Urgent Need: As the back-to-school season begins, families are facing mounting pressure—tough choices, cultural confusion, and strained relationships.
Will you make a gift before August 31 to help provide Christ-centered support in this critical season?
Should I vote? American liberties are based on Christian principles. As Christians, we teach our children to be enthusiastic citizens.
Why should I vote is a question on the minds of many.
After all, there has been so much controversy around voting, integrity, and whether we the people make a difference.
During the 1950s, Money Jewell, as we called our grandma, had been hospitalized. In those days, an ambulance often transported the sick home to continue to heal after their hospital stay. Grandma was discharged on Election Day. On her way home insisted that the ambulance take her by the polls to vote.
Money Jewell saw voting as part of her Christian duty to be involved in the election process. As my mother shared my grandmother’s story, she expounded on the fact that many brave men died to grant us the privilege to live free. It’s a blessing to be able to participate in the decisions about who will govern and what laws will be made.
My mother was careful to explain that evil seeks to deny both our political freedom on earth and the spiritual freedom we attain through Christ. Even as a child, I understood that the freedoms afforded me by my country were mine to both appreciate and protect.
Conversations with my mother gave me an appreciation for the Christian concepts found in American history. I developed a strong desire to practice my civic responsibilities. I’ve since found that taking the time to share personal stories and explain the biblical connection to freedom has worked to inspire my own children.
In 1831, President John Adams wrote in a letter to Thomas Jefferson: “The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were the general principles of Christianity.” Because our rich Christian history has been all but expunged from public-school textbooks, it’s critical that we explain to our children that the liberty we enjoy is a Christian principle. We live in a country that exists to protect our freedoms.
July Fourth offers the perfect opportunity to introduce children to the Judeo-Christian principles. Our country was established on these concepts. I have found that reading the Declaration of Independence with my family is a great place to start. Print out a transcript of the Declaration at archives.gov. Ask your children to circle the references to God and Christian principles. Then talk about each sentence together.
Another great point of discussion for my family has centered on the Christian influence found in so much of our rich American history. Find great resources at wallbuilders.com. Discover Scriptures and prayers engraved on national monuments to the prayers and favorite Bible verses of our nation’s presidents.
My family lives in the Northeast. Here, road trips can easily include a scavenger hunt to find signs of our Christian heritage. If you can’t visit monuments or government buildings in person. Consider an online scavenger hunt where family members can race to see who finds the most Scripture references by researching American history. Listen to Adventures in Odyssey: For God and Country. Designed for children, this adventure includes humor. Based on truth, the real-life stories and fantastic audio dramas inspire.
Equipping our kids to appreciate their freedoms may at times seem like a wearisome task. Words by President Ronald Reagan inspire me to teach my children to value their duty and right to be heard. Reagan declared: “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. Freedom must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.”
Thankfully, my mom inspired me to want to be a champion of freedom. I grew to have an enthusiasm for participating in our society because my mother’s joy and excitement was infectious. I believe that my children will grow to be enthusiastic citizens. They understand our nation is built on Judeo-Christian principles. It’s easy to be good citizens — both as Christians and as Americans.
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