America's Legacy.

America's Legacy

America was founded upon the idea of liberty. It was founded upon the idea that all men are created equal and have rights that are endowed by their divine creator. Each and every person has the right to govern themselves and choose for themselves the religion, profession, and activities that they would like to pursue. Those who first came to America came in search for that liberty. They came because they believed in the idea of America and they sought their freedom.

John Winthrop, the man chosen to be the governor of the new Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1630, stated to those on his ship that they were as a city set upon a hill. He said the following, as they traveled to America, "The eyes of all people are upon us. So that if we shall deal falsely with our God in this work we have undertaken and so cause Him to withdraw His present help from us, we shall be made a story and a by-word through the world."

John Winthrop and others with him understood a very important principle about their role on the American continent. They left tyranny and oppression on one side of the ocean and arrived to hope, liberty and freedom at the other. They sought freedom so that they could worship God freely and they were determined to do so. With this liberty, they recognized that they would be as a candle on a hill. A standard to all nations. They
knew that freedom was a gift from God and that they must use it for his purposes.


With time, the liberty, devotion, and virtue of the American people led her to power and prosperity like the world had never known. As intended, America became a light on a hill and many have sought refuge on her shores. Refugees and immigrants have flocked to American shores as opportunity and innovation have left American shores for others.

What is America's legacy?

If one doesn't look closely, they may confuse the legacy of America with products of the legacy. Are blue jeans, fast food, Coca-Cola, and prosperity the legacy of America? Some in foreign nations, and perhaps too many living here in America would answer yes to that question.

To clarify this point, we must remember that America was founded on an idea. An individual with a coke in his hand, McDonalds in his stomach, and Levi jeans on his legs is not truly American unless the flame of liberty is alive in his heart.


The legacy of America is one of religious freedom. It is one of economic freedom. It is a legacy of protecting freedom around the world, and a legacy of charitable giving. Of course, we shouldn't turn a blind eye to the errors and shameful things in our history, but we should also recognize that it was human error, human imperfection that caused those events, not the idea upon which this country was founded. Disgracing this Country based on the poor behavior of individuals living in it is like disgracing Christianity because Christians are imperfect. The creed of Americanism is to aspire to liberty and equality. Have we made it? of course not. Should we curse ourselves for trying? Some seem to believe that we should. Too frequently we mistakenly curse the legacy and the creed when we are ashamed of imperfect individuals.

If you are looking for a Country that has never had people within her doing things that they shouldn't do, you're looking on the wrong planet. If we do not remember and protect the role and legacy of America, it will die. And if the idea of America dies, that is, if liberty and freedom die, then the progression of the human race will die with it.

My Prayer

I pray that we can restore America's legacy. That we can restore the idea of freedom and liberty by seeking it as the founders sought it. I pray that we too will be filled with the flame of liberty and will defend truth and error. I pray that as we do so, we will be more forgiving of our own imperfections than we have been to those of the founders.