You’ve heard of ‘Uncle Sam’ and no doubt seen an image of him – but are you familiar with ‘Lady Columbia’ and ‘Brother Jonathan’? All 3 are fictitious characters that became personifications of the United States of America. Lady Liberty first appeared in publication in 1738 as a toponym (Geographic namesake) of Columbus – and became the female symbol of America. But eventually she was overshadowed by Lady Liberty in New York Harbor, and replaced her as the new female symbol of America.
Her cohort, Brother Jonathan, became the male symbol of America during the Revolutionary war of 1775 while we fought the British – who themselves were personified by the fictional character Jon Bull. Both Brother Jonathan and Jon Bull were made famous in separate 18th & 19th century novels.
Uncle Sam became the symbol of the Federal Government in Washington D.C. during the early 1800’s. You’ve probably seen the famous poster of Uncle Sam pointing his finger outward with a caption that reads: I WANT YOU FOR U.S. ARMY. Uncle Sam first appeared in an 1816 book,‘The Adventures of Uncle Sam, in search of his lost honor,’ by Fredrick Augustus Fidfaddy.
That book title begs the question: “Can a nation lose its honor?” What do you think? Has America, depicted by Uncle Sam, Lady Liberty, and Brother Jonathan – lost its honor in the world today? What does your Bible say about national honor, national health, and national well-being?
Hippocrates, from whom came the ‘Hippocratic Oath,’ once said, ‘Diagnosis is everything.’ He was certainly right as ‘mis-diagnosis’ costs patients billions of dollars every year in mistreatments,’ and many lost lives.
What if the Surgeon General of America not only had the expertise to diagnose physical maladies of the Human body – but was also able to diagnose national ailments? How would he or she diagnose Uncle Sam’s health today? Well, he or she, might say that Uncle Sam’s hair is falling out because of the ever-expanding national debt; that Uncle Sam’s hearing seems to be fading because he can’t seem to hear the public outcry against high inflation, and over-taxation; that Uncle Sam’s eyesight is growing dim because he can’t seem to see the crisis at our southern border; that Uncle Sam’s knees and hips are so bad that they need replacement - because he (Washington Politicians) can’t seem to walk anymore by the Judeo-Christian ethics that made America great! The Surgeon General might also suggest a heart transplant, because too many politicians have lost their heart for God!
The God of Israel once compared her to a sick person: The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faints, from the sole of the foot even to the head, there is no soundness in it, but wounds and bruises and putrefying sores; They have not been closed or bound up, or soothed with ointment.” (ISAIAH 1:5,6)
The Most High God even gave Israel a diagnosis so they would know what ailments they had, and treat them: “…For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; Your lips have spoken lies, your tongue has muttered perversity. No one calls for justice, nor does any plead for truth.” (ISAIAH 59:1-4) Sounds like much of America today, but we remain sick.
Through the prophet Jeremiah, God asked Israel: “Is there no balm in Gilead, Is there no physician there? Why then is there no recovery for the health of the daughter of my people?” (JEREMIAH 8:22)
Nations can get sick, and History records that some have died out entirely.
What do nations do when they’re sick? Cry out to God for help? Mend their ways? Israel didn’t: “When Ephraim saw his sickness, And Judah saw his wound, Then Ephraim went to Assyria and sent to King Jareb; Yet he cannot cure you, nor heal you of your wound.” (HOSEA 5:13) It’s Human nature to want to solve our problems ourselves – or look to others for help instead of looking to God.
How can a nation turn around its declining health? First and foremost it can repent and change its ways: “Then word (of Jonah) came to the king of Nineveh; and he arose from his throne and laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth and sat in ashes. And he caused it to be proclaimed and published throughout Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, ‘Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything; do not let them eat, or drink water. But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily to God; yes, let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. Who can tell if God will turn and relent, and turn away from His fierce anger, so that we may not perish?” (JONAH 3:6-9)
If a man with skin bleached albino white by being in the belly of a whale for 3 days, was coughed up on the shore of the Potomac river, and began walking the width and breadth of Washington D.C. chanting, ‘Yet 40 days, and Washington D.C. will be overthrown,’ – do you think anyone represented by Uncle Sam in the Federal Government (The President, Judges, Congressmen) would pay attention, repent, and call for a National day of prayer & fasting? Buy yourself a copy of ‘The American Patriot’s Bible’ and you’ll find articles within, that show past Presidents, Judges, and Congressmen did just that!
The Federal Government, personified by Uncle Sam, is every bit as sick as the city of Nineveh was, when God Almighty sent Jonah to warn them of His wrath to come! But God always leaves a ‘way out of punishment’ if a people repent: ‘The instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, to pull down, and to destroy it, if that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it.” (JEREMIAH 18:7,8)
What do we see in the three branches of the Federal Government today? The same corruption that has plagued most national and empirical governments throughout History: “If you see the oppression of the poor, and the violent perversion of justice and righteousness in a province, do not marvel at the matter; for high official watches over high official, and higher officials are over them.” (ECCLESIASTES 5:8)
Historically, the Executive Branch of government has been occupied by kings, Presidents, or Prime Ministers. How can such a leader insure a healthy Executive Branch? By following these instructions from Almighty God: “Also it shall be, when he (the King) sits on the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write for himself a copy of this law in a book, from the one before the priests, the Levites. And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God and be careful to observe all the words of this law and these statutes, that his heart may not be lifted above his brethren.” (DEUTERONOMY 17:18-20) George W. Bush stated that he read the Bible every day of his presidency. Many past Presidents did as well.
