Righteousness, Responsibility, And The Soul Of A Nation

What if the most important battles are won in the quiet moments no one else sees? We trace a line from Patrick Henry’s warning about national righteousness to the everyday decisions that define our character—returning an extra dollar, opening a door, saying a prayer, speaking truth with grace. Along the way, we wrestle with Hebrews 13:4, Proverbs 5, and 1 Corinthians 7, confronting the hard call to honor marriage with equal integrity inside and outside the church. Accountability without favoritism isn’t harsh; it’s healing.

We open Revelation 12 and face spiritual warfare with clear eyes: the accuser rages, but victory comes by the blood of the Lamb and the word of testimony. Courage takes practical shape in daily obedience, not dramatic gestures. History joins the chorus through Quartermaster Frank Boyce at Vicksburg, who nailed the flag to the mast as his ship sank—a living emblem of loyalty under fire and the kind of grit that builds nations. Then we listen to Christmas messages from Woodrow Wilson and Warren Harding, reminding us that peace, charity, faith, and hope are not sentiments but practices that form people and sustain a free society.

The thread through it all is preparation. We can cling to Christ before the storm or scramble for an anchor when waves rise. Pray for leaders, protectors, educators, and neighbors. Lead where you stand. Practice virtue in your sphere and encourage it in others. If this conversation strengthens your resolve, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review. Your support helps others find the show—what small act of courage will you choose today?

Chapters

• 0:00 Welcome, Thanks, And Opening Prayer
• 3:07 Patrick Henry On National Righteousness
• 5:15 Practicing Virtue In Your Sphere
• 7:14 Marriage, Purity, And Biblical Balance
• 9:06 Revelation 12 And Spiritual Warfare
• 13:40 Psalm, Proverbs, And Sobering Warnings
• 16:05 Medal Of Honor: Frank Boyce’s Resolve
• 18:10 Christmas Messages From Wilson And Harding
• 20:05 Prepare For Trials, Anchor To Christ
• 21:46 Support, Prayer, And Closing Blessing

Transcript

SPEAKER_01: 0:03

Hey folks, this is Jesse Cope, back with another episode of the American Soul Podcast. Hope y'all are doing well wherever y'all are in whatever part of the day you're in. Sure do appreciate y'all joining me, giving me a little bit of your time and attention, a little piece of your day. I will try and use it wisely for those of y'all who continue to share the podcast and tell others about it. Thank you. Hopefully y'all are getting to listen to the podcast with somebody else. And for those of y'all who continue to pray for me after the podcast, thank you. Very, very grateful for your prayers. Father, thank you for today.

SPEAKER_00: 0:40

Thank you for this day that you have made. Help us to rejoice and be glad in it. Thank you for your Son Jesus Christ. Thank you for your Holy Spirit.

SPEAKER_01: 0:54

Thank you for your love and your mercy, your grace and your forgiveness. Thank you for the blessings that we ignore on a day-to-day basis.

SPEAKER_00: 1:05

Things like clothes to wear and food to eat, clean water to drink. Electricity, wood stoves, fireplaces, heat. Help us to remember those who don't have those blessings and to share with them as we can. Help us to truly love your Son Jesus Christ and therefore to follow his commands each day.

SPEAKER_01: 1:39

To love you with our whole heart, mind, soul, and strength, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. Be with our leaders, Father, both in the state and in the pulpit. Be with our pastors, our priests, senators, representatives, admirals, generals, president, vice president, judges, governors, mayors. Give them wisdom, courage, a strong faith. Help them to rule and to lead in fear of you, Father, not of man. Be with our military, our law enforcement, firefighters, EMS, those who go out into the dark and the cold and the rain, snow, sleet. Surround them with your angels, protect them from evil of any kind, give them wisdom, give them courage, protect their families, strengthen their families, bless their families.

SPEAKER_00: 2:37

Be with our educators in the same way. And be with those listening to the podcast, Father, please. Be with them and their families, surround them with your angels. And God, my word too. In your son's name we pray. Amen.

