Listen to the commentary
I don’t know when you’ll read this. Maybe you’re sneaking a look at your incoming emails today, during your holiday break; or, perhaps you’ve allowed the pile to grow until Wednesday morning, after the hot-dogs and sparklers wore out their welcome, and we’re connecting mid-week. Here’s the question: is America’s current crisis of identity just a passing malady, or can we recover?
The debate over the origins of the coronavirus has become background noise. Did it originate by accident in a laboratory in Wuhan? or, was it an intentional act of biological warfare by a regime that would seek to dominate the world? The condition attacking America is far more sinister; here’s the strategy behind the effort to destroy the United States.
First, remove the underlying worldview that gave birth to America, 247 years ago. Worldview is not just a philosophical matter; it has tangible substance that is necessary for the foundation of any sustained community. America’s worldview – at the time of our formation – had three profound components: 1) God – the Almighty, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob – is the Supreme Creator whose existence and expectations are the necessary presumption; 2) The Bible is the source of divine truth; and, 3) Eternity extends the importance of every decision today in the light of the Judgement that will punctuate the end of this earthly life and begin the eternal state that follows.
That worldview has been rejected by modern American education that once prepared next generations for their turn on history’s stage. Though there are Christians within the public educational systems and private, non-religious alternatives, their opportunity to advocate based on their personal faith is usually denied them. A biblical worldview cannot be created out of nothing; it is transferred by educators who hold it to students who need it. Over time, the elite classrooms of godless America have produced new generations who have no remnant of God, Bible and Eternity in their ideological moorings.
With that deconstruction underway, the next step to eliminate America follows. Take aim at the first three things created by God that had direct effect on mankind, and take them out. They are: 1) The Sanctity of Life: “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, in our likeness…” (Genesis 1). 2) The Essence of Gender: “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” (Genesis 1). 3) The Gift of Marriage: “The Lord God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone…’ Then the Lord God made a woman… ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife…’” (Genesis 2).
Everything God imagined and instituted is, by definition, holy. Any opposition to sustaining and supporting those institutions is, by definition, evil. That’s not a political statement… but it informs and inspires what comes to life in the political arena.
As a Christian with some level of influence within the American society, how can you, as a follower of the Lord Jesus, have an impact on the direction of our country?
How are we to vet candidates and parties calling for our support? Here are basics: 1) Within your worldview, what is your belief about God, the Bible and Eternity? and, 2) Regarding the things you are prepared to protect – in policy and in advocacy – are the Sanctity of Life, the Essence of Gender and the Gift of Marriage on top of your non-negotiables?
America is the patient, and we’re sick right now. The symptoms are unmistakable; the cause is a disease that could be fatal if not reversed. God, the Bible, Eternity – then, Life, Gender and Marriage – are non-negotiables. Where do you stand, on each? Where do the parties – and candidates – stand?
Classic Bob Shank, right to the heart of the matter and no soft pedaling the truth! Thanks Bob for the constant reminders of why we are here and how we are to live, sometimes this gets fuzzy in the daily barrage of noise.
thank you, Bob! Once again you boil things down to their essence so that I feel empowered to act.
Nikki Haley sounds solid and doesn’t back down.
Unfortunately, so, so true.
Perfectly stated.
If you truly beleive in God, then these are non-negotiables. I believe, so they are non-negotiable. The battlefield is already bloody, its gonna get worse, so be prepared to die for what you truly beleive is true.
Totally agree Noel. Praying all is great with you and yours.
If you don’t stand for something, you will fall for anything. Stand firm in Christ and stand up for this country. God bless America and us all. Thanks Bob for keeping us focused.
A belated note here … I suggest we all read “Letter to the American Church” by Eric Metaxas.
Let us, the Christian community, not be the proverbial “frog in the kettle.” I, too, thank you Bob.