THE TEARS JUST KEEP FLOWING, AMERICA

by CHARLES ROBEY
(MOODY AL USA)

"Record my misery; list my tears on your scroll— are they not in your record? Then my enemies will turn back when I call for help. By this I will know that God is for me." (Psalm 56:8-9)

Surfing the internet recently, I happen to home in on the aftermath of a speech given by the leader of the free world. Did he actually label 70 million Americans semi-fascists, racists, and disgusting human beings? The Fake News media is of course declaring this speech brave and historic.

If so, being older than dirt and twice as gritty, as far as I can remember, this type of derogatory rhetoric has never before been used by an official holding this important office. Our God-inspired founding fathers would be totally speechless, I’m sure.

Can you see, can you just see my tears dripping off the pages of this blog? They just keep on flowing, America. What, in the name of our Creator's green earth, has happened to our great Republic, America, the land of the free and the home of the brave?

According to the internet, “Fascism” is a system of government led by a dictator who typically rules by force and often violently suppresses opposition and criticism, controlling all industry and commerce, and promoting nationalism and often racism. Fascism often used violent methods for political ends. And is often considered a form of totalitarianism, in which government controls almost every aspect of ordinary life.

Fascism as an ideology focuses on the state itself. However, fascist leaders typically gain support by appealing to people’s nationalism and racism, especially by promoting suspicion or hatred of people that they label as foreigners or otherwise cast as illegitimate citizens.”

Now, as the waterworks continue falling down my cheeks, I ask you which of America’s political parties does this particular definition actually seem to fit? Yes, we must all pray for America, my friends.

Just where did our great Republic, America, go wrong, I ask? Well, I realize, according to the Scripture, this evil decay of mankind actually started with the fall of mankind, in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:1-7) and has slowly progressed throughout history into the present.

When I look back on history with respect to the changes that have occurred in the land I love, and in the church, I love even more, yes, the tears continue to fall in place.

According to Dr. David Jeremiah, “There has always been a stark difference between life as the Scriptures describes it and life in our fallen world, but lately the contrast has grown even more stark, the changes we have experienced in the United States and the world have been more numerous, more consequential, and more threating than any in my lifetime.”

Do we actually feel the problem may be outside of the realm of our lives? Or is it time for us all to take a personal inventory, to reflect on not only our lives, but on our influence on others? Remember the words of Pogo in the Walt Kelly comic strip,” We have met the enemy and he is us!”

So, where do we stand in respect to our spiritual duty to our founding Creator and to the loyalty to our great Republic of America? Have Christianity and patriotism taken a back seat in our lives?

Have we somehow adopted the attitude of the biblical Pharisee who prayed, “God, I thank You, that I am not like other people, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector"? (Luke 18:11-12)

But how did the tax-gather react? He asked God’s forgiveness for his sins. Jesus, who would know, said the tax collector, not the Pharisee, went home forgiven. (Luke 18:13)

You see, the Pharisee thought God operated on some sort of merit system, and thus could be put in man’s dept through good works. The tax-gatherer knew God was merciful and was worthy of trust. (Luke 18:14)

Do we see the Pharisee's attitude reflected in today’s modern socialist America?

We must not allow the world to conform us to the evils of today’s destructive, socialistic image instead of allowing the dictates of our Creator to transform our lives. (Romans 12:1-2)

Oh, I realize I may have come down a little hard in respect to our current national problem. Tears of regret oftentimes have a way of contributing to such an issue. Nonetheless, we, as a Republic, as free Americans must, however, face up to today’s ongoing destructive, socialistic mindset.

So when it comes to answering the question, “what do we do?” we must do a bit of soul searching. We must remove the beams from our own eyes, before we start pointing fingers. (Matthew 7:3-5)

A good start would be daily reading of Scripture (II Timothy 3:16), followed by becoming familiar with our founding fathers’ documents, The Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution.

I once had a problem at work. A friend suggested I pick a month of thirty-one days and read a chapter from the Bible book of Proverbs each day. I also kept a running journal of my thoughts for future reference. I did, and it worked miracles for me. It kept me off that proverbial psychiatric couch.

Our loving Creator has given us a way of escape. He has offered us, His people, a different challenge with a promise.

“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.” (II Chronicles 7:14)

And now, more than ever before, it's time to roll up our sleeves and go to work, for the gospel, for our country, and for its people.

(Isaiah 52:10) “God has rolled up his sleeves. All the nations can see his holy, muscled arm. Everyone, from one end of the earth to the other, sees him at work, doing his salvation work."

AUTHOR’S POSTSCRIPT

America’s people have never before been so divided. There is no denying that our nation is as politically divided as it has ever been, at least back to the 1860s when Americans were actually shooting at one another. The only thing that the extreme elements on both sides even have in common is that the end of the United States is nigh! Is this for real?

According to history, the average lifespan of the world’s greatest civilizations has been about two hundred years. America passed the 200-year marker some forty-plus years ago. Obviously, if America keeps going down this slippery path of self-destruction, America may not break this record of history.

For all your American history buffs, I can imagine Washington kneeling in the snow at Valley Forge, and our founding fathers on their knees at the first Continental Congress.

In my mind's eye I can see President Lincoln praying in the hour of national crisis, and President Woodrow Wilson reading the Bible at night by the White House lights.

According to President Calvin Coolidge, “The foundations of our society and our government rest so much on the teachings of the Bible that it would be difficult to support them if faith in these teachings would cease to be practically universal in our country.”

I could go on and on with quotes, as so many of America’s founders believed the same. To this I shout a big Amen!

The story is told of an old battle-scarred vet’s mindset. “If you can find a better foxhole, then go for it. As for me, I’m satisfied with this one.” Yes, my friend, I’m well satisfied with our Republic, the land of the free and home of the brave. We see many people risking their lives to enter America, but very few doing the same to exit.

So, then, “If you want to hear from the founding fathers, read the Constitution. “If you want to hear the founding fathers speak to you, read the Constitution out loud.” The same could be said of God's word.