

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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