🇺🇸 Where Have You Gone, Brother Jonathan?

🇺🇸 A Forgotten Brother, A Needed Call

We all know Uncle Sam — the tall hat, the pointing finger, the nation’s face wrapped in red, white, and blue. But before Uncle Sam, America had another symbol: Brother Jonathan. First tied to the Puritans, later embraced by patriots after the Revolution, Brother Jonathan was not the nation’s mascot but its conscience — the neighbor with Bible in hand and plow in the field, the man of faith and grit who made liberty possible.

If you’ve never heard of him, that’s all right. Brother Jonathan is not a footnote for scholars but a key for the heart. He was the spirit of an earlier America: a brother who rose before dawn to read Scripture, who answered a midnight knock, who honored marriage and family as sacred trusts, who believed law and liberty were rooted in God’s Word long before polls or parties. He is the smell of coffee at a kitchen table where fathers prayed with their children. He is the hand that steadies a neighbor’s plow. He is the voice that says, “We’ll do this together — but only because God is first.”

So when I ask, “Where have you gone, Brother Jonathan?” I am not searching for a man but for a soul. I am asking where humility, courage, and daily faithfulness have gone — the very qualities that once made this nation graceful before God. If Brother Jonathan has gone, who will teach our children to pray? Who will stand in the gap when wolves circle the fold?

This Chronicle is both origin and loss — how faith shaped a blessed people, how obedience yielded blessing, and how turning away left a wound in our national heart. It summons the Church — not a political party, but the body of Christ — to repentance and courage.

Politics may be the battlefield, but Jesus is the only victory. Through six stories of faith, failure, and hope, we will face one piercing question: Where have you gone, Brother Jonathan? And more urgently: Where are God’s people?

But God is not finished yet.

🇺🇸 The Faith That Built a Nation: Liberty Rooted in God’s Word

Long before cities, Congress halls, or the Capitol dome, men and women knelt beside their children in frost-bitten cabins, whispering God’s name into the winds of a new world. The Pilgrims did not come seeking gold or power; they came seeking God. Across the storm-tossed Atlantic, they carried more than provisions — they brought the conviction that law, liberty, and life itself were meaningless without the Almighty. In Plymouth, they wrote the first American covenant with God, pledging to build a society under His Word. Harsh winters, disease, and hunger tested them, yet Scripture guided every decision, every family, every community. Proverbs 14:34 rang true: “Righteousness exalts a nation.” Their faith was survival, governance, and legacy all at once.

Governor William Bradford read Scripture each morning before addressing settlers, reminding them that God’s favor rested on obedience. Children prayed at dawn, fathers taught the commandments beside the hearth, and neighbors bore one another’s burdens — a living testimony that a nation grounded in God would endure. When sickness struck, they called for prayer; when disputes arose, they sought God’s wisdom. Every law, covenant, and family tradition reflected the principle that liberty must bow to righteousness.

Generations later, George Washington turned to God in battle and council. In his Thanksgiving Proclamation, he declared, “It is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God.” John Adams insisted morality and faith were the pillars of liberty: “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people.” Ordinary towns mirrored this devotion: fathers led prayers, towns opened meetings with Scripture, and laws reflected biblical principles. Each prayer, family lesson, and moral decision formed the bedrock of a blessed, prosperous, and free nation.

America’s foundation was unmistakably Judeo-Christian. Faith was the first law; obedience to God, the first allegiance. The Pilgrims, Puritans, and Founding Fathers — ordinary people empowered by extraordinary faith — laid the cornerstone. Scripture and prayer were their compass, and God’s Word the soil from which liberty grew.

But God is not finished yet.

🌟 Blessings of Obedience: How God Raised a Nation

From the frost-bitten cabins of the Pilgrims to the smoke-filled tents of the Revolutionary Army, the hand of God guided those who trusted Him. America did not rise by chance, by cunning, or by the strength of her armies alone. She rose because ordinary men and women obeyed the Word of God, planted its principles in law, and trusted Him in every trial. Psalm 33:12 rang true then and remains true today: “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.”

Consider George Washington at Valley Forge, shivering through that winter of despair. Supplies were scarce, morale was low, yet he sought God’s guidance. In letters and speeches, he reminded his officers that success depended on the favor of the Almighty. When the Continental Army emerged from the icy woods, it was not merely skill or strategy that turned the tide, but perseverance grounded in faith. The nation’s foundation, built on Scripture and shaped by the covenant they made with God, bore fruit in victory.

