Friday, March 31, 2017

Tocqueville Predicted How America's Freedoms Would End

And Compared Christianity Vs. Islam Nearly 200 Years Ago

From American Minute 
By Bill Federer

Alexis de Tocqueville compared Christianity vs. Islam, and predicted how America's freedoms would end! 

On April 16, 1859, French historian Alexis de Tocqueville died. 

After nine months of traveling the United States, he wrote: Democracy in America in 1835, which has been described as "the most comprehensive ... analysis of character and society in America ever written." 

Alexis de Tocqueville wrote: 
"Upon my arrival in the United States the religious aspect of the country was the first thing that struck my attention ... In France I had almost always seen the spirit of religion and the spirit of freedom marching in opposite directions. But in America I found they were intimately united and that they reigned in common over the same country ..." 

Alexis de Tocqueville continued: 
"The Americans combine the notions of Christianity and of liberty so intimately in their minds, that it is impossible to make them conceive the one without the other ... They brought with them into the New World a form of Christianity which I cannot better describe than by styling it a democratic and republican religion." 

In Book Two of Democracy in America, Alexis de Tocqueville wrote: "Christianity has therefore retained a strong hold on the public mind in America ... In the United States ... Christianity itself is a fact so irresistibly established, that no one undertakes either to attack or to defend it." 

In the 1840's. Alexis de Tocqueville traveled twice to Algeria. He wrote to Arthur de Gobineau, October 22, 1843 (Tocqueville Reader, p. 229): "I studied the Koran a great deal. I came away from that study with the conviction there have been few religions in the world as deadly to men as that of Mohammed. ... So far as I can see, it is the principal cause of the decadence so visible today in the Muslim world and, though less absurd than the polytheism of old, its social and political tendencies are in my opinion to be feared, I therefore regard it as a form of decadence rather than a form of progress in relation to paganism itself." 

WHAT EVERY AMERICAN NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT THE QUR'AN - A HISTORY OF ISLAM & THE UNITED STATES 

Alexis de Tocqueville stated in "Travail sur l'Algerie dans oeuvres complètes" (1841): 

"I came back from Africa with the pathetic notion that at present in our way of waging war ... If our sole aim is to equal the Turks, in fact we shall be in a far lower position than theirs: barbarians for barbarians, the Turks will always outdo us because they are Muslim barbarians." 

In Democracy in America, 1840, Vol. II, Book 1, Chapter V, Alexis de Tocqueville wrote: "Mohammed brought down from heaven and put into the Koran not religious doctrines only, but political maxims,  criminal and civil laws, and scientific theories. The Gospels, on the other hand, deal only with the general relations between man and God and between man and man. Beyond that, they teach nothing and do not oblige people to believe anything. 
... That alone, among a thousand reasons, is enough to show that Islam will not be able to hold its power long in an age of enlightenment and democracy, while Christianity is destined to reign in such age, as in all others." 

In Democracy in America, Alexis de Tocqueville wrote: 

"In the United States the sovereign authority is religious... There is no country in the whole world where the Christian religion retains a greater influence over the souls of men than in America, and there can be no greater proof of its utility and of its conformity to human nature than that its influence is powerfully felt over the most enlightened and free nation of the earth." 

In 1895, Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert compiled The Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers, which included the statement from Alexis de Tocqueville: "Christianity is the companion of liberty in all its conflicts -- the cradle of its infancy, and the divine source of its claims." 

How will America's freedoms be lost? 
Alexis de Tocqueville predicted how Americans would lose their freedom a little at a time (Democracy in America, Vol. 2, 1840, The Second Part, Bk 4, Ch. VI): 

"I had noted in my stay in the United States that a democratic state of society similar to the American model could lay itself open to the establishment of despotism with unusual ease ... 

It would debase men without tormenting them ... Men, all alike and equal, turned in upon themselves in a restless search for those petty, vulgar pleasures with which they fill their souls ... 

Above these men stands an immense and protective power ... 

