americandecency.org ===================================

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