Years later, Abraham Lincoln would echo the same truth, invoking God in his public addresses and moral decisions. During the nation’s darkest hour, he declared reliance on divine providence while issuing the Emancipation Proclamation, lifting a nation toward justice and freedom. Ordinary towns and villages flourished alongside these great leaders. Fathers taught their children the Word; ministers and teachers guided communities by Scripture; local laws mirrored biblical ethics. Literacy, civic virtue, and moral responsibility blossomed where God’s Word was honored, creating schools, libraries, and opportunities for prosperity. Benjamin Franklin promoted public virtue, charities, and education, often invoking the necessity of moral grounding to sustain liberty.

Every blessing America enjoyed—freedom, innovation, justice, and prosperity—was rooted in obedience to God. The connection was clear: wherever people followed God, communities thrived; wherever His Word was neglected, the soil grew thin. This divine pattern of blessing laid the foundation for the nation’s rise, a testament to what God can do when His principles guide a people.

The story is awe-inspiring, yet it also casts a shadow, a warning: obedience brings blessing, but neglect invites decline. What was sown in faith would not remain forever untouched by human folly. America’s rise was glorious, but the seeds of turning away had already been planted.

But God is not finished yet.

🇺🇸 The Falling Away: When a Nation Forgets God

In the early days of our republic, America was a beacon of hope, firmly grounded in Judeo-Christian values. But as time passed, we began to drift. The very principles that once guided us were slowly eroded, leading to the moral and spiritual decline we see today.

Prayer Removed from Schools

In 1962, the Supreme Court ruled to remove prayer from public schools. This decision marked the beginning of a major shift in our nation’s moral compass. Once, children began their day with prayer or a moment of reverence to God. Today, faith is not only absent in many schools—it is often discouraged. The void has left classrooms vulnerable to behavioral issues, disrespect, and a loss of moral direction.

Abortion and the Sanctity of Life

Since the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, more than 60 million unborn children have lost their lives. This tragic reality reflects a society that has devalued life, rejecting the biblical truth that life is sacred and begins at conception. Instead of seeing children as blessings, our culture increasingly views them as burdens.

Redefinition of Marriage

In 2015, the Supreme Court redefined marriage nationwide. While celebrated by some, this decision departed from God’s Word, which defines marriage as the union of one man and one woman. This redefinition has created confusion about family, gender roles, and the sanctity of the covenant of marriage.

Pornography Epidemic

Pornography, once considered taboo, is now widespread and normalized. It distorts God’s design for intimacy, fuels addiction, and shatters relationships. A culture saturated in lust drifts further from purity and wholeness.

Confusion Over Gender and Identity

Society now promotes gender as fluid and self-defined, rejecting God’s design of male and female (Genesis 1:27). This confusion has led to identity crises, mental health struggles, and rebellion against God’s created order.

Lawlessness and Moral Decay

From the breakdown of the family to rising crime and open rebellion against authority, lawlessness spreads. With moral absolutes abandoned, right and wrong are treated as subjective, and personal desires take precedence over God’s standards.

Scriptural Warnings

The prophet Hosea warned, “They sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind” (Hosea 8:7). The Apostle Paul likewise described in Romans 1:21–32 the tragic spiral of a society that rejects God—filled with unrighteousness, immorality, and rebellion. These passages are not ancient relics; they are living warnings for today.

But God is not finished yet.

📢 The Martyrs of Truth — Voices Silenced, Truth Amplified

In the face of rising hostility toward Christian values, certain individuals boldly proclaimed the truth, even at the cost of their lives. Charlie Kirk, co-founder of Turning Point USA, was one such individual. On September 10, 2025, while speaking at Utah Valley University, Kirk was fatally shot during an event that drew thousands eager to hear his message of faith and freedom. His death sent shockwaves through the nation, yet it also ignited renewed commitment to the principles he championed.

Kirk's unwavering faith in Jesus Christ was evident in his public life. Moments before his assassination, he reaffirmed his belief in the resurrection of Christ, declaring, "It's not just intrabiblical evidence, but extrabiblical evidence that Jesus Christ was a real person. He lived a perfect life, he was crucified, died and rose on the third day, and he is Lord and God over all." His commitment to truth and courage in the face of adversity testify to the enduring power of God's Word.

His death has not silenced his message; it has amplified it. In the days following the tragedy, Kirk's podcast surged to the top of the charts, and his upcoming book became a bestseller months ahead of its release. His legacy continues to inspire and mobilize a new generation committed to standing firm in faith.

