What this national experience demonstrated was the utter inability of law to provide a foundation for morality.  If all you need to do to get folks to do what is right or not do what is wrong is write a law then we would have no murder, no rape, no drunken drivers or thieves, for all those have long since been forbidden by legislation.  And yet any casual glance through the news sources today shows that they are occurring regularly – in spite of the laws against such actions.

So, what is the answer?  Where in can we find a way to bring about a better, more orderly society?  The answer lays at home.  It is only when a people is taught right from wrong at home, through example and not just by word, that a basis for an orderly society can exist.  When the foundation is strong the laws needed are few, for each person is self governed.  But the weaker the foundation, the more corrupt the society and the greater need for more and more laws to attempt to reign in the increase in disregard for others.

Morality can not be legislated.  Morality is the result of individual moral decisions which arise from personal convictions.  A moral society arises when the vast majority of the citizens choose to do what is right, not because of fear of punishment from doing wrong but rather due to an aversion for wrongdoing.  There will always be those who chose to do wrong and no fear of punishment can deter them.  It is for them that laws should be written, ensuring that even though they may “flaunt the law” that they will not be allowed to continue to do so.  As I heard mentioned in a debate on the death penalty one time, “The death penalty will not ensure that some person will never unjustifiably take another person’s life, but it SHOULD prevent them from doing so again.”  The same can be said of rape and other such reprehensible actions.  There will always appear some person or another who has no regard for the law.  The law should be such that such a person will never be allowed to prey upon others again.  The majority of violent crime in the United States of America is committed by less than 10 percent of the violent criminals.  Simply eliminating such persons from society will bring about a large drop in the crime rate.  Doing so swiftly would result in an even larger drop as people capable of reasoning it out will be dissuaded from imitating their actions for fear of imitating their demise.  Those incapable of “taking the hint” would be removed from society and thus further actions on their part against others would cease.

Erasing all current laws other than the Constitution and then rebuilding with only the bare minimum – strictly enforced – would result in a safer, freer society.  The proliferation of law upon law results only in making otherwise moral people into criminals by binding them with laws which have no effect on the immoral and criminally inclined.  A simple example is the found in the multitude of laws prohibiting the possession or carrying of firearms.  Criminals and violent people who do not hesitate to break the ancient, universal, law of “Thou shalt not commit murder” are not averse to breaking a lesser law dealing only with the possession of an inanimate object.  A person who will shrink from possessing an inanimate object because some law says “Don’t!” is less likely to break the innate law of “don’t murder”.  Binding the latter has no effect on the former, and leaves the latter at the mercy of the former.  If a person who, out of fear of violent people or a desire to protect others, breaks the inane law of “don’t possess an inanimate object” is punished for doing so, nothing is done other than to deny a useful citizen to society.  Such a person is not the type of person who would attack another without due cause.

On the other hand, there are others who condemn anyone and everyone who disagree with them. They tend to have a legalistic outlook on life and see anyone who disagrees with their particular brand of theology as “obviously headed for hell in a hand-basket”. Their attitude seems to be “my way is better even that God’s way” and “Real love smacks people upside the head for not toeing MY line.”

Is there any middle ground available?  CAN we know anything? Is ANYTHING wrong? Is EVERYTHING right? What did Jesus REALLY do and teach?

The first group are quick to grab onto a certain extract from Jesus’ “Sermon On The Mount” – in Matthew 7:1-2.  In this passage, Jesus said: ““Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” This text is used to “prove” that we have no way to know if someone is acting right or wrong.  Any comment as to the correctness or lack thereof of another person’s actions is seen as “judging” that person and is condemned (ironically) by those who claim to not judge anyone.  Any assertion that a certain action is ungodly or sinful is condemned as “sinfully unloving” by those who claim to “not judge”.  Yes, we live in a strange world.  But, what if Jesus Himself told us that we can tell when someone is acting wrongly? Perhaps the whole idea of “judging” is not about an assertion that something is wrong or right but rather is about condemnation of someone who has done wrong?

Further along in the same 7th chapter of Matthew’s Gospel we find verses 15 to 20.  In this section of the same “Sermon on the Mount” Jesus stated:  “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.  By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?  Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.  Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.” In this passage we are told clearly that “by their fruit you will recognize them”.  Note that Jesus did not contradict Himself.  He DID NOT say, “Condemn them for their fruit”.  He DID say, “You WILL recognize them by the fruit they produce”. He is telling us to be discerning, to pay attention, to not latch on to everyone who claims to work for Him but rather to see what their life produces.  AND He says “watch out for false prophets” – a clear warning to steer clear of such folks.

