The Spiritual Condition of America, Politics, Culture, and Current Events Analyzed Through the Lens of Scripture. Welcome to the Alex McFarland Show. What should we be thankful for as America celebrates her 249th birthday, July 4th, 2025? What are we thanking God for? What are we celebrating in America?
Hi, Alex McFarland here, Christian Patriot. If you've listened to me or read any of my books, you know that I really believe America is a gift from God and we have much for which to be grateful. And in this program today, I'm going to deviate because I'm in the middle of a multi-part series on why America and the church. Should support the nation of Israel. And we will resume that next week.
But right now, with July 4th upon us, I want to talk about basically seven things for which to be grateful related to the United States of America. And these things are important. I think they're things that are not talked about all that much. And so I hope you are feeling patriotism, and I hope you're thanking God and praying for our nation. You know, interestingly, even though the American Revolution was really furthered by ministers, and in fact, they talked about the black-robed regiment that were ministers in their pulpits talking about how we must band together and stand for our liberty against the abuses of England.
And of course, the shot heard around the world, the Continental Army was being conscripted in churches, Washington's Army recruitment was happening in the churches. And the church at Lexington was fired upon by British soldiers because the ministers were conscripting men into Washington's army. And as men and parishioners left the church at Lexington, the American Revolutionary War was started as the British fired on people. And so America has a rich history of Christians standing. For liberty and yes, for this country.
About a year ago, at a major denominational convention, one of the ministers stood up and said that he would never salute the American flag because no Christian should swear allegiance to an earthly entity. And of course, that's false because we humans and yes, Christians, we swear allegiance to many earthly entities. We stand at an altar to get married and we pledge another human till death do us part. And we pledge our employer an honest day's work. At least I hope that's what we all do.
Well, many entities and commitments are made on earth, and that doesn't necessarily compromise our Christian loyalty and fidelity to the Lord Jesus Christ. And several years ago, I wrote a book called Stand Strong America, and I want to not only quote from that, but also from my more recent book. Book, which is The Assault on America: How to Defend Our Nation Before It's Too Late. And I'll give a quote here from Alexis de Tocqueville in 1831. And of course, he famously wrote Democracy in America after spending several years studying the USA.
Alexis de Tocqueville said: There is no country in the world where the Christian religion retains a greater influence over the souls of men than in America.
Well, 30 years after Tocqueville wrote Democracy in America, our 26th president, Teddy Roosevelt, began to speak and publish works about his understanding of America, because Teddy Roosevelt is probably our most Christian U.S. president. And in his analysis of America, he contrasted our history with that of another not so fortunate people, the French, during the period leading up to the French Revolution.
Now, Theodore Roosevelt noted that France, in the years that would coalesce into social and political overthrow, France had been a place of great impiety. They did not believe anything. Quote unquote. Teddy Roosevelt wrote. And he quotes among many other great American founders, but Theodore Roosevelt cites the revolutionary general Governor Morris, who had written to General Washington regarding the conditions of 18th century France.
Governor Morris had written to George Washington and said, quote, there is an utter prostration of morals, but this general proposition can never convey to an American mind the degree of depravity in France. The great mass of common people have no religion but their priests, no law but their superiors, no morals but their own interests, end of quote.
So in chronicling the birth of America and documenting parts of the early history, Roosevelt would champion what he saw as our superiority, yes, American superiority to other nations. And Roosevelt, Theodore Roosevelt, A devout Christian warned of things that he saw that were threats to the country.
Now, what were those threats? Loss of God, loss of morality, loss of national spirit or patriotism, and the absence of decisiveness and conviction. Isn't that something that Theodore Roosevelt saw as a threat to this country? The inability Of leaders and citizens to have conviction and decisiveness on issues. And I think about this as the threats that they are, but what in the world would Roosevelt say in the 21st century about college professors, the majority of whom, nearly 90% of U.S.
secular college professors, identify as politically liberal, spiritually agnostic? What would he think of the left removing his own statue from the American Museum of Natural History? And a CNN reporter at the time noted, quote, removing Teddy Roosevelt's statue is just the beginning.
