The reason I see this as a very real probability for America is because it has happened before in history. If you read the Gospel accounts of Christ's life and ministry, you will see that a small number of national leaders led to His rejection and the ultimate destruction of the entire nation.
Israel was established, by God, as a Representative Theocracy. The nation had a set of laws given by God Himself, through Moses. Priests represented the people before God in matters of worship and sacrifice and in turn, prophets represented God to the people by speaking to them on His behalf. The representative priesthood was established by God and the representative office of prophet was established, in part, by the request of the people. When God spoke directly to the Israelites on Mt. Sinai, the raw display of power and majesty so terrified the people, they requested that God never speak directly to them again, but that He would speak to Moses and Moses would speak to the people.
This representative form of governance led to a small group of elite rulers deciding the fate of a nation. Jesus had won the hearts of the masses, but the masses did not speak for the nation, the Pharisees, Sadducees, Priests and Scribes spoke for the nation. On Palm Sunday, Christ entered Jerusalem to the acclaim of multitudes of people. It was the religious/government leaders who were opposed to Christ and His message. The people were ready for a Messiah. The will of the people was not in play, God dealt with the nation through it's representatives, and those representatives rejected Christ and God cursed the nation to destruction at the hands of the Roman army in 70 AD.
Of course, Israel's rejection and destruction was preordained by God and written into scripture hundred's of years earlier. This was all part of God's plan for mankind's redemption and salvation, and scripture emphatically reveals that one day, at the return of Christ, Israel will be reestablished, saved and made the headquarters of a new government led by Christ Himself. (sorry if you are reformed or believe in replacement theology - you are wrong)
America, while not a theocracy established by God, is a Representative Democratic Republic established by followers of God. Contrary to popular belief, America is not a democracy, and the idea of "government by the people for the people" is an elusive myth. If you need evidence, look no further than the number of states that voted to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman, only to be told by a rogue judiciary(appointed by representatives!) that the will of the people was irrelevant and marriage will not be defined as the union between a man and a woman. At last count, 31 states have voted the traditional(and Biblical) definition of marriage into law. In just a few short months, the U S Supreme Court(appointed and approved by our representatives!) will be voting on this issue and the Justices have indicated that they will be making "gay marriage" the law of the land. The will of the people in 31 states is about to be stamped null and void by our representatives.
Just as the destiny of Israel was determined by a small percentage of people appointed to represent the masses, so too is the destiny of the United States of America. Israel did not choose it's representation, governance was passed down through heredity. Israel did not choose it's destiny, it was preordained by God for the salvation of mankind. America is not Israel, America chooses it's representation and, while America is not mentioned in scripture, the destruction of America is not written into scripture either. We, as a nation, have an opportunity to change course. Right now, we are represented by people whom we elected and who have said things like, "If you have a successful business, you didn't build that, someone else made that happen," and "If you want to read what is in the law, you have to pass it," and " "Fundamental Bible-believing people do not have the right to indoctrinate their children in their religious beliefs because we, the state, are preparing them for the year 2000, when America will be part of a one-world global society and their children will not fit in," and, “where the rule of law… governs the conduct of nations... in which a credible United Nations can use its peacekeeping role to fulfill the promise and vision of the UN’s founders.”
None of the above quotes sound, even remotely, like anything the average American thinks or believes, yet these are all quotes from elected members of our Federal government. People, from both parties, elected by the people to represent the people. It was not long ago when a movement called Occupy Wall Street drew attention to the idea that 1% of the populace is controlling all the resources of America and dictating the direction of the country. This perceived 1% was identified as the wealthy who have benefited from America's free enterprise style of commerce. I would submit to you that we are, indeed, under the control of a tiny segment of elites, a group of people we have been appointed by popular vote, and who have determined that the will of the people is irrelevant. We are governed by a tiny segment of society who vote themselves raises while most Americans struggle financially, who pass laws protecting themselves from laws we are required to live under, who spend millions of dollars retaining power, and who have servants and "staffers" at their beck and call, all paid for by our tax dollars.
We, the people, hold the power to change our governance, by changing those who govern. I believe that neither of the two prominent political parties serve the interests of the people. Amazingly, most people complain about the government, yet they continue to vote for the status quo. Most egregious is the fact that many church going Bible believers vote for people who promise to promote ideas and concepts that are in direct conflict with the word of God. We re-elect people who blatantly work against our Lord, and wonder why our country suffers economically and socially.
When the church realizes that being the church is a daily endeavor, that we are called to holiness individually, and that we cannot separate parts of our lives from our faith, society as a whole will change. We vote selfishly and in ignorance. We do not educate ourselves and deceive ourselves into thinking that the character exhibited in the private lives of our elected official is irrelevant to their ability to represent us.
It has been said that we get the government we deserve. As long as Christians do not exercise their faith in the voting booth, we will get bad governance and have no one to blame but ourselves. I would like you to ask yourself, when was the last time you prayed for guidance before you voted for a political candidate? When was the last time you took the time to research and learn what a candidate really stands for before choosing him or her to represent you and your beliefs and interests? These are important questions.
I love America and I believe in the principles that this country was founded on. I am proud to salute the flag and sing the National Anthem, and if called upon, I would gladly fight to defend my country. I do not love or support the direction this nation has taken away from God and morality. I do not love the fact that our representatives are not representing the will of the average American. I am just a small voice, blogging my opinion. Maybe 50 people will read this. I do not have the answers, but God does, and we all have access to God through the blood of Jesus Christ. If one person who reads this decides to seek God's guidance in voting when they have previously not done so, and that one person is able to influence one other person to do the same, and so on, we can eventually see a shift in this country. I am sure that there are millions of faithful believers who are praying for guidance in all aspects of life, including the political arena. If you are already doing that, awesome, now help someone else you know to do the same. Conditions in America tell me that we need more faithful believers committed to praying for God's guidance and influence in our nation.
We have not lost our country, but it is slipping away. It is not too late for God's people to seek His guidance and His power to change our nation. Does the person you have chosen to represent you represent your faith?
No comments:
Post a Comment