HECHT: STAND FIRM, WEAR THE ARMOR OF GOD
JEREMY WALTNER – PUBLISHER
In his book, One Nation Under God by Dr. David Gibbs, the author notes that, in the Declaration of Independence, God is referenced four times in one way or another, and that in the founding era of our nation, from 1760 to 1805, the source that is cited the most in all political writings was the Bible.
“It is quoted four times more than any other source,” said Rev. Michael Hecht of the Salem Reformed Church, referencing Gibbs’ book in his message during the Patriotic Worship Service in Menno Sunday morning, July 4. “The next three highest quotings were from men who were professing Christians and relied on the word of God. That’s our founding, and we need to know that, because it seems that a lot of that is trying to be taken away, changed, made light of, in many ways, which is sad to see. We as America are in a spiritual battle for the soul of our nation.”
Hecht, whose message was titled, “The Battle Belongs to the Lord,” spent several minutes talking about the era in which the Declaration of Independence — which he called “America’s birth certificate — was signed and the devotion to God that was foundational to the establishment of a new nation 245 years ago.
He referenced a comment made by John Adams, then vice president to George Washington, on July 3, 1776: “Independence Day should be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival commemorated as the day of deliverance by solid acts of devotion to God almighty.”
“That is what we’re doing right here,” he said.
And he noted a reference to “divine providence” as one of the acknowledgements of God found in the Declaration of Independence: “And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine providence, we mutually pledge to each our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.”
“We need to know this about our history,” he said. “We need to know the founding of this nation on the word of God. Were those men perfect? They were far from it. Were things perfect in the founding of our nation? There were many things that were not perfect. But one thing they had was God’s word, and they knew it had to be God’s blessing to make this work and to survive.
Hecht chose several verses from Ephesians 6 as his text for the morning, which talks about the powers of a dark world and evil forces and wearing the armor of God: “… Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace …”
“Every day we are in a battle,” Hecht said, also referencing John 10:10 that says, “The thief (devil) comes to steal, kill and destroy, but I have come that you might have life and that you might have it more abundantly.”
“So we take our stand as believers,” the reverend said. “We also need to take our stand in prayer for this nation … we need to stand our ground.”
Hecht said God’s people need to be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power — “a power that will never run out; that will never fail you.”
He also noted that the Ephesians passage also says that the struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the power of dark forces.
“We live in this natural world and we get our eyes on each other, don’t we?” he said. “And we think the battle is against each other … This last year-and-a-half has been brutal in many ways across the nation and beyond. It was difficult with the pandemic and the elections; I would imagine there are several seated here this morning that maybe are not even speaking to a loved one or a family member because of disagreements over this past year. It shouldn’t be that way.”
Rather, Hecht said, that time should be spent in prayer battling evil forces, because prayer works. He quoted part of a letter written by Benjamin Franklin to George Washington during peace time after American soldiers had won independence over English opposition:
“In the beginning of the contest with Great Britain, when we were sensible of danger, we had daily prayer for divine protection,” the letter read. “Our prayers, sir, were heard and they were graciously answered. All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of a super-intending providence in our favor … have we now forgotten that powerful friend?”
“Have we?” Hecht asked. “Have we as a nation forgotten God almighty or do we imagine that we no longer need his assistance? I wonder.”
At 81 years of age, he continued, Benjamin Franklin said this:
“I have lived, sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proof I see of this truth, that God governs in the affairs of men. If a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid?”
Therefore, he said, “put on the armor of God and stand firm.”
As is tradition, Menno’s Patriotic Worship Service was held in the City Park on a warm, breezy Independence Day morning. It was organized by the Menno/Olivet Ministerial Association with participation from Tom Ulmer and Dale Weiss, Jennifer Herrboldt, Rev. Theresa Jacobson of the Grace Lutheran Church, Rev. Arlyn Coalter of the Olivet United Methodist Church and Rev. Bill Vis of the Peace Christian Reformed Church.
The hour-long service also included a reading of the Apostle’s Creed and a number of patriotic songs, including the “Star Spangled Banner,” “God Bless the USA,” “America, The Beautiful” and “Battle Hymn of the Republic.”