Now abandonment of morality, the loss of family, the loss of reverence for human life, and now today of Gen Z and Younger, some 46% believe that Christianity and the church are detrimental to American society. Isn't that something? And so we have to come back, folks. I know our loyalty is in heaven. Our fidelity is to the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
But I want to challenge Christians and especially clergy: do not be ashamed to say, I am patriotic. I thank God for America. America was founded on Christianity. It doesn't mean we've always followed Christianity, but the abolition of slavery. Which was really only about 85 to 87 years after the founding of the Constitution.
It came about because of the Christian DNA. And in fact, in Jefferson's original draft of the Declaration of Independence, there had been a paragraph not only acknowledging that we were to be a Christian nation, but the abolition of slavery was part of the original Declaration.
Now, South Carolina and Georgia wouldn't sign on, and so to have a unified front among the 13 original colonies, much to Jefferson's initial protests, the paragraph putting the abolition of slavery in the original Declaration was stricken. And yes, it took eight decades to get back around to the abolition of slavery, and I'm thankful that Republicans were able to do that in the 1860s. But what other nation other than Christian Britain was working for the abolition of slavery and the advancement of human rights in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, only America. Because of our Christian founding.
So, for all of the pious platitudes about how one does not sully oneself by standing up for America, no, it's time to be patriotic. And I want to, when we come back after this brief break, I'll talk about seven reasons that every citizen, especially Christians, should celebrate America, be grateful for America, and speak up, stand up patriotically here at our nation's birthday. Alex McFarland saying, stay tuned, we're back after this. Fox News and CNN call Alex McFarland, a religion and culture expert. Stay tuned for more of his teaching and commentary after this.
Charlie Kirk is coming to the Grand Strand August 21. He's one of the world's most influential social media voices and one of the people most responsible for the resurgence of young people standing up for America, getting registered to vote, and learning about our Constitution. Hi, Alex McFarland here. You are invited to part three in our speaker series, Conversations That Matter, with Charlie Kirk, Thursday night, August 21, 7 p.m. at the Alabama Theater on Highway 17 in North Myrtle Beach.
For tickets, visit the Alabama Theater website at alabama-theater.com. Hear Charlie Kirk, August 21, and there will be open mic question and answer. For complete information on the speaker series, go to alexmacfarlane.com slash conversations. He's been called trusted, truthful, and timely. Welcome back to the Alex McFarlane Show.
Welcome back to the program. May the Lord bless you and may God bless our nation here at the 4th of July as we celebrate our nation's 249th birthday. Coincidentally, you may not be aware of this, but our ministry, the legal name, It's not Alex McFarland Ministries or even Truth for a New Generation, although DBA we do business as Alex McFarland Ministries and we do conferences and publishing and Truth for a New Generation. But really our legal incorporated name now for 27 years is Project 2026 Inc. What does that mean?
Well, Project 2026, Inc., 27 years ago when God put it on my heart to start this ministry, 250 years of America is the year 2026, next year. And what our commitment is and was is that we would do our utmost to evangelize. Proclaim the gospel and to see our nation have a revival by our 250th birthday. As America nears a quarter millennia in age, Project 2026, and also we do business as the Alliance for the Preservation of Christianity in America. We wanted to do all that we could to promote revival in America.
And now, with events publishing and broadcasting, the Lord's been allowing us to do that. Many of you pray for me and our growing staff. You have supported, and I thank you. And our commitment today is the same as it was a quarter century ago. We will evangelize, we will preach, we will not compromise the infallible word of God.
And what the Bible says about heaven, hell, life, salvation, eternity. marriage, morality, Sexuality. Truth, government, education, biblical worldview. We proclaim it, we explain it, defend it, and we give God the glory that we're able to do that. And we thank you for helping us.
