National Chairman's Letter

By Petition to God

August 2002

Dear Members and Friends of the Independent American Party,

Our IAP National Mission statement gives our purposes, then ends with our means for accomplishing them -- "by petition to God, and by political and educational means." Our new National Platform, in its first introduction point, states, "[Christian Heritage] We believe that Jesus Christ is the God of our land; that we are fundamentally a Christian nation; and that only by faith in and obedience to God shall we be preserved as a great nation."

George Washington said, "To the distinguished character of Patriot, it should be our highest Glory to laud the more distinguished character of Christian."

Patrick Henry: "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! For this very reason peoples of other faiths have been afforded asylum, prosperity and freedom of worship here."

Our Christianity is reflected in the symbols of America. US coins are inscribed with the words, "Liberty" and "In God we trust." The cap of the Washington Monument has the phrase, "Praise be to God." The Great Seal of the US has two phrases, "God has smiled on our undertaking" and "This nation under God." Our Pledge of Allegiance declares we are "one nation, under God."

Our patriotic songs include the phrases: "God bless America!" "Our fathers’ God, to thee, Author of liberty." "Protect us by thy might, Great God, our King!" "And this be our motto: 'In God is our trust!'" "America! America! God shed his grace on thee."

Alexis de Tocqueville wrote: "Not until I went to the churches of America and heard her pulpits aflame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because she is good and if she ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great."

George Washington, in the first official Presidential Proclamation, said: "[I]t is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will...." If that applies to our nation, then ought it not apply to political parties, that seek to influence the direction of our nation, to acknowledge God as well? We think so.

The First Amendment states, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; ...." It says nothing about "separation of church and state." That phrase was imposed in the 1960s by an inventive Supreme Court as a pretext for outlawing prayers in school, followed by school bans on Bible study, posting of the Ten Commandments, Nativity scenes by elementary schoolers, Christian songs in Christmas programs, high school graduation prayers, and maybe now the Pledge of Allegiance.

Cultural diversity and "political correctness" are becoming vogue in America replacing traditional Christian values. Our multiculturalism has come about, not out of concern for other cultures, but by those with an agenda to spoil America. The pagan gods of today represent a culture of self-indulgence, child sacrifice by abortion, and rebellion against self-discipline, responsibility, and morality.

New Age concepts are now being promoted in public schools. They teach there is no moral standard outside of an individual’s conscience. Our traditional calendar terms of AD for anno Domini or year of the Lord, is being replaced with CE for Common Era; and BC for Before Christ, with BCE for Before the Common Era. Christmas school vacation is now called Winter vacation. Easter vacation is called Spring vacation.

Moral principles today seem foreign to Americans. Our society is, in the language of scripture, "without natural affection ..." (Romans 1:31) -- as we promote pornography, free love, and homosexuality. Again, in the words of scripture, "Who being past feeling ..." (Ephesians 4:19) -- as we engage in abortion, child and spouse abuse, and random violence.

When God fades from a nation’s conscience, one can justify almost anything. For in Judges (17:6) it is written: "In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes."

A few years ago when in Israel, I visited the Mount of Olives. As I gazed at the marvelous view below, I remembered a painting I had seen a month earlier. It was a painting of Jesus Christ sitting on the Mount of Olives, gazing down at Jerusalem and the city walls, and lamenting the words found in Matthew (23:37): "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, ... how oft would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!"

Then I pictured in my mind our Savior gazing down on our nation and lamenting: "O America, America, ... how oft would I have gathered thy children together, ... but ye will not!"

The scriptures say: "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty" (2 Corinthians 3:17). "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord" (Psalms 33:12). "Righteousness exalteth a nation" (Proverbs 14:34).

The scriptures also say, "If my people which are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from Heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land" (2 Chronicles 7:14).

It is going to take more than a political, economic or social solution to turn the tide in America. It will take divine intervention. We need to get our lives and houses in order, that we may be worthy instruments for His hands. If we seek God, and with God’s help, America shall be saved!

Yours for Freedom!

Bruce Bangerter
IAP National Chairman