WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO WE THE PEOPLE

by CharlesRobey
(Trussville, AL USA)

FROM OUR FOUNDING FATHERS
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity ... (Taken from the Constitution of the United States of America.)

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that 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 ... (Taken from the Declaration of Independence)

FROM OUR HEAVENLY FATHER
"And with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness." (II Thessalonians 2:10-12)

What has happened to "We The People"? Really not much, other than we just need to wake up. In recent years "We The People" have been privy to an escalation of upward cynicism, a manufactured skepticism of the world around us. Along with this phenomenon is a progressive disdain for anything or anyone of authority. It's the "me, myself and I" syndrome or complex.

And heading this list of social authorities is the authority of religion; Christianity and God's precepts in particular. Now, this nonconforming attitude is showing in the antagonism toward law and order.

One need only search any form of our current news media to see that law and order seems to have run amuck. Has common sense been thrown out with the bath water? What has happened to us? My answer: Did not this social chaos slowly evolve to removing any resemblance of God, and His written Word from all aspects of our lives?

So if a statue of prominence were to be erected in our community depicting a well-known Christian celebrity dressed in a white robe and riding a white horse, would it not be torn down immediately? (Revelation 19:11)I think yes, given our current history of uncontrollable social nonsense.

We definitely need to bring back the witness of God in our government, our workplaces, our homes and our learning intuitions. And yes, our churches as well. Why then should we not start at home and work out? In other words, simply bring God's holy principles back into our lives. We as a nation have taken God out of all phases of our daily lives. And now without a doubt, it surely shows in our everyday social activities. Yes, this mindset unquestionably has been the difference.

I, for one, am in total agreement with God's "Great Commission". (Matthew 28:19-20) (Acts 1:8) However, should the church not commit to home missions first, then branch out into the world? Should we not start in our own little Jerusalem home sites, then work outward into the counties, and the states of our own Judea and Samaria, finishing up by going into all the world?

This present form of godless social achievement is not what our forefathers envisioned, prayed about, documented and hoped for in framing our founding documents. Alongside God's Word, which has long since been our "faith and practice" (II Timothy 3:16-17), our official government documents such as the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence should never have been allowed to become extinct within our society.

And yes, sad to say, apathy and ignorance can surely be a form of subtle rebellion against God. We as a nation should never allow ourselves to be swept along by any false wind of doctrine. (II Timothy 4:3-4)

So what is the answer? What direction should we take as true believers in contributing to a successful conclusion of saving our "Land of the free, and home of the brave"?

We must take two separate directions. From a secular standpoint, we should resolve to get involved. We can choose to write to newspapers, lobby for reputable causes, take part in group governmental meetings, and even join a political party that most closely reflects our values. And above all, we should choose to vote intelligently.

From a spiritual point of view, we should make all our assessments and decisions based on Biblical convictions. We should basically conform to God's command and promise of (II Chronicles 7:14). As God's people, we must humble ourselves, pray, seek God's face, and turn from our wicked ways. If and when this is truly done, God has promised that He will hear from Heaven, forgive our sins and heal our land.

When both these secular and spiritual stipulations are met, we will then realize God's requirements for blessing: humility, prayer, devotion, and repentance.

Author's Postscript

Theologian J.I. Packer identified his favorite chapter in the Bible (Romans 8) as that which begins with "There is now no condemnation" and ends with "nothing can separate us from the love of God."

Wow, no condemnation, no separation. What a great, great God! Amen!

So is there any order to life's seeming chaos? (Daniel 2:19-23) Is there any enemy who can effectively defeat us? (Romans 8:31) Can evil effectively make a charge stick against us? (Romans 8:33) Is there any accuser who can condemn us? (Romans 8:34) You see, no one can effectively separate us from God's love. (Romans 8:35) Yes, we are beyond evil because of God's love. (Romans 8:37)

Regardless of what one may think, God is a God of order, and His authority is this order. Whether we are of this highest or of the lowest of order, each one of us is placed on this planet for a particular purpose. (Romans 8:30) In other words, it's not our health, comfort, and wealth, but our godliness which God promises to achieve in our lives. (Romans 8:28-29)

Take away one's belief in the hereafter, cause one to believe they are here by accident, that life here on earth has simply evolved from a single-cell protozoan ameba into a full-blown humanoid, by way of a primate, and you simply miss the point of life. (Genesis 1:26-27).

Your thoughts, please!