The Executive Branch can also insure its health by not meddling in ‘Foreign Affairs’: “He who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own, is like one who takes a dog by the ears.” (PROVERBS 26:17) It is estimated that the meddling in the Middle East by our last four presidents has added 8 trillion dollars to our National Debt, making the United States even sicker financially
How can elected officials insure a healthy Congress? By contending for the ‘Rule of Law’: “ Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but such as keep the law contend with them.” (PROVERBS 28:4)
To the Judges of Israel God exhorted: “You shall not pervert justice; you shall not show partiality, nor take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous.” (DEUTERONOMY 16:19) The U.S. Judicial system is sick today, with far too many judges perverting justice, legislating from the bench, and not following the Constitution in judgments.
Uncle Sam, representing the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches of the Federal Government – is clearly sick. We should pray as instructed by the Apostle Paul (I TIMOTHY 2;1-3) that the next President, Congress, Judicial appointees and cabinet appointees – will make these healthy changes.
How about the health of Brother Jonathan and Lady Liberty – representing the American populace – how healthy is it? The Preamble of the Constitution spells out the duties of the American populace, personified by these 2 fictious characters of American folklore. It says: “We the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” We’ve never had a ‘perfect union,’ but we’ve certainly had ‘a more perfect union’ in times past, than we have in our polarized Republic today.
Establishing justice will only happen in American courtrooms if we the people demand that every Judge, at the local, state and Federal levels adjudicate without partiality, and according to the Constitution’s original intent!
The Bible says: “You shall do no injustice in judgment. You shall not be partial to the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty. In righteousness you shall judge your neighbor.” (LEVITICUS 19:15)
MLK said: ‘Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.’ Prosecutors and judges need to indite, convict & sentence people equitably.
God warned Israel, “Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.” (ECCLESIASTES 8:11) Some cases take years to go to trial - This must end!
Christians need to pray for justice: “And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly.” (LK.18:7,8 NIV)
How do Lady Liberty & Brother Jonathan (the American populace) insure domestic tranquility or peace? By teaching peace in schools, businesses and churches! One of the best instructions about the path to peace is found in the Biblical book of Romans: “Repay no one evil for evil… If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.” (ROMANS 12:17,18)
Also to insure domestic tranquility, people need to be taught that a lawful society is a peaceful society! The book of Proverbs shows the vital connection between law and peace: “My son, do not forget my law, but let your heart keep my commands; For length of days and long life and peace they will add to you.” (PROVERBS 3:1,2) God said to Israel that if they would keep His commandments, “I will give peace in the land, and you shall lie down and none will make you afraid.” (LEVITICUS 26:3,6) God also promised: “When a man’s ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.” (PROVERBS 16:7)
How can Americans (symbolized by Lady Liberty & Brother Jonathan), help ‘provide for the common defense’? Well, first and foremost, by not being naïve about Human nature and conflict. Job understood the Human tendency towards war, instead of peace, when he said: “Changes and War are ever with me.” (JOB 10:17)
James, like Job, understood that the catalyst of war is Man’s own vile nature: Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war.” (JAMES 4:1,2) National leaders covet other nation’s land. We see it today in the war between Russia and Ukraine, in the war between Israel and Iran and her proxies, and we see it looming in the desire of Chinese leaders to war against Taiwan.
Your Bible says in the book of Ecclesiastes: “For wisdom is a defense as money is a defense.” (ECCLESIASTES 7:12) Most Americans understand that it takes money to ‘provide for the common defense.’ That’s why America’s defense budget, at 18% of GDP is second only to the Social Security budget of 22% of GDP. But after fighting wars against Iraq, ISIS, and Afghanistan, many Americans feel that America should never have meddled in the Middle East. Wisdom, as we just read, is also a defense. And we read in the book of Wisdom this poignant statement: “He who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own Is like one who takes a dog by the ears.” (PROVERBS 26:17)
This is why it’s so important that Americans elect wise leaders (DEUT.1;13), who avoid war at all costs, except when a threat becomes existential.
How can Lady Liberty & Brother Jonathan (Americans) ‘promote the general welfare’ (happiness & wellbeing)? Too many Americans think it’s by giving out - and or receiving ‘welfare checks.’ But your Bible says just the opposite: “When you eat the labor of your hands, You shall be happy, and it shall be well with you.” (PSALM 128:2)
King Solomon understood this truth, when he wrote: “I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives, and also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor—it is the gift of God.” (ECCLESIASTES 3:12,13)
That doesn’t mean there shouldn’t be government programs to help those who are disabled and can’t work. Jesus said, “For you have the poor with you always…” (MATTHEW 26:11) And God commanded the people of Israel to collect a tithe of people’s produce every third year, to give “to the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, so that they may eat within your gates and be full.” (DEUTERONOMY 26:12) America promotes the general welfare of the needy today, through welfare programs. But we also provide free education and vocational training so that people can know the joy of rewarding work, and all its benefits.
Historically, Americans have understood that “Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; But happy is he who keeps the law.” (PROVERBS 29:18) The Bible has been the bedrock of American Society, and its system of Law (Judeo-Christian ethics) produced the happiest, most prosperous and stable society in history.
King David once wrote: “Happy are the people whose God is the Lord!” (PSALM 144:15)
When it comes to ‘securing the blessings of liberty for ourselves and our posterity,’ Lady Liberty is the symbol! Americans have understood through their Christian Faith that there are two sources of liberty or freedom: “…where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” (II CORINTHIANS 3:17); “Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, ‘If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (JOHN 8:31,32)
This is why Christian nations in Europe, the Americas, Australia and New Zealand – enjoy the greatest amounts of individual freedom among the nations of the earth!
But the reason American society is so divided today is because much of our populace are now made up of people who embrace Humanist or Islamic ethics instead of the Judeo-Christian ethics that grant the greatest amount of liberty within a system of Law.