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True Religion and Inner Renewal

He visited our people in the mines, in the

fields, in the forests, and in the great halls of

commerce. But he wrote that,

"Not until I went

into the churches of America and saw her

pulpits aflame with righteousness did I

understand the secret of her genius and power.

America is great because America is good

-–

and if America ever ceases to be good, it will

cease to be great."

American church religion, he wrote is"... a

political institution which powerfully contributes

to the maintenance of

a

democratic republic

among the Americans

...

"by supplying a strong

moral consensus amidst continuous political

change.

The main passage dealing expressly with

civil government is Romans 13:1-7:

Everyone must submit himself to the

governing authorities, for there is no

authority except that which God has

established. The authorities that exist

have been established · by God.

Consequently, he who rebels against

the authority is rebelling against what

God has instituted, and those who do

so

will bring judgment on themselves.

For rulers hold no terror for those

who do right, but for those who do

wrong. Do you want to be free from

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