Not only did Jesus Himself address this issue, His Apostles and Prophets also taught people that they can know what is right and what is wrong.  And they also warned Christ’s disciples about “wolves in sheep’s clothing” arising from within the church itself to draw people away after themselves.  In his farewell message to the elders from the church in Ephesus, the Apostle Paul stated:

Acts 20:26-31
26 Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of any of you. 27 For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God. 28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.29I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. 31 So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.

He didn’t say “You can’t know what is right and what is wrong, so don’t worry about it.” He said “Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.”  Why would he warn them if they would be unable to discern what is right and what is wrong?

The author of the book of Hebrews was a bit harsh with his readers.  He didn’t mollycoddle them, he spoke to them straight out and  told them that they were not growing and maturing like they should.

Hebrews 5:11-14
11 We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand. 12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! 13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

Note especially his comment about “solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.” Note that not only can we distinguish good from evil, we can even learn to train ourselves to do so.  It is not something that “just happens”, it is something that happens because we learn to eat solid food and digest it properly.

What is absent from both the account in Acts and the passage in Hebrews is, however, any admonition to force others to believe as one does.  There is no admonition to condemn those who disagree.  We are not called to “go on a witch hunt” nor are we called to burn heretics at the stake.  We ARE called to “be on our guard” and told that we can “distinguish good from evil”.

So, how should the church handle this?  In the opinion of some folks, the church should never comment negatively on any behavior by any person or group. They opine that doing so is “unloving”. To say “this or that action or lifestyle is destructive of the individual and society” is the unpardonable (to these people) sin. Is there any way in which we can not only identify that which is destructive but also call others to a life of walking according to God’s mandates without being “judgmental”? I believe there is.

It’s not about mass production, it’s about daily living.  It’s about building relationships in which you have not only the right but the duty to point out to another the simple facts. When we build proper relationships with people then we can tell them “You know I love you, but what you are doing is stupid at best and destructive at worst. If you keep following this pathway you will fall into a deep pit, harming yourself and others.” For example, I have personally told people “Your lifestyle is destroying you.” but without rejecting them as a person.  When asked by a young man who was living a homosexual lifestyle “What does the Bible say about this?” I told him.  I took him to the Scriptures and showed him what the Bible teaches – and it does NOT teach that such a lifestyle pleases God.  But at no time did I condemn him for his choices in life. The message was “There is a better way, one of blessing through following God’s design.” He had to face his choices and he had to decide between doing what he knew to be right and what society was telling him was right.  BUT he never had to wonder if we loved him or if God loved him, he could tell through our acceptance of him that our rejection of his lifestyle choices was simply a call to live God’s design versus society’s destructive tendencies, to implement God’s blessing for his life rather than falling for satan’s perversion.

Not only have folks dealing with homosexuality passed through our doors and sat in our living-room and been shown God’s love, but also folks dealing with drunkenness, womanizing, gossiping, lying, anger, malice and multitudinous other sinful choices.  And they almost without exception have noted that they are received with love and that a home based on God’s principles is a haven of peace in the midst of society’s carnage.  By showing the same love as Jesus (Who would say “your faith has made you well, go and sin no more” and “neither do I condemn you, go and sin no more”) we have seen lives restored and true newness of life where before there was but darkness and destruction.

We CAN know that things are right or wrong.  We CAN show love while rejecting sin.  We ARE called to be watchmen warning of destruction ahead.  But we are NOT called to judge and condemn folks who are different from us.  After all, the true mark of Christ’s disciples is love.  Love doesn’t stand by and not say a word when it is obvious that someone is setting themselves up for harm.  Nor does it snarl and growl and mutter about “idiots” who don’t know how to do things better.  Love gives warning about pitfalls, and extends arms of love to those who have fallen in them anyway.  Love shows a better way of doing things, but does not shun those who have chosen wrong. Love does not say “I am better than you.” Love says “God has a better way of living.”  Love recognizes that we all are in need of God’s help and grace and mercy.

There is room for moral uncertainty only when we do not really believe that there is a better way of life that God helps those who love Him to follow.

