The Building Called America

July 4, 1999

 

THE BUILDING CALLED AMERICA
 Restoring America's Foundation
 By Donald E. Wildmon

 Once upon a time a group of people decided to build a new building. It would
 be an unusual building, the likes of which the world had never seen. They
 would call their beautiful new structure America.

 The builders knew the foundation must be exceptionally strong. The design
 called for three mighty pillars: faith, family and freedom. Each would
 undergird equally the weight of the building. So construction began on the
 building called America.

 The workers labored faithfully to insure the three pillars of faith, family
 and freedom were strong enough to withstand wind, rain and attacks of the
 enemy. For many the task consumed their whole life.  However their children, catching their father's dream, continued to work on the building and to insure the strength of the three supporting pillars.

 Generations passed, but each did its part to maintain the glorious building
 which had become the most treasured and admired structure in all the world.
 They gave of themselves freely. Some even sacrificed their very lives and
 fortunes to preserve its integrity. And they always made sure that the
 supporting pillars of faith, family and freedom were sound. They knew that
 the existence of the entire building rested upon the strength of the three
 pillars.

 Years later some began to question the need to maintain all three pillars.
 They thought only two were necessary. So they began to ignore the pillar of
 faith. Due to neglect, the pillar of faith fell into disrepair and became
 weak. The weight of the building called America shifted to the two remaining
 pillars of family and freedom.

 Everyone noticed that the foundation underneath the building called America
 was sagging. They blamed many things, but seldom gave serious consideration to the deteriorating pillar of faith. Before long, because of the weakening of the pillar of faith, the pillar of family began to fail. The pillar of
 freedom began to crumble under the load.

 Some people saw what was happening to the building and tried to restore the
 pillar of faith. Other scoffed at them, calling them old-fashioned and
 traditional. Many tried to prop up the building called America using a
 variety of techniques. But few were interested in strengthening the pillar
 of faith.

 One day, to the surprise and sadness of the world, the building called
 America collapsed. A voice trapped beneath the crumbling structure was heard to cry out: "No building like America can ever stand except on the three
 equal pillars of faith, family and freedom." And with that the once
 magnificent building called America perished and disappeared into the rubble
 of history.

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 A FEW QUOTES FROM AMERICA'S BEGINNINGS

 "It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation
 was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religions, but
 on the gospel of Jesus Christ."  - Patrick Henry

 "We have staked the whole future of America's civilization, not upon the
 power of government, far from it. We have staked the future of all our
 political institutions ...upon the capacity of each and all of us to govern
 ourselves according to the Ten Commandments of God."
  - James Madison

 "And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed
 their only firm basis - a conviction in the minds of people that these
 liberties are the gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with his
 wrath? Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just: that
 his justice cannot sleep forever."  - Thomas
 Jefferson

 "He who shall introduce into the public affairs the principles of primitive
 Christianity will change the face of the world."  -
 Benjamin Franklin

 "It is impossible to rightly govern... without God and the Bible"
 George Washington

 INDEPENDENCE DAY LINKS:

 Go on a pilgrimage to INDEPENDENCE HALL HISTORIC PARK

 View the original DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE from the National Archives

 Visit the INDEPENDENCE DAY EXHIBIT from the National Archives

 The article THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE: A HISTORY

 Visit THE CHARTERS OF FREEDOM at the National Archives

 Visit the BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX OF OUR FOUNDING FATHERS  at the National Archives
 

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