Kirk's story echoes the experiences of past martyrs who faced persecution for their unwavering commitment to truth. Dietrich Bonhoeffer resisted the Nazi regime and was executed for his efforts. William Tyndale translated the Bible into English and was martyred for making the Scriptures accessible. Even today, pastors worldwide endure imprisonment and persecution for preaching the Gospel, yet their faith remains unshaken.

These individuals exemplify the words of the Lord Jesus: "Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:10). Their sacrifices remind us that while the world may attempt to silence truth, God's message endures and transforms lives.

As we reflect on these stories, let us be inspired to stand firm, speak truth boldly, and honor the legacy of those who have gone before us. Their courage calls us to rise up as voices of truth in a world that desperately needs it.

But God is not finished yet.

🇺🇸 Awaken, America: Take Up the Sword of the Spirit

“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” — 2 Chronicles 7:14

This is not a suggestion. It is a promise with terms. When God’s people bow, heaven listens. When God’s people repent, healing begins. The moment for pleading, for kneeling, for fierce, loving obedience is now.

Picture a father at his kitchen table, coffee cooling, Bible open, calling his children to read Scripture before school. Picture a small church that used to bicker over pew space but now organizes a prayer walk through the neighborhood and a tutoring program for struggling kids. Picture workplaces where Christians refuse to compromise their witness and quietly pray for co-workers who mock them. These are not dramatic headlines; they are the quiet, sacrificial acts that turn the tide.

Repentance must be public and private. It begins with a contrite heart in the closet and spills into confession in the living room, in the boardroom, and at the ballot box. Prayer must be habitual and bold — petition that shakes the heavens. Courage must replace cowardice; unity must replace factionalism. The church must be a hospital for sinners and a citadel of truth. Fathers must stand again as spiritual leaders in their homes, modeling devotion, discipline, and mercy. Mothers must be honored as nurturers and teachers of truth. Together, families and churches form the front line of renewal.

This is warfare — not of flesh but of spirit. The “sword” we take up is the Word of God: Scripture read, memorized, spoken, and lived. Arm yourself with prayer, gird yourself with Scripture, advance with love and holiness. Stand for truth where culture caves; teach your children the gospel where schools have become silent; mend what is broken in marriages and communities with gospel repair.

Do this not as a partisan campaign but as a holy uprising of the redeemed. Let repentance be our strategy, prayer our constant weapon, and courage our badge. Rise to your calling. This is the hour for the Church to be the Church.

But God is not finished yet.

✝️ The Only Way Back: Make America Christian Again

America has tried every answer except the one that works. We’ve trusted in politics, personalities, programs, and promises—yet our nation only drifts further from its moral anchor. The truth is simple: no law can change a heart, no election can save a soul, and no political movement can restore a nation. Only Jesus Christ can.

That is why the call must not be “Make America Great Again” alone, but “Make America Christian Again.” Greatness without godliness is an illusion. When hearts are surrendered to Christ, homes are strengthened, churches are revived, and nations are transformed. This is the biblical pattern: righteousness exalts a nation (Proverbs 14:34).

Even President Trump, speaking at the launch of America Prays, acknowledged this truth: “When faith gets weaker, our country seems to get weaker. When faith gets stronger… good things happen.” He reminded the nation that “to have a great nation, you have to have religion… that something is God.” With this initiative, prayer is once again being lifted up in schools, families, and communities, reminding us that America’s hope is not found in Washington but in heaven.

And the evidence is already showing. In a small rural high school in Tennessee, students gathered around the flagpole just days after America Prays launched. What began with three teenagers timidly bowing their heads soon turned into nearly the entire football team kneeling, coaches joining in, and parents lining the parking lot in silent reverence. Reporters who came expecting a “controversy” instead captured a moment of revival. One young man, barely holding back tears, said, “This isn’t politics. This is God giving us a chance to come back.”

That’s the key: revival never starts in Congress—it starts in hearts. The responsibility cannot rest on one leader’s shoulders. It begins in our homes, in our churches, in our daily choices to live and walk with Christ. Fathers must lead their families. Churches must disciple. Believers must rise with courage and humility. When God’s people turn from sin, humble themselves, and pray, He promises to heal their land (2 Chronicles 7:14).

Politics may shape laws, but only Christ shapes lives. And when Christ reigns in lives, He can heal a land. That is the only way back.

But God is not finished yet.