Interestingly enough, there are voices coming from non-muslims condemning those of us who object to the project, claiming we are “intolerant” and “arrogant” and who knows what all else.  Many of these voices claim that it is the “First amendment right” of the organizers to errect this edifice. That last claim is hilarious since we are talking about a city which has historically ignored rights recognized by the US Constitution.  Many of the voices claiming a “First Amendment Right” are the same voices calling for further destruction of what little remains of the second amendment rights of New York citizens.  But I digress (as usual).

Let’s put a bit of perspective to the issue.  The building site is stated to be “600 feet” from “Ground Zero”.  That sounds like a long ways – until you trim it down to size.  That is less than 200 meters.  Only two standard city blocks.  One reasonable pistol shot away. (That last statement is for perspective, not insinuating any violent act. Some folks I know regularly shoot at two and three times the distance with pistols at targets.)  In a city of several million people, that is right next door.  In fact, the building to be replaced by the planned center was actually damaged on September 11, 2001 when debris from the attacks hit it.  So we’re talking about a plan to build a Muslim center only a two minute leisurely stroll away from the site of the most horrific attack against innocent people since December 7, 1941, an attack that was perpetrated by adherents of the Muslim faith.  And some people say, “So what?”

One of the greatest issues in this entire situation is the issue of spiritual warfare.  Christianity can hold its own on the basis of history, science impact on individual believers who live out the precepts of the Gospel.  But too many in the United States have fallen into the trap of  moral equivalence.  The post modern notion that there is no absolute truth is prevalent in our society and so we have fallen into the trap of believing that “all religions are equal”.  The US was built on Christian faith and the Bible.  Our republic was born from a document that states, “all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” This flies in the face of Islam and Sharia law. Rather than recognizing man’s free will and the right to choose how to live, Islam and Sharia law (and the two ARE inseparable) seek to obligate everyone to live according to their ideas of morality.  Note the increased demands by muslims for the recognition of Sharia law in the lands where they are increasing past a small minority.  Already there are decisions in (once)Great Britain and on the European Continent which allow muslims to break national law under the defense of obeying Sharia law.  Honor killings and female genital mutilation are just some of the things which certain branches of Islam wish to bring to the United States and the rest of the world.

So, what does this have to do with the “Ground Zero Mosque”?  A lot.  Our traditions and laws are designed to allow a certain degree of latitude in the celebration of religion.  But historically we have stood against a blanket “Anything goes in the name of religion” policy.   Case in point – polygamy.  The practice of polygamy was outlawed nationally and adherents of “Fundamental Mormonism” and other groups are prosecuted when they break the law. To allow the building of this “Prayer and Muslim Cultural Center” (a mosque by any other name is still a mosque) is to allow the proverbial camel nose under the edge of the tent. As pointed out, there are at least 30 mosques already in New York.  It should be fairly easy for them to find a building site well away from Ground Zero.

I suggest that you, dear reader, take the time to read this article that was written by a couple of muslims. Because of my place as a Christian leader, many might suspect me of being “intolerant”. Kind of like my opposition to the socialist/communist policies of the current President of the United states is seen by some who do not know me as “racist”. (Since when are socialism and communism race issues?) Also, a quick search with a good search engine for the words Islamic statements against Ground Zero Mosque yields a lot of reading material, to say the least.  Are they, too, “islamophobic” – I think not.

In the long run, the real battle is in the minds and hearts of individuals around the land – and around the world.  When the United States submits herself to God as she should, everyone will come to understand the importance of the new covenant between God and mankind. “This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time,” declares the LORD. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the LORD. “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” (Jeremiah 31:33-34 – NIV)  Until such time as we allow the Lord to once more reign in our hearts and minds, all discussions about “Ground Zero Mosques” and abortion and homosexuality and corruption and fiscal irresponsibility and other such themes will be merely academic.  Only when we allow the Gospel message to indwell us and shine forth from us as a beacon of light in a dark world will we finally find the path to true peace.

Back then, medical care was a private affair. You went to the doctor and paid your bill. He would diagnose and treat the illness according to his knowledge and skill. When we came upon a doctor who’s knowledge was inferior to ours – we didn’t go back. Even when the doctor wasn’t capable of treating a simple case of amoebas we never thought of suing him. We simply started taking medicine with us to the U.S. – just in case. And such has remained our practice over the years. Only now we will often visit a national doctor and obtain a prescription for the medicine so that we can satisfy the requirements of U.S. customs officials upon arrival there.

