"...since we ought to be no less persuaded, that the propitious smiles of heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right, which heaven itself has ordained..." George Washington, Inaugural Address, April 30, 1789
Almost 224 years since George Washington gave that speech, and it seems as if America is spinning out of control. I wonder what the men and women who worked so hard, and sacrificed so much to create this great nation would think of us today. Financially, on the brink of disaster; morally, on the brink of bankruptcy; politically, it seems the "land of the free" is slipping through our fingers. What kind of America are we leaving for our children? Will our grandchildren even have an America?
As a Christian, I know that this world is not my home. My citizenship is in heaven, and that's where I have my eyes set. But there's a reason to be passing through this world, and that's to spread the good news of the gospel of Jesus, and glorify my Father in heaven. And what better place to do so, than in America! I'm so thankful to be an American! We have been given such a blessing to be born here, and to grow up in freedom. We have such an opportunity to do so much for His kingdom because of this great country. But freedom isn't free. We have to be diligent; we have to guard what we have been given; we have to keep the flame burning; we have to be good stewards of the gift.
In November, 2012, our pastor preached a series of sermons on America. In "America's Answer" (http://www.sermonaudio.com/playpopup.asp?SID=11812184010), he said that the greatest threat to the Christian church, and to morality and ethics today is...apathy. He said that every Christian should be involved in the goings-on of this country. We should have a newspaper in one hand and a Bible in the other. I totally agree. I just want to add one more - the U.S. Constitution. We need to know our history! We need to know the framework that our government was built on. We need to know what's going on in our world politically (the newspaper), and look at it Biblically (the Bible) and historically (starting with the Constitution), and act accordingly. We are a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. I am one of those "people" and I haven't been doing my job!
And I'm not the only one. Little by little, this country has been steered away from God. Inch by inch, decision by decision, we have turned our back on God and said, "We don't need You. We don't want You. We don't even believe in You." That is not the way this country was founded, and we're going down the wrong road now, and it's going to get uglier and uglier, unless we turn back. And I don't think the country can turn back, until the church in America, Jesus' church, turns back...on our knees...to God.
Something has changed inside of me this week. I think the Gosnell trial was the last straw. I can't be silent anymore, I can't be "busy" about my own life anymore, I can't ignore the horror of abortion anymore. It's got to stop. Abortion, same-sex marriage, separation of church and state - I'm educating myself about these vital issues - been doing a lot of reading, writing, thinking, and praying. Now I'm going to start spitting some watermelon seeds. (If you listen to the sermon, you'll know what I'm talking about). I'm going to post about what I've learned - and I have absolutely no idea if anyone will read it, or if it will have any effect at all - I just know I have to try. And maybe, just maybe - a couple of those seeds will take root - and make some kind of difference. That's up to God - I just have to do what He's put on my heart to do, and leave the results to Him.
"(If) My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14
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