It prefers its citizens to enjoy themselves provided they have only enjoyment in mind. It restricts the activity of free will within a narrower range and gradually removes autonomy itself from each citizen ..." 

Alexis de Tocqueville continued: 
"Thus, the ruling power, having taken each citizen one by one into its powerful grasp ... spreads its arms over the whole of society, covering the surface of social life with a network of petty, complicated, detailed, and uniform rules ... 

It does not break men's wills but it does soften, bend, and control them ... It constantly opposes what actions they perform ... 

It inhibits, represses, drains, snuffs out, dulls so much effort that finally it reduces each nation to nothing more than a flock of timid and hardworking animals with the government as shepherd... a single, protective, and all-powerful government ... 

Individual intervention ... is ... suppressed ..." 

Alexis de Tocqueville added: 

"It is ... in the details that we run the risk of enslaving men. For my part, I would be tempted to believe that freedom in the big things of life is less important than in the slightest ... 

Subjection in the minor things of life is obvious every day ... It constantly irks them until they give up the exercise of their will ... and enfeebles their spirit ... 

It will be useless to call upon those very citizens who have become so dependent upon central government to choose from time to time the representative of this government ..." 

Alexis de Tocqueville concluded: 

"Increasing despotism in the administrative sphere ... they reckon citizens are incompetent ... 

It is ... difficult to imagine how men who have completely given up the habit of self-government could successfully choose those who should do it for them ... 

The vises of those who govern and the ineptitude of those governed would soon bring it to ruin and ... revert to its abasement to one single master." 

Read the America Minute archives
Who is the King in America? -And Who are the Counselors to the King? An Overview of 6,000 Years of History & Why America is Unique

Watch Bill Federer's "Faith in History" program online

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Saturday, March 25, 2017

Taps...Day Is Done...Safely Rest ... God Is Nigh

A visit to Frontier Forts of Texas ... With God

There are 24 Military Bugle Calls. A few are outdated to an earlier time before technology rendered them un- necessary. But, on any Army or Marine base, many of them are still in order and used regularly. A few of them are Reveille, Mess Call, Church Call, Sick Call, Fire Call and Taps. Bugle calls are a part of military service which still carry the ageless spell of the military atmosphere. I have visited many of the historic, old military Forts in Texas, dating back to the mid-1800s. There are few things I enjoy more than, in the spring, walking over those hallowed grounds, the old, often restored, barracks, stables, bakeries, and armories. These are not the stockade type forts with tree trunks standing upright encircling the fort, but wide open, usually on high ground with a Texas breeze blowing through them. Of the 50 or so forts that were in Texas, protecting the settlers from Indians, Mexican bandits, and the Stage Coach routes west, my favorites are Fort McKavett, Fort Davis, Fort Concho, Fort Stockton and Fort Phantom hill, in that order. All of these Frontier Forts were West of the early settlements, out in Indian country. I have often stood on the parade field of one of these old forts feeling the mystique of the Frontier fort, or near the barracks', rifle racks smelling the distinct aroma of cosmoline, or in the mess hall... the thirsty smell of well water and of lie soap, or at the bakery with the smell of fresh bread, or the stables where the smell of leather, hay, and horses wafts through the air. And, always, hearing, as clearly as it would have been 175 years ago, the company bugler blowing taps over a fresh grave in the post cemetery.... or at the last call of the day, as the post lamps and lanterns were blown out and sun-browned, raw-boned soldiers took their rest as Taps died out on the cool, dry air of a Texas evening.

Those experiences always leave me with a deep feeling and almost longing emotion to have lived in those early days of Texas. I sometimes feel I was born 150 years too late to have lived in my natural generation. But God had other plans for me... and He is always right.

