EDITOR’S NOTE:

Following is a guest editorial written by Huey P. O’Neal of West Monroe. O’Neal, who served 20 years as a U.S. Air Force jet fighter pilot and engineer in Laos, retired from the state Department of Labor and served on the Veterans Affairs Commission in Gov. Mike Foster’s administration. He devotes his time to church, civic and veterans activities.

Everything good that we have been blessed with in America comes directly or in directly from the Bible’s influence. Many people do not realize what the Bible and Christian influence has accomplished for the betterment of our lives.

It is a well-known fact that that most of our founding fathers were godly men who took the Bible’s principle to construct the U. S. Constitution and the Declaration of Independence.

When the Bible’s influence is strong in a society, it will affect all aspect of that culture in a positive way. The keeping of God’s law bring harmony to society. Human’s rights and equality comes exclusively from the biblical ideas that all people are created in the image of God.

Religious people are more likely than nonreligious people to do good deeds. They volunteer more time and donate more than nonreligious people — both to religious and secular organizations.

Religion is highly significant sector of the American economy. It provides institutional and economic contribution to health, education, social cohesion, social services, media, food and business. Religion contributes around $1.2 trillion each year to the economy and society. That is more than the top 10 companies combined-including Google, Apple, and Amazon. Also, religion promotes the well-being of individuals, families and the community.

Christianity is the largest single provider of health care and education in the United States. Most of well-known universities, such as Harvard, Princeton and Yale were founded by Christians. Also, Christians founded most of the present-day hospitals, charity centers, orphanages, and rescue missions.

Christianity has contributed more to humanity than any organization in world history. Contributions to believers and non-believer’s projects has included all areas of human life; health, education, freedoms, laws and many others. When a disaster occurs, Christians are among the first responders.

President Ronald Reagan said, “Of the many influences that have shaped the United States into a distinctive nation and people, none may be said to more fundamental and enduring than the Bible. Inside the Bible’s pages lie the answers to all the problems that mankind has ever known. I hope Americans will read and study the Bible.”

According to studies cited by Chuck Colson in his book “How Now Shall We Live” the practice of religion leads to a reduction in incidence of domestic abuse, have better health and have a longer life span.

Rodney Stark in his book “America’s Blessings” states that in most cases Christians have happier lives, have better health, and have longer life span.

The Christianity mission is the salvation of the soul, but the church is not just houses of worship, “they are the nucleus of many communities which support many vital services to America.” Local churches provide spiritual guidance to its members, support of the community, outreach to the poor and needy, and worldwide missions.

The evidence is strong when restraining the influence of Christianity from a culture, disaster follows. This includes religious and secular people losing values like equal dignity and equal rights.  

America’s Christianity and government are being challenged by many evil segments in our society. All Americans must stand up and meet challenges to our religious freedoms and values.Christianity has made the U.S. the greatest nation in the world by its compassion and generosity and it must continue to be the light of the world.