Yesterday was a horrific and heroic day in US history 8 years ago. Planes smashed into the World Trade Center destroying them. Other planes hit the Pentagon and a field in Pennsylvania. I have read much conspiracy literature concerning these events. However, two things are most certainly true--in New York, crisis struck and service workers reacted with courage and discipline. Thank God for firefighters, EMTS, paramedics, policemen, and others who served their fellowmen and country on that day. Thanks also to others who served in Pennsylvania and Washington. God bless their families and comfort them with His peace. Furthermore, God bless and keep those who were lost on that day and their families because of these acts of violence and terror.
Much has happened since that fateful day. Americans have largely continued with their lives as normal. However, trouble has been brewing. President Obama and the Democratic led congress have attempted to counter one of the greatest recessions in our nation's history by spending taxpayer money hugely. The US government now has huge debt (much of it backed by China), and has funneled huge amounts of taxpayer money for the forseeable future into the nation's large insurance companies, banks, and automakers. Rather than allow these companies to fail and restructure or disband (which would be just), we the people have been expected to foot the bill as big business repairs itself with our money. Now Obama has said of reforming (socializing) the healthcare industry, "I am not the first president to address this issue, but I am determined to be the last."
Today, in Somerset, there was a Tea Party. It was pro-US, but more than that, themed heavily on our responsibility as citizens to control the democratic process by exercising our right to vote. The keynote speaker refrained, "We must vote out all those who have produced the current situation--democrat and republican." Sitting there, I thought to myself, "how can the people change this situation by voting out politicians?" Surely, the speaker understood that the campaign process is shaped by and favorable to the often self-serving rich, who then bring forward one of two candidates to every post, from which we must choose one. Surely he knows that the problem is not that we can't vote them out, but it is the choices we are given. Big business and the wealthy shape the Republican party. Big business and the wealthy even shape the Democratic party. Campaigning is a costly business and the rich will have their advantages and often their way when it comes to shaping the leadership of this country and the world, and the agenda that leadership imposes. The people are angry...but I doubt they will prevail, as this world is controlled by Satan and his lies about greed and indulgence. As Ecclestiastes says, "Money is the answer to everything." (10:19).
(I am not against rich people in general. However, if the bail-outs are not the rich working with the politicians to preserve and extend their assets as the rest of the country runs low on cash, I don't know what they are. I also believe that despite the inconvenience of the system, good politicians do make it into Congress, however, their numbers are meager. This is were a Gospel revival nationwide could make a difference. If the Holy Spirit doesn't turn the human heart from stone to flesh, there is no answer for greed, poverty, or sharp dealing. Certainly socialist "change" is not the answer, as it provides no accountability or sense of urgency to to instill the values of accountability, work ethic, or fair wages. If the chains of Christ do not lead men--the chains of sin will prevail over them.)
I then thought, "What then is my duty, considering there is faint hope for such nationwide character reformation?" Romans 13 came to mind. I mulled over the fact that Paul told Christians to obey the ungodly and evil Roman government with its Satanic emperors. Why? Paul answers that the authorities have been appointed by God to enforce the law and protect us. This is the best advice. We might not be able to change the political/economic system to a more just one economically and politically, but we can bear witness for Christ, work for our food, deal squarely, and obey all laws not in conflict with God's law under the present system. We may not be able to live comfortably on social security when we retire in the future, and we might not be able to leave worldly goods to our children and grandchildren, but we can instill these values in them and pray that Mammon does not become their god. The positive side of that is thankfulness to God for whatever we receive. Even to the point were all we might have is a day's food at a time and clothes on our backs. (Blessed are the poor/poor in spirit). Thankfulness entails also the recognition that many citizens of this world live in absolute poverty and disease, and that though we Americans seem to have less all the time, we certainly have many more material things than most of the world. We ought to help them in whatever way we can.
I predict the rich will continue to influence the system for personal gain, simply because they have advantages the working and middle class do not. Unconstitutional/progressive/socialist ideas will continue to overtake our Constitution's original intent in legislature and the courts a bit at a time as the world moves toward globalism. Unless America is granted another great revival, which would grant a change of heart to many, many Americans, our country, as after 9/11, will never be the same and will not continue to be governed under the values it was in the past. (Not that the country has been perfect--far from it, but it has and still is great in many ways--just ask all those immigrants why they want to come here.)
However, I say, with the courage of a New York firefighter, rushing into the burning towers, we must fight the good fight, teach our fellowman and children about the Kingdom of righteousness that will never be abolished, about the Treasure laid up that can never rust or be stolen, about the retirement that is really permanent rest, and about the Leader--the Good Shepherd, who never goes astray, who never will leave us or forsake us, who will take care of us eternally. Jesus Christ is His name. This is the Kingdom of Heaven, which we must latch onto forcefully--the USA is a kingdom of this world and can ultimately not provide any of the these things. Never will we fail if we do this, though the world fall apart around us. Let's roll...
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