The tune to Taps carries with it these fitting words....
Day is done, gone the sun, From the lake, from the hills, from the sky; All is well, safely rest, God is nigh. Fading light, dims the sight, And a star gems the sky, gleaming bright. From afar, drawing nigh, falls the night. Thanks and praise, for our days, 'Neath the sun, 'neath the stars, neath the sky; As we go, this we know, God is nigh. Sun has set, shadows come, Time has fled, Scouts must go to their beds Always true to the promise that they made. While the light fades from sight, And the stars gleaming rays softly send, To thy hands we our souls, Lord, commend.


Saturday, March 18, 2017

Faith: Little Is Much When God Is In It

The open door of any particular, great opportunity usually closes the moment we pass it by. If the Spirit of God moves your heart to say a word or write a letter to a person in crisis, do it immediately. That same moment of need will never cross your path again. So often, opportunity requires a seeking soul whose desire was already in anticipation mode when the unseen eye triggered that sacred door. Each such individual opportunity is similar, in longevity, to  bodily exercise, which is fleeting. "For bodily exercise profiteth little.... (This word "little" is not in reference to the quality or value of exercise, but to the shortness of its life-span. The benefits of a strong, healthy body are many, but those benefits are temporal and begin to diminish within a few hours and must be repeated again and again. Whereas .... godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come". 1 Tim.4:8. Profitable in this life and for eternity. 

Even so, our faith must be continually fed with the Bread of Life (God's word) and prayer. Faith is born, is sustained and grows stronger by way of the word of God. ".... Faith cometh by hearing ... the word of God." Rom.10:17.


When Jesus said, to His disciples, "Oh ye of little faith", four times in the book of Matthew, he wasn't suggesting that they were capable of faith equal to His own, but to the general weakness of our human condition. All of us humans are weak in faith, in varying degrees, but even small faith is very powerful. Little is much when God is in it ...like a single mustard seed ..."...A grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth." Mk.4:31. So it is with our faith. Though it be small...It has within it great power ..."And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you." Matt.17:20.

 "It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew ... a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it." Luke 13:19.

An example of the power of "little faith" is found among the Apostles and disciples of Jesus in Acts 12:1-18. King Herod had murdered James and Jailed Simon Peter who was deep inside prison, locked up and in chains, being guarded by a quaternion of soldiers day and night, but was praying. The church, Apostles and disciples of Jesus, were also praying together that God would deliver Peter safely from prison. The faith of all of them, including Peter was mustard seed small because when God caused Peter's chains to fall off and the prison doors to open up, Peter couldn't believe it but thought he was dreaming. When he showed up at the door of the house where his friends were fervently praying for his deliverance, they couldn't believe it either. When Peter knocked on the door, the little girl watching the door ran and told the others that Peter was at the door. Those great Christians told her she must be crazy because Peter was locked behind three iron doors guarded by armed soldiers. When she insisted it was Peter, they said it must be an angel but couldn't possibly be Peter. Peter was still knocking on the door... out side. That certainly does not sound like they had great faith in their prayers or in God's power to deliver. And these were people who had seen Jesus Crucified, resurrected and ascending into heaven. So don't be too hard on yourself that neither are you a great spiritual giant full of faith. But strive to be faithful in Christ, do your best, stay prayed up and in God's word. Give witness to all Christ has done for you and in you .... and praise him for His perfection ... not yours. Little is much only when God is in it. RB

In the harvest field now ripened
  1. There’s a work for all to do;
    Hark! the voice of God is calling,
    To the harvest calling you.
    • Refrain:
      Little is much when God is in it!
      Labor not for wealth or fame;
      There’s a crown, and you can win it,
      If you go in Jesus’ name.
  2. In the mad rush of the broad way,
    In the hurry and the strife,
    Tell of Jesus’ love and mercy,
    Give to them the Word of Life.
  3. Does the place you’re called to labor
    Seem so small and little known?
    It is great if God is in it,
    And He’ll not forget His own.
  4. Are you laid aside from service,
    Body worn from toil and care?
    You can still be in the battle,
    In the sacred place of prayer.
  5. When the conflict here is ended
    And our race on earth is run,
    He will say, if we are faithful,
    “Welcome home, My child—well done!”