The bi-centennial year of 1976 holds a lot of memories for me. That was the year I graduated high school - I remember that our yearbook that year had a patriotic theme to it, replete with stars and stripes. America was celebrating 200 years of existence, and it was quite the party, as I recall. And, in this 250th anniversary year, we should be able to find some different aspects of our country that we should celebrate. Shouldn’t we? Especially the blessings of God that we have been given. Paul commented on God’s sovereignty over the nations in Acts 17 (ESV):
26 And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, 27 that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, 28 for “‘In him we live and move and have our being…’
Veteran journalist Mark Tapscott, who now writes for The Washington Stand as Senior Congressional Analyst, stated this:
It was July 4, 1976, nearly 50 years ago, when ABC News correspondent Gabe Pressman covered America’s Bicentennial Celebration in the Big Apple as legions of celebrants sang classics like “America the Beautiful,” applauded countless paraders dressed like George Washington and Benjamin Franklin, and cheered the Tall Ships passing in review by the Statue of Liberty in New York harbor.
As the newsman strolled among the crowds that bright and sunny Sunday thrusting his microphone in front of a seemingly endless stream of beaming faces on the city’s streets and piers, he heard expressions of gratitude and joy, over and over. Similar scenes were being repeated in parks, stadiums, and town squares for fireworks, parades, speeches, concerts, and civic ceremonies in every major city in the nation, as well as many not-so-major towns and villages.
Now, well, maybe not so much.
Tapscott alleges:
The differences between then and today are so great that, were a “Back to the Future”-esque time machine available, transporting somebody standing on the National Mall during the Bicentennial Celebrations of 1976 to the same spot for the July 4, 2026, festivities nearing, that person would likely be amazed by the multiple layers of security, including multiple screening entry, exit, and checkpoints, restricted zones, counter-sniper teams, legions of uniformed law enforcement from numerous federal, state, and local agencies, the presence of National Guardsmen, and hovering seeing-eye drones operated remotely observing everybody.
And, here’s the rub, and I agree: “In 1976, neighbors and strangers together celebrated 200 years of independence while recovering from Watergate and Vietnam. Fifty years later, their children and grandchildren are preparing to celebrate 250 years of independence while arguing over whether the nation itself is worthy of celebration.” Tapscott notes that, “Multiple surveys in recent years have exposed growing anti-American views of great intensity…” That is among some, but not all. But, he notes: “Gallup’s report of its most recent surveys in this arena was headlined ‘American Pride Slips to New Low…””
The writer laments political violence in America and states: “Sustained political violence shakes the foundations of individual liberty in a democratic republic, but a multitude of more subtle threats to traditional American constitutional values and guarantees exploded in the five decades between 1976 and 2026. The two likely most significant are the number of federal programs and total federal spending and debt, plus the deepening intrusion of government regulations in every virtually every aspect of every American’s daily existence.”
He also takes aim at social issues, such as the proliferation of abortion, the growth of transgender surgeries, and the acceptance of the divisive principles of critical race theory.
I believe there is a direct correlation between the advance of these issues and a phenomenon that Tapscott highlighted in the closing words of this article - the “decline of Christianity;” he writes:
Perhaps the change that would most perplex Americans of 1976 would be the startling decline in the influence of Christianity on the nation’s culture and politics. Gallup data over the five decades clearly demonstrate the decline, with 70% or more of Americans belonging to a church, synagogue, or other house of worship, and 30-40% of them regularly attending services from 1937 through 1976. Today, despite some evidence of a reversal in progress, only about 45% of Americans belong to a church or synagogue — and barely 30% attend services weekly or otherwise regularly.
At the end, he quoted from Family Research Council President Tony Perkins, who is heard on the “Stand on the Word” short feature weekdays at 9:55 a.m. and p.m., as well as “Washington Watch Weekly,” Saturday nights at 7:30. The article says, quoting from Tony:
“Look, I’m first and foremost a citizen of the Kingdom of God, but He’s blessed me by putting me in this country. I’m proud to be an American,” he insisted. “I’m not always proud of what my country does and the policies that they embrace, but … I’ve traveled the world,” Perkins said, explaining that it had made him overwhelmingly thankful for the opportunities and blessings we have here at home. “I’m glad I’m an American, and … as I did when I was willing to put on the uniform as a Marine — I’ll fight for this country. And today, I’m fighting in the political and the cultural arena because I think this country is worth fighting for.”
It’s not 1976 - and things have changed. Regarding the advent of modern technology, perhaps our lives are easier in some sense due to these advancements. But, on the moral and spiritual front, perhaps not for the better. And, on the mental health front, with stress and anxiety reaching a boiling point in some segments of our society, people are in need of a reset, but not a “Great Reset” like the World Economic Forum would like to give us. But, a return to the values that have positively influenced our country - rooted in faith in Jesus Christ.
A passage in Hosea 8 describes the state of our nation:
4 They made kings, but not through me.
They set up princes, but I knew it not.
With their silver and gold they made idols
for their own destruction.
5 I have spurned your calf, O Samaria.
My anger burns against them.
How long will they be incapable of innocence?
6 For it is from Israel;
a craftsman made it;
it is not God.
The calf of Samaria
shall be broken to pieces.
7 For they sow the wind,
and they shall reap the whirlwind.
The standing grain has no heads;
it shall yield no flour;
if it were to yield,
strangers would devour it.
The issue at hand is idolatry. The 10 Commandments say “no other gods,” “no graven images,” but our position collectively is not to humble ourselves before God, but to worship idols, false gods, of our own making. If we are willing to reject those things that distract us and humble ourselves before Almighty God, He will do incredible things in our midst. He will demonstrate His power through the Church - and when He does that, we will certainly have plenty to celebrate, to praise Him for!