America, a Shining City or an Asylum Run by the Inmates?
My late friend, Dr. Vance Havner often said, “Living in America anymore is like living in an insane asylum run by the inmates.” If it was true when he began saying this thirty or forty years ago, what would he think if he were here today?
We live in America where marriage is imagined by some to be a union of people who have strong feelings for each other no matter what the sex or circumstances. According to the Bible, when people of the same gender have relations, under every circumstance it is considered abomination to God. "Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination" (Leviticus 18:22). God’s Word says, "The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God" (Deuteronomy 22:5). We can clearly see that God is so against this lifestyle that He doesn’t want His people to even dress like they are in favor of exchanging roles. A question to ask yourselves is, “Do I want a judicial, legislative or executive representative of me (since we are supposed to be a government of the people, by the people, for the people) to be diametrically, even diabolically opposed to God?” When a state votes to legalize same sex union by calling it marriage, does that make it right?
Our news often reflects directions our country is taking. When athletic, television, movie and rock-n-roll celebrities fornicate, overdose and do all manner of bizarre, evil deeds, it is considered important and newsworthy. We have men who play basketball who obey their animalistic instincts and are accused of rape. Yet his plea is that it was consensual. With best case scenario, it is still wrong; he committed the act of adultery! Many actors and actresses go through marriages faster than kids go through grade changes. When interviewed, they laugh as though there is nothing wrong. Celebrities brag about children conceived outside the bonds of holy matrimony, bringing reproach against precious innocent children as though it’s okay. We have songwriters and singers making incredible statements against authorities, some going so far as singing about “cop-killing.” They sing of immoral lifestyles and live in luxury while the youth who cannot afford nice clothes finance the star’s immoral lifestyle with the little money they have. Of course, they will try to convince you how concerned they are about the “little guy,” while at the same time robbing poor people of their morals and their money. Then these celebrities have the unholy nerve to tell us how to vote. Many go so far in their abuse of power over youth to tell them for which candidates to vote.
If a reporter takes a stand for “anything goes” and “right is relative,” he may be in line for congratulations or an Emmy. Let them do a story on the schoolteacher that abused a child and talk of the prospective reunion with this predator and it is newsworthy under the guise that this kind of perversion is “love.” My, what an open-minded newsperson! On the other hand, let them say something about strong moral issues and they become bigots. "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!" (Isaiah 5:20).
I feel like Elihu who said, "I said, I will answer also my part, I also will shew mine opinion. For I am full of matter, the spirit within me constraineth me. Behold, my belly is as wine which hath no vent; it is ready to burst like new bottles. I will speak, that I may be refreshed: I will open my lips and answer" (Job 32:17-20). Therefore, I must in all the conviction of my heart say that I am sick and tired of the constant insults toward our president’s faith in Jesus Christ as His personal Savior. I’m tired of the seething hatred and castigation thrown at him because He believes, and on occasion says, something about it. The fundamental Christianity of our forefathers and present champions of the faith is our only hope. It is the fundamental faith that teaches us to “love our enemies.” When America went to war in World War II, they helped re-build the very countries they conquered. This is because of the Christian influence that is in the very warp and woof of our country’s values. Our president tells us He relies on his walk with God. I am in unbelief as I hear and read of news-reporters upset with this. Why would we not want the true and living God to help us in times of crisis?
I am tired of moviemakers who “cut and paste” statements and actions of our president, peddling half-truths that become full lies. I am tired of unintelligible interpreters of our Constitution telling us to back off our first amendment rights to speak the whole truth, while they use it to preach unrighteousness. I am sick and tired of integrity, honesty and plain old-fashioned decent living being consigned to the lunatic fringe of our country. I wouldn’t call us fringe; there are still more of us out here loving old-fashioned, God-fearing, Americanism than they on the “liberal fringe” would care to realize. As politely as I know how to say it, we were here first! “Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set” (Proverbs 22:28).
Last week two pastor friends and I ate at the restaurant where our president often eats when he is in town. They served chicken-fried steak, onion rings and fried jalapeno peppers. Our waitress informed us that we were eating some of the same food the president eats. I thought humorously of the common table with the Texan “fixings” Mr. President and I share. Then, on a more serious note, I contemplated the common faith and the common concerns this president and I share. With all the mud-slinging and flaunting of immorally, I ask, you do you really want leadership that is applauding a lifestyle that could bring judgment to our country? Remember, statements like, “I personally am not in favor of this, but we need to be tolerant…” (and just fill in the blanks, because many a politician is favor of tolerating any and everything) This is a cop-out. Tocqueville said, “America is great because she is good; when America stops being good, she will stop being great.”
I don’t want to live in a country that becomes an insane asylum run by the inmates. President John Adams said, “It is religion and morality alone which can establish the principles upon which freedom can securely stand. The only foundation of a free constitution is pure virtue.”
The Bible says, "When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn" (Proverbs 29:2).
My prayer is come November after the elections we will have a lot to rejoice about! Vote your conscience, vote as close to God’s standard as possible, and pray that God will ever more make us that shining city on a hill, "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid" (Mathew 5:14).
- Pastor Pope -