SPEAKER_01: 3:07

So I won't bore y'all with the details of why I'm gonna read this quote in our little monologue section. But I used to read this quote more frequently on the podcast. It's a great quote, I think. It's something that Patrick Patrick Henry wrote on the back of a copy of the Stamp Act resolves. This brought on the war which finally separated the two countries and gave independence to ours. Whether this will prove a blessing or a curse will depend upon the use our people make of the blessings which a gracious God hath bestowed on us. If they are wise, they will be great and happy. If they are of a contrary character, they will be miserable. Righteousness alone can exalt them as a nation. Reader, whoever thou art, remember this, and in thy sphere practice virtue thyself and encourage it in others. There's two huge points at the very end of this quote. Righteousness alone can exalt us as a nation, and sphere of influence, right? Practice virtue in our sphere and encourage it in others. So often today we think we don't have any influence, folks. But we do, we all do. And it doesn't matter whether you're male or female, whether you're married or not, uh, what your job title is. Every interaction you have is a chance to practice virtue. And we have the opportunity so often, you know we do, right? Those little things that you see where you can do something right and you get to make that decision often in a split second. Do I pick up that piece of trash? Do I not? Do I give the clerk back the extra dollar that they gave me? Do I not? Do I open the door for that elderly couple that's walking in behind me? Do I not? You know, do I stop and give a drink or a piece of food to this person that's sitting on the side of the street? Or do I not? Do I talk to the cashier, et cetera, et cetera? You have an opportunity, folks, in your sphere, whatever it is, stay-at-home mom. You've got kids. That's a huge sphere, right? At work in a business, you've got coworkers, you've got employees, you've got employers, huge sphere. And so I just we need to focus on that to practice virtue ourselves and encourage it in others. Marriage verse for today comes out of Hebrews chapter 13, verse 4. Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. Only comment I'm going to make here, I make this comment online pretty frequently. Uh, and if you're really interested, you can go dig into this. But for too long, we have separated two categories. We've separated the people that rebel against Proverbs 5.19 and 1 Corinthians 7, verses 3 through 6. That's one group. And then over here in this other group are those that rebel against Hebrews 13:4. And we treat them as two separate groups, and we really focus on those who don't follow Hebrews 13.4, but we don't focus inside the church on the other group, Proverbs 5:19 and 1 Corinthians 7. Uh, male or female, husband or wife, people who rebel against one should be treated the same as people who rebel and reject the other. And if you're really interested in that, if you don't know those verses, I would uh humbly suggest that you go and look them up. Scripture for today, I'm gonna go back into Revelation. Kind of fitting that we're at the end of the year and we're also at the end of the Bible, huh? Chapter 12, verses 1 through 17. Then I witnessed in heaven an event of great significance. I saw a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon beneath her feet, and a crown of twelve stars on her head. She was pregnant, and she cried out because of her labor pains and the agony of giving birth. Then I witnessed in heaven another significant event. I saw a large red dragon with seven heads and ten horns, with seven crowns on his head. His tail swept away one third of the stars in the sky, and he threw them to the earth. He stood in front of the woman as she was about to give birth, ready to devour her baby as soon as it was born. She gave birth to a son who was to rule all nations with an iron rod. And her child was snatched away from the dragon and was caught up to God and to his throne. And the woman fled into the wilderness, for God had prepared a place to care for her for one thousand two hundred and sixty days. Then there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon and his angels, and the dragon lost the battle, and he and his angels were forced out of heaven. This great dragon, the ancient serpent called the devil or Satan, the one deceiving the whole world, was thrown down to the earth with all his angels. Then I heard a loud voice shouting across the heavens, It has come at last, salvation and power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down to earth, the one who accuses them before our God day and night. And they have defeated him by the blood of the lamb and by their testimony. And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die. Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who live in the heavens rejoice, but terror will come on the earth and the sea, for the devil has come down to you in great anger, knowing that he has little time. When the dragon realized that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. But she was given two wings like those of a great eagle, so she could fly to the place prepared for her in the wilderness. There she would be cared for and protected from the dragon for a time, times and half a time. Then the dragon tried to drown the woman with a flood of water that flowed from his mouth, but the earth helped her by opening its mouth and swallowing the river that gushed out from the mouth of the dragon. And the dragon was angry at the woman and declared war against the rest of her children, all who keep God's commandments and maintain their testimony for Jesus. O Lord, rescue me from evil people, protect me from those who are violent, those who plot evil in their hearts and stir up trouble all day long. Their tongues sting like a snake, their venom drip the venom of a viper drips from their lips. O Lord, keep me out of the hands of the wicked, protect me from those who are violent, for they are plotting against me. The proud have set a trap to catch me, they have stretched out a net. They have placed traps all along the way. I said to the Lord, You are my God. Listen, O Lord, to my cries for mercy. O sovereign Lord, the strong one who rescued me. You protected me on the day of battle. Lord, do not let evil people have their way. Do not let their evil schemes succeed, or they will become proud. Let my enemies be destroyed by the very evil they have planned for me. Let burning coals fall down on their heads, let them be thrown into the fire or into watery pits from which they can't escape. Don't let liars prosper here in our land. Cause great disasters to fall on the violent. But I know the Lord will help those they persecute. He will give justice to the poor. Surely righteous people are praising your name. The godly will live in your presence. Proverbs thirty verse seventeen. The eye that mocks a father and despises a mother's instruction will be plucked out by the ravens of the valley and eaten by vultures. Medal of Honor for today is Frank Boyce, B O I S, Quartermaster, U.S. Civil War, USS Cincinnati, U.S. Navy, May 27, 1863, Vicksburg, Mississippi. Served as quartermaster on board the USS Cincinnati during the attack on the Vicksburg batteries and at the time of her sinking, 27 May, 1863, engaging the enemy in a fierce battle, the Cincinnati amidst an incessant fire of shot and shell continued to fire her guns to the last, though so penetrated by enemy shellfire that her fate was sealed. Conspicuously cool and making signals throughout the battle, Boyce, after all the Cincinnati staff had been shot away, succeeded in nailing the flag to the stump of the four staff to enable this proud ship to go down, with her colors nailed to the mast. Accredited to Northampton, Hampshire County, Massachusetts, not awarded posthumously. Born September thirteenth, eighteen forty-one, Canada. Died January twenty fifth, nineteen twenty, Seattle, Washington. Buried Grand Army of the Republic Cemetery, two hundred seven five TAC I three, Seattle, Washington.