Now the U.S. is faced with a massive overhaul of the medical system. The problems with this are varied. People travel from all over the world to be treated in the U.S. – because the U.S. has one of the best health care systems in the world. The main problem is the cost associated with treatment there. And what drives the exhorbitant costs? Wages are a part – but not the larfest issue. The cost of litigation is one of the greatest problems. If someone is not happy with the results of their treatment, they sue for malpractice. That is why doctors will order all kinds of tests so that they can prove diligence in a court of law. A friend of mine recently underwent a long series of tests because his doctor noticed a spot on one of his lungs. Probable cause? Scar tissue from damage done years earlier. BUT there was a slight chanc of cancer so a long series of tests and procedures was undertaken to show that he had – scar tissue, the very thing his doctor’s experience and intuition indicated at the beginning. $40,000 dollars or so later and the doctor had prevented any chance of suing him IF by some fluke the scar tissue had proven to be a tumor instead.

The problem with the U.S. health system is the U.S. “justice” system.  We have become a nation that will sue at the drop of a hat, and drop the hat ourselves should we feel the need to sue. Gone are the days of personal responsibility.  Now it is always “someone else” who is to blame for anything that happens to us. The major problem is that we no longer have a strong judeo-christian foundation. That foundation laid for us by the Founding Fathers has been eroded by decades of concentrating on “Separation of Church and State”, castigating the Church and removing any base for moral and ethical teaching from our schools and society.  For decades we have been taught that there is “no absolute truth” – which is the only absolute that is allowed under modern education. We have instilled in our nation the idea that we have descended from apes and amoebas – and then wonder why folks act like animals.  The law of the jungle has overthrown the law of the land and the survival of the fittest means “looking out for number one” – to the extent of doing what ever it takes to “get one up” on the other guy.

Health care – does it need an overhaul?  People all over the world flock to the US when possible, because it is well known that we have the finest doctors and hospitals on God’s green earth.  If we truly want to improve the lot of the poor amongst us, we should work on overhauling our “justice system”, gutting current tort laws and returning common sense to the place it should have had all along.  People should once more be taught to take responsibility for their actions rather than taking it out on others when they goof up.  And YES that includes doctors, but we need to allow them the latitude necessary to exercise common sense when they treat us for illness and disease.

“This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.” (Romans 13:6-7)

This is a day in which millions of Americans will be sending in their tax forms.  There will also be a lot of groaning, muttering and complaining.  There will also be a lot of preaching on how it’s our “Loyal duty” to pay the taxes.  Few people I know would claim that we should pay NO tax.  MANY people I know believe we are over taxed – and for wasteful purposes. To be forced, via taxation, to participate in that which one considers abhorrent (federally funded abortion, for example) is unjust at the very best.  To be shouted down and called a racist for demurring from the call to foist upon our children’s children a bill for wasteful spending goes against the grain.

As I was meditating on the verse above today, other verses came to mind.  First, Samuel’s warning to the Children of Israel when they decided they’d rather have a human king “like everyone else” rather than allowing Jehovah to reign in their hearts and minds.  Here is what Samuel told the people.

¹¹ He said, “This is what the king who will reign over you will do: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots. ¹² Some he will assign to be commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and others to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and still others to make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. ¹³ He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. ¹⁴ He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants. ¹⁵ He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants. ¹⁶ Your menservants and maidservants and the best of your cattle and donkeys he will take for his own use. ¹⁷ He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. ¹⁸ When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, and the LORD will not answer you in that day.” (I Samuel 8:11-18)

Interesting, the king would take TEN PERCENT of their wealth and income. How much more does our government take from us today?

Another passage that came to mind follows:

They set up kings without my consent; they choose princes without my approval.  With their silver and gold they make idols for themselves to their own destruction.  (Hosea 8:4)

So here’s what I’ve been cogitating on.  Do you suppose that setting up a “king” or choosing a “prince” without asking for God Almighty to guide us would entail an even heavier penalty than that given to the Children of Israel?  Do you suppose that by ignoring God’s leading in our daily lives as a nation and turning our backs on Him has lead us to the point where these words have come true, “When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, and the LORD will not answer you in that day.”? Indeed, be careful what you wish for – it may come true.  In 2008 many people wished for “Hope and Change” – never asking what the foundation for such would be nor what “change” entailed.  Chopping off your leg is change – but not necessarily a good one.

But there is another verse that says a lot to us today.

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 will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14)

Are there enough of God’s people left who are willing and able to both humble themselves and seek God’s face?  Will we?  Or will we continue to seek our own paths as a nation and dive deeper into the pit?

