©20

12 Good N

ews Tracts. (©

200

9 Am

erican Tract Society). Prin

ted in U

.S.A. Ph

otos by iStock Photo.

the upbringing of their children in the ways of God. Children are to obey and respect their parents. God’s moral verdict in Psalm 33:12 is to bless the nation whose God is the Lord. In Romans 13:1–7 we are given instructions on how to live as responsible citizens. We are to: •submittoourgoverningauthorities, •dowhatisgoodinsociety,and •payourtaxes.

The Place of Prayer in Society TheBibleexhortsustoprayforoneanother and for our leaders and all those in authority so that we might live in peace (1 Timothy 2:1–2). God is honored when we pray and worship Him for who He is and what He has done for us.

America Must Turn to GodTheBibletellsusthatGodsentHisSon,JesusChrist,todieonacrossforoursins.Three days later Jesus was raised from the dead,andnowHeoffersallwhobelieveinHim the gift of everlasting life. Change in America can come about only when we turn to God for help. Since God is theauthorofmorality,wemustmakeHimasignificantpartofourlives.Thatbeginswhen we place our trust in Jesus Christ.

Don Anderson

AreyouwillingtoallowGodtomakeadifference in your life and see change come about in America? Then place your trust in Jesus Christ today and receive Him as yourSavior.TheBiblesays,“Yettoallwhoreceivedhim,tothosewhobelievedinhisname,hegavetherighttobecomechildrenof God” (John 1:12).

❏ I have now placed my trust in Jesus Christ as my Savior! Tell us and we will send you free information to help you grow in your new relationship with God.

_____________________________________________________________________NAME DATE AGE

_____________________________________________________________________ADDRESS

_____________________________________________________________________CITY/STATE/ZIP

_____________________________________________________________________EMAIL

Good News Tracts1300 Crescent Street Wheaton, IL 60187

For helpful Christian literature, please write to the address above or visit our web site at www.goodnewstracts.org. Bible references: NIV.

Moralityhasalwaysbeenakeyfactorinhow a country’s future unfolds. Values and principles have a major role in the

decisionspeoplemakeandhowtheybehavein a society.

A Reminder from History and Our Founding Fathers

History reminds us that from the beginning our great nation was based on religious freedom and a strong dependence on God. OurfoundingfathersacknowledgedthatChristianity was the core of our country. JohnAdams,secondpresidentoftheUnitedStates,stated,“Thegeneralprinciplesonwhich the fathers achieved independence were the general principles of Christianity.” JohnHancockwasasigneroftheDeclaration of Independence and Governor of Massachusetts.Whilegovernor,hecalledonthestatetopraythat“Allnationsmaybowto the scepter of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christandthatthewholeearthmaybefilledwith His glory.”

America was Built on Godly PrinciplesAs one investigates the beginning of ournation,thefingerprintsofGodareunmistakable.Ourfoundingfathersmadeitclear that their view on morality came from the God of Christianity. The Declaration of Independence has four direct references to

God.HeisreferredtoasourCreator,Lawgiver,Judge,andProtector.Ourthirdpresident,ThomasJefferson,stated:“Thepracticeofmorality is necessary for the well-being of society.He(God)hastakencaretoimpressitsprecepts so indelibly on our hearts.”

America’s Moral and Spiritual DeclineOur nation once had a strongmoral fiber andwas blessed abundantly for many generations. Regrettably,thatpathhasbeenchanging.Studyof the history of civilizations indicates morality always spirals downward when God and His principles are left out of any society. In 1963 the Supreme Court removed prayer from public schools. Noted historian David Barton made a revealing study on the American time period of 1963–1993. He noted an alarming social trend. Consulting Human and Health ServicesandtheCensusBureau’sstatistics,He

noted the following information about that thirty-year period:

Single-parent households increased by 25 percent.

Birth rates for unwed teenage girls increased by 300 percent.

The cases of teens having gonorrhea increased by 400 percent.

The number of violent crimes committed increased by 600 percent (theU.S.currentlyhasthehighest prison population of any free-world country).

Thesestatisticsareadisturbingprofileofwhat happens when God is left out of our society. They illustrate the heavy toll on our culture.

A Solution to America’s Moral and Spiritual Dilemma

The Bible provides instructions on how we can solve our moral problems in America. Proverbs 14:34 states that God is pleased when nations abide by His righteous values.InExodus20:1–17GodrevealedHis standard for morality when he gave mankindtheTenCommandments. In 1 Corinthians 6:18–20 we are told that sex outside of marriage is SIN! In Ephesians 6:1–4 we have instructions for parenting. Parents are responsible for

“Obey me, and I will be

your God and you will be

my people. Walk in all the

ways I command you, that

it may go well with you.”

Jeremiah 7:23

AreyouwillingtoallowGodtomakeadifference in your life and see change come about in America? Then place your trust in Jesus Christ today and receive Him as yourSavior.TheBiblesays,“Yettoallwhoreceivedhim,tothosewhobelievedinhisname,hegavetherighttobecomechildrenof God” (John 1:12).

❏ I have now placed my trust in Jesus Christ as my Savior! Tell us and we will send you free information to help you grow in your new relationship with God.

_____________________________________________________________________NAME DATE AGE

_____________________________________________________________________ADDRESS

_____________________________________________________________________CITY/STATE/ZIP

_____________________________________________________________________EMAIL

Rediscovering America’s Godly Heritage

History and our founding fathers remind us that from the beginning this great nation was based on religious freedom and a

strong dependence on God.

Bible references: NIV. Package contains 25 tracts.

PATRIOTIC

Good News Tracts