What Will America Be Like When God Stops Blessing America?

In the Sabbath Thought for this week, I thought I would reflect on the contrast between growing up in the America of the 1950’s and 1960’s and the America of 2016. It’s quite a black and white disparity.

In elementary school, we regularly said the Pledge of Allegiance, and sang “My Country Tis of Thee”. We also learned other patriotic songs such as “The Star Spangled Banner”, “America the Beautiful”, and “God Bless America”. Unbelievably in that era virtually no one objected.

It is heartening in our modern age to go to a ball game or other sporting event, and have them begin the event by playing “The Star Spangled Banner”. It is even more moving to have the crowd join in. It still happens at least at baseball games.

I will always remember the 2001 World Series after the destruction at the World Trade Center. It was a unique baseball playoff because there was an added element of patriotism and recollection of God. We were Americans, proud of it, and thankful to God for His many blessings.

I always remember the Star Spangled Banner being played before a baseball game commenced. At the seventh inning stretch, it was common to sing, “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” but I don’t remember them singing “God Bless America.” But they certainly did during the 2001 Series. It had a special significance that year.

Additionally, during that Series, Ray Charles performed his rendition of “America the Beautiful.” He had originally recorded the song in 1972 in the midst of the turmoil over the Viet Nam War. When he sang that patriotic song at Yankee Stadium in October 2001, it was a perfect choice that fit with the pain and sadness stemming the loss of so many lives.

Patriotism and thanks to God were common in the 1950’s and 1960’s and those values were briefly rekindled in 2001. But there seems to be a different spirit today.

Consider an article by columnists, L. Brent Bozell III and Tim Graham entitled, “Now Controversial: ‘God Bless America.” They write, “The folks at the New York Daily News have embraced a mission to become the most provocative jerks in the Big Apple. One day it's personal attacks on those praying for the victims of terrorism, the next it's declaring the National Rifle Association to be murderous. In keeping with this stream of insulting behaviors, columnist Gersh Kuntzman has issued a demand, saying, "Major League Baseball must permanently retire 'God Bless America,' a song that offends everyone."

They note that the columnist Kuntzman went on to say, “It's time for God to stop blessing America during the seventh-inning stretch. Welcome to the July 4 weekend — when once again, baseball fans will be assaulted by the saccharine-sweet non-anthem 'God Bless America' at stadia all over this great land." The song, he says, "should be sent permanently to the bench."”

In 1939, Irving Belin wrote “God Bless America.” 1939 was a time when the dark clouds of world war were on the horizon. Maybe he recognized the need for God’s blessing on America.

He wrote:

"While the storm clouds gather far across the sea,
Let us swear allegiance to a land that's free,
Let us all be grateful for a land so fair,
As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer. "

God Bless America,
Land that I love.
Stand beside her, and guide her
Thru the night with a light from above.
From the mountains, to the prairies,
To the oceans, white with foam
God bless America, My home sweet home.

A question arises in light of this attitude toward God blessing America, “What will America be like when God stops blessing our nation?”

A more important consideration in light of the sad events unfolding in our country, “Has God already withdrawn His blessings from our country?”

As this Sabbath approaches, you might consider the need for God’s blessing on our country. Hopefully, it’s not too late and God will once again bless America.

Gary Smith