“In passing, we should note this curious mark of our own age: the only absolute allowed is the absolute insistence that there is no absolute” – Francis Schaeffer

But what surprises me are the voices lifted in thankfulness for the passage of the bill.  Voices of some who’s opinions I thought were carefully thought out.  How can a bill that is this expensive and which puts our nation at greater risk of bankruptcy be a good thing?  God teaches us to be careful of our finances and to spend wisely – this does not seem to be a wise thing at all.

Some Christian leaders are touting this as “The Bill Jesus Would Love” – or something to that effect, because it supposedly addresses the needs of the poor.  But does it?  And even if it does – is this the way?  When Peter asked about paying the temple tax, Jesus didn’t send him out to beg, nor did He send him out to steal. He sent him out to catch a fish – and allow God to provide for his needs.

Now, the question is – WHY would government even be interested in health care?  What is the history of health care in the first place?  Did you ever think about that?  Health care began when early Christians stayed behind in plague torn cities to take care of the sick and the dying.  They provided for those in need and established the first hospitals.  In fact, around the world we find hospitals that were established by medical missionaries.  People who felt the call to reach out to the sick and needy of the world – and did so with God’s help and provision.  So why is it that we now turn to government as the source of taking care of our health care needs?  Is it not because the Church has become irrelevant in many ways – turning over her work to secular government?  Schools in the US – started by churches.  Health care – started by Churches.  Shucks, even the militia was run from the church. (Look it up – folks carried their muskets to church and practiced drilling and shooting after services)  So why do we now turn those things over to secular government?

And why are we in the mess we are in?  Back in the 60′s a stay in the hospital cost less than $100 a night (in fact, if I recall correctly it cost less than $50).  So why do we now have such exorbitant costs?  Can you spell “lawyer” and “medical malpractice”?  Check out how high medical malpractice insurance is these days.  A huge portion of any doctor, anesthesiologist, nurse, hospital, dentist, etc bill goes to pay for medical malpractice insurance.  We’ve become such a sue happy nation that even negligence on the patient’s part can result in a multimillion dollar suit being settled against the doctor. Tort reform would do a lot more for us than “health care reform”.

So, what’s the solution?  Is taking from the “haves” to give to the “have nots” really justice?  No, it is not.  True social justice comes when society reaches out in love to the hurt and the needy – to give them a hand, not a handout. We have raised whole generations of people who depend on government from the cradle to the grave.  A look at the map of the districts represented by the congress critters who voted for the recent health care bill reveals that they all come from urban settings.  In my home state the largest city is the ONLY congressional district of either party to vote in favor.  Somehow I’m not surprised that this person voted in the interests of the feed trough mentality constituents – against the rights of the rest of society.

If the church would be the church, reaching out to the poor and helpless in true love – we could kiss such asinine legislation as that which our government foisted upon us goodbye.  But as long as the church remains content to limit herself to “worship services” and “praise services” and the four walls so many identify as the church – she will remain irrelevant and our culture will continue down the slippery slope towards servitude.

The problem isn’t that our nation voted in favor of socialism (a system geared for failure), the problem is that the church sees taking from one at the point of a gun to give to another as a way of showing the love of the Savior.

The other evening we were discussing the problem of sin and evil with a new Christian.  He struggles with the idea of “Why did God allow us to choose rather than creating a perfect world in which there would be no opportunity for sin?” And that’s a tough question if we look at it from our limited perspective.  If there is no choice then there is no opportunity for excellence because we would not know excellence since we have no point of reference.  In a land where the average height is somewhere around five and a half feet, a six foot tall man is a giant.  In a land where the average height is around six foot, he is just average.  It is a matter of perspective.

God gave us the ability to choose because He wants a people who freely come to Him and who seek His ways and His paths over any and all other ways and paths.  Love that is forced is not true love.  Obedience through lack of choice is not true obedience.  And the way to show whether a person really wants to live like He designed us is to allow them to choose between two paths.  If that person freely chooses to seek the path of Light and godliness over the path of darkness and sin, that person obviously WANTS to walk in God’s paths.

Too often we look at life and the choices before us from a limited perspective.  We don’t look far down the path to see the results of our choice, we tend to choose on the spur of the moment – too often being influenced by immediate gratification rather than long term results.  And that is where we tend to mess up.  Building for the long term means making tough choices in the short term.