To learn more, our website is alexmacfarland.com. We've got camps going on, a great event. August 21, Charlie Kirk will be with us there in Myrtle Beach. September 14, Lauren Green, a roundtable discussion on the future and the state of the local church. Please go to alexmacfarland.com to learn more.
But why celebrate America here at July 4th?
Well, I'll give you seven reasons. Number one, we are a nation founded on natural rights, which is to say, the Ten Commandments of a holy God. The Ten Commandments, now that's in Exodus 21 through 17. When Jefferson wrote, We hold these truths to be self-evident, what he meant was. There is an undeniable moral code written on the heart of all people.
That's why we've talked about this endlessly, that natural rights are objective moral truth. These are the founding principles of the country. In fact, that's why transgenderism is unconstitutional, because the U.S. Constitution guards the God-given, immutable rights that you have. As JFK said it, Bill Clinton said it.
In 92, Bill Clinton quoted John F. Kennedy from 1961, that the role of government is not to give you rights. The role of government is to guard the inalienable rights you already have by virtue of being a human being.
Now, what the Bible tells us in Romans is this, that the Gentiles, okay, Romans 2.14, which have not the law, by nature do the things contained in God's law. These having not the law or a law unto themselves, which show the work of God's law, listen, written in their hearts.
So, God has written his law on the hearts of all people, and this is immutable or unchangeable.
So, we really ought to thank God that we At a time when the governments of the world, they were either monarchies or oligarchies. In 1776, a monarchy of a king, and a king could be good or bad, an oligarchy, a small group of people, like the Roman Senate. And here was a nation. This beam of light appeared on the landscape of human history that we would be founded on not the law of man, but the law of God. And in the spirit of Augustine and Aquinas.
Our laws We would do our utmost to see that our nation's laws. Drafted by men, harmonized with God's law, found, yes, in the Holy Scripture, but also on the human conscience. We are a nation founded on natural rights. Secondly, rejoice, and thank God, we are a nation that was miraculously given victory over the British Army. I would refer you to the book by William J.
Federer, Miracles in American History. It really is amazing. You know, I was going to our third summer youth camp just a week ago, driving down 85 South on the way towards Georgia, and I crossed over several rivers: the Tiger River, the Cowpens River. And those are just one of many places where miraculously the Continental Army was allowed to escape. The soldiers would pray, and there would be a storm, and there would be victory.
And time and again, whether it be crossing. The Delaware or battles in New England and upstate New York or down in the southeast, the minute men that were basically farmers with sticks, and some had weapons, even at Valley Forge, how men's Feet. And the British often tracked The soldiers by following, as has been written, the blood in the snow. We were given miraculous victory over England and the king and the British Army. We were supernaturally preserved and protected and given the preeminence and the victory.
And as George Washington was inaugurated our first president, among his first syllables uttered as the first president, he said, The sacred fire of liberty has been entrusted to the American people. Thirdly, we are a nation of iconic historical achievements commemorated in documents and landmarks. I've been to Plymouth Rock. I've been to Mantio, the first settlement in 1587 on Roanoke Island, the first town, literally. I've been to the Smithsonian.
Maybe like myself, maybe your heart was moved if you've ever seen the Declaration of Independence or the Bill of Rights or the U.S. Constitution, or you've stood in Statuary Hall in the Capitol or in the Rotunda, and you look up and you see the painting on the ceiling of the Capitol's dome, the apotheosis of George Washington, and the founders being carried up to heaven. Not because they founded a nation, although that's quite an achievement. They were believers. In Christ Jesus.
George Washington said to this distinguished title of patriot, may we add the even more distinguished title of Christian. And George Washington in his prayer journal he would write, Heavenly Father Before whom I may appear only if wrapped in the righteousness of thy dear Son Jesus.
