The American Experiment

According to Google AI, the "American experiment" is the foundational idea that a diverse society can govern itself successfully as a democracy without a monarch or a ruling class. It treats the establishment and evolution of the United States as an ongoing test of whether liberty, equality, and self-rule can endure over time.

So what has made the "experiment" successful for 250 years? While the United States was not founded as an explicitly Christian nation with many of the founding fathers being Deists who accepted the idea of a Creator who put natural laws into effect including that all men are created equal, as well as the ideals of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and that there is accountability for ignoring those natural laws, Christians accept those concepts. And, for all of our country's existence, the majority of the population has identified as Christian. And what are the two basic commands for followers of Jesus? 1) Love God with all of your heart, soul, mind, and strength; and 2) Love your neighbor as yourself. And who is your neighbor? Whoever is around you, regardless of creed, skin color, etc.

God has remarkably blessed our country in many ways. There are many from other countries who still see the U.S. not only as offering opportunities to improve one's life, but also realize that the freedoms we have (particularly freedom of speech and worship) are unmatched in other parts of the world.

God has given us a great opportunity to use those freedoms to share the saving Gospel and also vote our consciences for candidates and proposals that we feel will best help us "love our neighbor as ourselves" and hold accountable those leaders who do not. And by God's grace, we will continue to keep the "experiment" going as we thank and praise, serve and obey Him for His goodness. As the hymn says, "God bless our native land!" -- Pastor Schmidt