Here are a few quotes from the founding fathers of the republic known as the United States of America.

• “The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. … Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God.” —Thomas Jefferson
• “If you love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen.” —Samuel Adams
• “A nation which can prefer disgrace to danger is prepared for a master, and deserves one!” —Alexander Hamilton
• “They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.” —Benjamin Franklin
• “Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God, I know not what course others may take, but give me liberty or give me death!” —Patrick Henry
• “Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports.” —George Washington
• “Our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people.” —John Adams

That last quote came to mind during another recent conversation.  In my current place of abode we are faced with an election for Congress critters and Senators as well as a primary (on the same day) for President. While discussing some of the principals we Christians should take into consideration before casting a vote, the subject of Constitutions came up.  I mentioned that although I’ve studied and considered the US Constitution in depth, the constitution of my current nation of residence is of such a complexity and length that I’ve long put off looking at it to any degree.

My friend commented, “The US Constitution is no longer sufficient to the needs of the nation.” At my raised eyebrow he went on to explain, “The US Constitution was designed for a moral and godly people, but the nation has long since departed from those principles.” OUCH!  I KNOW that’s true, but still it hurts to hear it from other lips.  And the funny thing is – he’s never read John Adams.  That’s right, he came to that conclusion through observation and consideration – and smacked it right on the head with accuracy.

He went on to say, “Our own constitution is complex of necessity.  We as a people are so corrupt that we can be governed in no other way.”  Again – he smacked the nail dead center. One of the “thorns in my side” here is the level and depth of dishonesty and corruption.  Everyone gripes about the politicians – but if we were to shoot them all and replace them with “average joes” off the street – we’d have the same type of problems because the roots of the problem go so deep.

But the thing about freedom is – we are free to choose wrong or to choose right.  We can choose justice and mercy and righteousness – or sink into apathy, egotism and filth.  Freedom allows us to choose.  We will become that which we CHOOSE to become.  If we choose to “go with the flow” – the flow goes naturally downward, if it moves at all. Stagnation results from NOT moving.  To move on an upward path requires a driving force, a desire to achieve.  Just think about plumbing for an instant.  If your toilet and drain pipes are not properly sloped they will cause the filth to back up and overflow.  If they are properly sloped they will cause the effluent to gently flow down into the cess pool.  But for the pure water to properly flow up from the well and into the home, there must be a pump to bring about the proper pressure.  As a nation are we merely “going with the flow” towards the cess pool of history, or are we ready to turn around and allow the desire for justice and mercy and godliness to to drive us to bring the pure, sparkling water of freedom in Christ to a thirsty world?

In the end, freedom must be chosen.  Freedom must be fought for.  Freedom must be wisely used.  God created us for freedom on all levels.  It is up to us to choose to live as He designed us – or to badly use that freedom which will lead us to follow the easy flow to corruption.

The Cycle of Democracy follows this sequence:

1. From bondage to spiritual faith;
2. From spiritual faith to great courage;
3. From courage to liberty (rule of law);
4. From liberty to abundance;
5. From abundance to complacency;
6. From complacency to apathy;
7. From apathy to dependence;
8. From dependence back into bondage (rule of men).

(Attributed to Frasier Tytler)

It reminds me of the story of the little boy who asked his mother, “Mommy, is it true that God made Adam from the dust of the earth?” His mother replied, “That is true, son.” So then he asked, “And is it true that when we die we go back to dust?” And she answered, “Yes, son – that is true.”  “Well, Mommy, you’d better look under my bed,” the little guy told her, “because there’s someone either coming or going!”

As we look at our nation, we can see that indeed, it is either “Coming or going”.  In fact, as we look at history it is easy to see that we are at the point of going.  As a nation we have reached the point where apathy is leading to dependence which will pave the way for a despotic government to enslave a once free and prosperous land.  And this leads me to the point of remembering the words of Elijah as he complained, “Lord, there is no one left but ME.” The Lord told him (essentially) “Stop whining – there are still 7,000 men who have not bowed their knee to Baal.”  There are a lot of good folk left who are independent in nature and many of which are faithful to God.  The question is – will we stand and be counted or allow our nation to keep sliding down the slippery slope of history to become yet another example of the relentless cycle of democracy?

It is time to seek the Lord with a whole heart.  It is time to cast our cares on Him and to live as He designed us to live – walking in His Light.  If we will do so we may be able to swing our nation back to spiritual faith, great courage and liberty.