So we have a nation of history. Oh my goodness, uh so many things that we could point out the cobblestone streets of Boston and the house of Paul Revere. And we need to celebrate this and pass it on to our children and go to that Statue of Liberty and go to Ellis Island. and the sites in Washington and the Lincoln Memorial, and of course crossing everything from the Mississippi to the Grand Canyon to the Red River in Texas and the Pacific Ocean where that great statue, the end of the trail, was erected, which is now in Oklahoma City, by the way. But I'm going to come back and we'll talk more about the things to celebrate as great Americans because now it's our hour.
to speak up and stand up for God and country. Happy 4th of July. Stay tuned. We're back after this. Fox News and CNN call Alex McFarland a religion and culture expert.
Stay tuned for more of his teaching and commentary after this. Christian author and speaker Alex McFarland is an advocate for Christian apologetics. Teaching in more than 2,200 churches around the world, schools, and college campuses, Alex is driven by a desire to help people grow in relationship with God. He arms his audiences with the tools they need to defend their faith, while also empowering the unchurched to find out the truth for themselves. In the midst of a culture obsessed with relativism, Alex is a sound voice who speaks timeless truths of Christianity in a timely way.
With 18 published books to his name, it's no surprise that CNN, Fox, The Wall Street Journal, and other media outlets have described Alex as a religion and culture expert. To learn more about Alex and to book him as a speaker at your next event, visit alexmacfarland.com or you can contact us directly by emailing booking at alexmacfarland.com. In recent years, our nation has suffered greatly and we seem to be on a rapid moral decline. We've rejected God, morality, and we've almost completely lost our sense of patriotism. It's no wonder that many are asking the question: is this the end of America?
Hi, Alex McFarland here, and I want to make you aware of my book, The Assault on America: How to Defend Our Nation Before It's Too Late. You know, our nation has seen politicians that are corrupted by greed and they've got a vested interest in power, and many of our elected officials seem to care little about the country that they've been appointed to serve. Read my book, The Assault on America. We can stand up for our great nation and defend America before it's too late. It's available everywhere.
You can learn more on my own website, which is alexmcfarland.com. Read the book, The Assault on America: How to Defend Our Nation Before It's Too Late. He's been called trusted, truthful, and timely. Welcome back to the Alex McFarlane Show. Psalm 33:12, Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.
Welcome back to the program. Alex McFarland here. Happy Fourth of July. Hope you're with people that you love, enjoying a good Fourth of July gathering. You know, I love this time of year.
It reminds me of growing up on the farm that we had for 88 years, and my grandparents making a big batch of lemonade, and we would cook outdoors. We had a pond. On the farm, and all the neighbors would want to come and go fishing. And it always seemed like on the 4th of July, there were blackberry bushes, and we would pick blackberries. And we call it volunteer.
Nobody planted them, they just were there. And how I thank God for my grandparents that were Christians, my mom and dad. I was dating Angie, and we, of course, got married. I thank God for a Christian wife that doesn't mind helping work in the garden. And, you know, I guess I'm very blessed in that even as a kid, eating fruit.
Fresh corn on the cob, or having a tomato sandwich with a sun ripened tomato, or going and my grandmother showing me how to bait a hook and go fishing. It seemed like the Fourth of July, it was always sunny. and we were always outdoors, and everybody from the whole countryside would stop by, and it was great. And we were taught to salute the flag and say the Pledge of Allegiance. And it didn't conflict with our Christianity.
We knew that God is God and Jesus is the Savior, but He entrusted this land to us. And I think we need to pass on that patriotism. But number four, in all of the things that we need to be grateful for, we're a nation whose personality is can-do and American ingenuity. I talked about the fact that we miraculously won our freedom from Britain and then went across the country. You know, Lewis and Clark, the Lewis and Clark expedition from 1804 to 1806, it was sponsored by the U.S.
government. And over and over, they documented, you know, when they went to the woods and the unexplored parts of the North American continent, the Methodist preachers were already there to meet them. And there were clerics on the Lewis and Clark expedition. And maybe it was our miraculous victory over Britain. And then clearing the west and the westward expansion, but there was as.
