Peace in the Middle East

Gary talks about the recent brokered peace deal by Trump between Israel and Hamas.

The opening line of the Marines’ Hymn “From the Halls of Montezuma” refers to the Battle of Chapultepec, the engagement between Mexican and American armies during the Mexican-American War in 1847. “When that battle ended, the United States had won a decisive military victory over General Santa Anna’s Mexican army that was holding Chapultepec Castle, located just west of Mexico City.”

“To the shores of Tripoli” commemorates the actions of the United States Marines and their part in the capture of Derna on April 27, 1805. It seems that we are still fighting Tripoli, but this new battle is over the facts and interpretation of history. A single line in the first Treaty of Tripoli (ratified June 10, 1797) is continually cited as incontrovertible evidence that our founders self-consciously denied any attachment to the Christian religion, and that there has always been a radical separation between religion and civil government. This conclusion is based upon Article 11 of the 1797 Treaty of Tripoli:

As the government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian religion,—as it has in itself no character of enmity against the law, religion or tranquility of Musselmen [Muslims],—and as the said States [of America] never have entered into any war or act of hostility against any Mehomitan nation, it is declared by the parties that no pretext arising from religious opinions shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries.

Who would have thought that a long-forgotten treaty would play such an important role in the debate over religious freedom, justice, and Christian involvement in politics?

Several anti-Christian groups have used the 1797 Treaty with Tripoli— which was drawn up in an attempt to put an end to raids on American ships by Barbary Coast pirates who were Muslims—to drive a provocative wedge into our culture and disrupt the idea that religion played a major role in the founding of our nation. Even some Christians fail to understand the purpose and nature of the treaty. The only way the debate can be settled is to survey the historical record. When the full historical context is evaluated, the record will show that the Treaty of Tripoli does nothing to disturb the proposition that America was founded on fundamental biblical governing principles and laws. The treaty had a very specific purpose that is often lost in the debate.

The Case for America’s Christian Heritage

America’s Christian heritage is writ large in its state Constitutions, charters, laws, symbols, and repeated stated reliance on the overruling providence of God. It’s not enough, however, to relive history. There’s much work before us to reset the foundation stones of a firm reliance on Divine Providence. The principles that were true and necessary centuries ago for building nations are equally true and necessary today.

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Gary talks about the recent brokered peace deal by Trump between Israel and Hamas. The entire saga has been going on for nearly 1400 years and peace will never be lasting, because of the religious views of the Muslims. Gary provides a biblical, historical, and logical overview of the whole idea of trying to bring political peace while ignoring the religious aspect of the divide.

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American Vision’s mission is to Restore America to its Biblical Foundation—from Genesis to Revelation. American Vision (AV) has been at the heart of worldview study since 1978, providing resources to exhort Christian families and individuals to live by a Biblically based worldview. Visit www.AmericanVision.org for more information, content and resources