Likewise!
Yes, indeed, but even then the erosion seemed to be was well underway. My old pastor speaks to me of an even earlier time when as a boy in Ontario, Canada scriptures was read every morning in public school and everyone prayed together prior to entering the class room for work on the 3Rs.
In my elementary public school, we were all released one day a week in what was known as "religious release". The nuns met us at the school to walk to nearby building where we were taught from the catechism. A protestant counterpart [there was only one Protestant church in our town] took away the interested Protestant children. Those remaining at the school, mostly Mormons, had lightly supervised free time in the classrooms until we returned. This was done during regular classroom hours and covered everyone from the 1st through the 8th grades.
How Christian was it? Well it was more Christ-like anything I've seen the public schools allow or offer lately.
We are mostly together here. Whatever there has been of Christ-like practices on any kind of an official level by governments is diminishing. People who know not God at all [along with some who claim to know God] see the superficial part as an improvement, but the miss what is missing in the changes... a real attempt by many to remove God from our lives. This is not really possible for some with a real connection, but as some would say, satan is a past master as accomplishing the wrong things.
Yes, the battles continue although many do not see who are on God's side and who are not. They have walked and talked blindly without much real understanding. I've walked blindly in too many places myself to pat myself on the back here... The good thing for me is that God is not finished with me yet. The trouble for many is, as I see it, is that they think that the work is already finished in them.
There is still good available to whosoever will and among many in our past much can been seen by those who have proper eyesight!
Give God the glory!
Yes, the erosion is always taking place due to our sin nature and satan's efforts. You saw it even in Israel who had the very God in their midst doing miraculous things before their eyes. So, the same has happened and will happen to the U.S. But it is important that we know that our country was founded on Christianity. Which means if there is any healing or correcting the problems in this country, it must return to that. Which I doubt seriously it will.
So as I quoted from Columbus, his was a Christian expedition. It was for the glory of God and Christ. It was for finding shorter sea routes for trade and for bringing the Word of the Gospel. This cannot be denied. I would encourage any to read Columbus's biography.
Let's look at now the coming of the Mayflower to America. I give quotes from (The Annals of America, Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc. , 2003, p. 64) It source is given as (The Journal of the Pilgrims at Plymouth in New England, in 1620, etc, etc, George B. Cheever, ed., 2nd edition, New York, 1849, pp. 30-31)
First is given an introduction. "The voyagers on the Mayflower were carried by wind and wave to a point--within the curve of the present Cape Cod--that was north of the Virginia Company's jurisdiction. Finding themselves thus outside the authority of their original patent, and hoping to arrest mutinous talk among some of the passengers, the company's leaders drew up a compact that was signed by forty-one men aboard the ship,on November 11, 1620. By the terms of this, the so-called Mayflower Compact, the Pilgrims agreed to govern themselves until they could arrange for a charter of their own; they were never able to arrange for such a charter, and the Compact remained in force until their colony at Plymouth was absorbed in that of Massachusetts Bay in 1691. Nevertheless, the Pilgrims still could have formed their own government in accordance with the laws of England), had they landed at their original destination in Virginia, because of amendments made to the original patent some time earlier. The original Compact has been lost, and historians are forced to rely for its wording on Mourt's Relation (1622), which is the earliest source of the text reprinted here."
The Compact. "This Day, before we came to harbor, observing some not well affected to unity and concord, but gave some appearance of faction, it was thought good there should be an association and agreement that we should combine together in one body, and to submit to such government and governors as we should by common consent agree to make and choose, and set our hands to this that follows word for word.
"In the name of God, Amen. We whose names are underwritten, the loyal subjects of our dread soverign lord, King James, by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, etc.
"Having undertaken for the glory of God, and advancement of the Christian faith and honor of our king and country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia, do by these present, solemnly and mutually, in the presence of God and one of another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil body politic, for our better ordering and preservation and furtherance of the ends aforesaid; and by by virture hereof to enact, constitute, and frame such just and equal laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions, offices from time to time as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general good of the colony; unto which we promise all due submission and obedience. In witness whereof we have hereunder subscribed our names, Cape Cod, 11th of November, in the year of the reign our our sovereign lord, King James, of England, France, and Ireland 18, and of Scotland 54. Anno Domini 1620"
Stranger