The Puritans, Quakers, and other early American religious groups have been portrayed as money-loving, cruel, harsh, unloving, tyrannical bigots. No doubt many were. But the contribution they made to the moral fiber of the nation, the inculcation of the value of morality, hard work, honesty, truth, and integrity, has been dismissed by the society of today. It has been dismissed because contemporary Americans in many instances want to be free to practice the moral behavior of their choice.

The Puritans are despised. Yet I believe the brightness, cleanliness, and competence of America, its economic greatness, are due in large part to the religious founders.

There are other nations, such as India and Mexico, that possess vast natural resources but do not have the strength of America. America is the envy of the world and other nations seek the assistance of America or else are plotting its downfall. Why didn't they develop their own countries as we did ours? We started with a wilderness! The truth is, they were and yet are worshiping the wrong gods!

Paul tells us to think about that which is excellent. We are not to be swayed by the intelligentsia who would persuade us that man ought to be happy and fulfilled regardless of whom he hurts to remain that way; that people should be free to enjoy themselves, to say whatever they please, to seek endless fun and pleasure.

Huge trees die very slowly. America is dying because its original source of life, the values of the fundamentalist Christian, is scorned as a menace to society.

We who are Christians are not to be moved by the present drift into anarchy and incompetence. We are to dwell on that which is excellent. The Kingdom of God will come to the earth. Then excellence in all areas of life, beginning with the area of morality, will be diligently pursued by everyone at all times.

There is no peace, there can be no peace, when incompetence, slovenliness, laziness, disorder, confusion, and the pursuit of pleasure are prevailing.

We must dwell on that which is praiseworthy. It is the Lord Jesus who is worthy of all praise. All that proceeds from Him is worthy of praise. We must keep focused on Him.

The members of our society have produced things and circumstances worthy of praise. Marvelous advances have been made in medicine, for example. The most startling of all developments have been and continue to be in technology, particularly in computer technology and related areas.

We must be careful not to be fascinated by that which appears to be worthy of praise but actually represents, as someone said, "improved means to unimproved ends."

Since the things of the world are passing away, the only lasting achievement is in the things of the Kingdom of God. How could the Apostle Paul know he was writing epistles that would change the course of history?

The life and ministry of Paul are praiseworthy. Yet, we know Paul would be the first to protest that it actually was Christ who worked in Paul to will and to do that which God ordained.

So what it boils down to is that praise belongs to God alone, for all that is truly good and eternal originates with Him.

To be continued.