Twice Pulitzer-nominated scholar Rodney Stark would say it was, quote, the iron Protestant work ethic. That has been and still is this can-do spirit. Do you know in the United States of America, you know what we've given to the world? Steam engines, sewing machines, indoor air conditioning, thank you, Lord. The airplane, the light bulb, transistors, personal computers, hearing aids, traffic lights, mass-produced automobiles, the electric guitar, and amplification.
And I've been to the factory where the electric guitar was invented, but GPS, the internet, email, penicillin, electric motors, the polio vaccine, the Ferris wheel, dishwashers, flu shots, chemotherapy, home security systems, Kleenex, potato chips were invented in America. And in 1928, Ruth Wakefield near Boston invented chocolate chip cookies. I mean, on and on we could go. Thank God for America and the can-do spirit. And you're a part of that today, my friend.
You and I are together. Number five, we are a nation that has been and is a benevolent presence in the world. I mean, besides our own armed forces being peacekeepers and peacemakers, we are a nation that has given the world the American Red Cross. And there is Samaritan's Purse and Compassion International, World Help, World Vision, Baptist Men on Mission. And throughout the world, in the spirit of Matthew 25, we've given a cup of cold water in Jesus' name.
And I've told the stories of older people I've interviewed that survived World War II and how America. has gone to fight the despots and to defeat the fascists and to spread freedom and to defend human life because and it goes all the way back to George Washington but Humans are made in God's image, and when I'm honoring myself. My fellow man. I'm honoring the one whose image they bear. We are a nation that, to the tune of trillions of dollars each year, Americans, and 85% of it are American people of faith, Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox, we give to benevolent causes that result in the betterment of the human condition.
Number six, we're a nation blessed with incredible economic strength. I mean, many of our states, like Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, certainly New York State, Florida, and Texas. These are states with economies that surpass most of the economies of the nations of the world. And we've been blessed. Oh, my goodness.
We are the nation that to a large degree feeds the world. Do you know the majority of rice in the world? Comes from the United States of America. Even California, the salad bowl of the world. Lettuce and tomatoes and onions go up.
You can come with me to Monterey and Gilroy and places like that. The Middle America, the breadbasket of the world. And God has given us incredible advancements and achievements in terms of agriculture. And we've been so blessed economically, technologically, and food. And number seven, and so much more we could say, we're a nation.
Celebrate this and thank God for this. America is a nation of 370,000 Christian churches, 500,000 ordained ministers, and according to George Barna. The great respected George Barner, 120 million adult followers of Jesus Christ. Isn't that amazing? And I could go on that we're a nation with a representative republic.
We get sideways, we get off track sometimes, but we have the potential for correction. We have recourse. We can pray. We can witness. We have freedom of speech.
Freedom of assembly. Freedom of religious expression. And we can run for office. And when People who don't get America are elected.
Well, people that are godly, of good faith, constitutionalists, they can be elected. And so to day as we celebrate America, bow and thank God for freedom. and remember that for the Christian all of life is stewardship. We've been entrusted with these great things. You know Deal Moody, one of my heroes, he said every revival in history can be traced to one kneeling figure.
kneeling in prayer.
So today, prayer. Pray, thank God for America. You know, 1 Timothy 2:1 through 3 urges believers to pray for those in authority. Including national leaders, so that we may live a peaceable life in all godliness. In other words, we are to pray for, work toward, and stand for a culture most conducive to the fulfilment of Christ's great commission.
Lord, we thank you for our freedoms. We thank you for the blessings. Thank you for this country with its rich history rooted in you. And Lord, today and in the future, may we individually do what we can. to spread the truth.
To honor you in all of our ways, and that. Christian freedom and truth would be preserved and proclaimed because of our lives. May we all do our part for God and country. In Jesus' name.