SPEAKER_00: 13:22

Frank.

SPEAKER_01: 13:43

Still kind of early on in the 20th century, which is where we really get going. This is from Woodrow Wilson. This is Christmas 1917 address during World War I, delivered on the 25th of December. Christmas message to the American people, the White House, December 25th, 1917. My fellow countrymen, on this Christmas day as we celebrate the birth of the Prince of Peace, our hearts are heavy with the tragedy of war. Yet even in this dark hour, the Christmas message comes to us with renewed power and meaning. Let us remember that Christmas comes to all men alike, friend and foe, victor and vanquished. It teaches us that in the sight of God there is neither Jew nor Greek, bond nor free, but all are one in Christ Jesus. To our brave soldiers in the trenches, to our sailors on the sea, to our people at home, I send this Christmas greeting. Let the spirit of Christmas inspire us to greater sacrifice, greater devotion to the cause of human liberty, and greater faith in the ultimate triumph of righteousness. In the midst of war, let us keep alive the Christmas spirit of peace, goodwill, and brotherly love.

SPEAKER_00: 15:15

May this holy season bring comfort to the sorrowing, strength to the weak, and hope to all mankind. Woodrow Wilson.

SPEAKER_01: 15:41

Christmas greetings from the White House, December 24th, 1921. To the people of the United States. The Christmas season reminds us of the fundamental virtues which have made our nation great faith, hope, charity, and brotherly love. Let us resolve during this holy time to practice these virtues in our daily lives. To those who mourn, may Christmas bring consolation. To those who labor, may it bring rest and refreshment. To the sick and suffering, may it bring healing and comfort. To all may it bring the peace that passeth understanding. As we gather around our family altars tonight, let us give thanks for the manifold blessings which God has bestowed upon our country and pray for his continued favor.

SPEAKER_00: 16:58

Warren G. Harding, President of the United States.

SPEAKER_01: 17:14

You look go back to Revelation 12 and look at verses 10 through 11 or 12, talking about the devil accusing those before God day and night, right? But they and they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony, and they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die. Two thoughts when we read that one, our Marine Corps General Chesty Puller made the comment once, paraphrase that there are worse things than death. And there are, folks, there are a lot. The list is actually much longer than many of us think of things that are worse than death. And the other is that as Christians, it ought to be part of our focus each day to acknowledge there's no worse fate, none, than a person dying without choosing to put their faith and believe in Jesus Christ because they're going to spend eternity with the devil in hell. I don't even, it makes me cringe and shudder to even think about what that will be like, folks. I have no idea. I don't want to know. And we shouldn't want it for anyone else. And that's hard when you're talking about your enemies, right? It's not easy. But but that just struck me when we were reading through that today. And then you go back to our Medal of Honor recipient today, and I couldn't help think Frank Boyce. You know, he was in born in Canada, so he was an immigrant and climbed the sinking ship to nail the flag to the ship so that it would sink with its colors, with her colors. Folks, I'm sorry. The immigrants that we're getting today, the majority of the ones that you hear talked about constantly, they are not the same as those we've gotten in the past. And that is an extremely important distinction that we need to remember, not to mention, remember Mr. Boyce's name. And then these two Christmas messages, there's a lot that we could talk about in here, but I think the overall is practicing virtue. When you go back to Harding's message from 1921, uh practicing faith, hope, and charity, just like Patrick Henry said, remember to do that each day in our daily lives. You know, that's what Harding said. And then also the 1917 message during World War I from Woodrow Wilson just, folks, we probably have a fight coming. And we had a pastor years ago, and he would say, we can either cling to Christ, we can learn to cling to him before the storm comes, or we can wait until the storm comes and be scrambling to get a halt of the anchor, right? To study our the ship of our life. And I'm talking to myself here as much as anybody. I don't think I'm focusing on this enough, even though I really do believe we have a fight coming, but we need to make sure that we are anchored to God and Jesus Christ, because the tough times are coming.

SPEAKER_00: 20:29

But there is great hope in Jesus Christ and God.

SPEAKER_01: 20:56

And if you enjoy it, if you would leave a review online somewhere for the first book or second or both, I would be very grateful for that. And those reviews help a lot. And if you feel like you're getting something out of the podcast on a regular basis, if you have three or four or five dollars that you can donate to the podcast, there's a website on the BuzzSprout webpage for the podcast where you can do that.

SPEAKER_00: 21:22

And I would be very grateful for that as well. Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.

SPEAKER_01: 21:36

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not to temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever and ever.

unknown: 21:52

Amen.

SPEAKER_01: 21:54

God bless y'all. God bless your families. God bless your marriages if you're married. God bless your nation wherever you are around the world listening. God bless America. We'll talk to y'all again real soon, folks. Looking forward to it.