The 2012 election reveals a sea change in the long-term direction of this nation. We are no longer guided by our historic values, but steaming full speed into darkness without concern for the rocks ahead. In 2008, voters elected an unknown senator from Illinois to the presidency who had carefully crafted his message of change… undefined change at the time. However, four years later, the record of the change he intended is now very clear. Yet, by a slight majority, voters have bought into this President’s vision of a diminished America as Utopia. Unless the trend is stopped somehow, in less than a generation the U.S. will look like Papandreou’s Greece, Hollande’s France, Chavez’s Venezuela or the worst of all, Mugabe’s Zimbabwe. Take your pick, but it will certainly not look like the America of your childhood. This is not based upon emotion or sour grapes but the stated positions of the winning ticket. With their vote, Americans have: accepted homosexual marriage as a civil right, in blatant disregard for the Bible. endorsed the right of women to publicly funded birth-control and abortion. agreed to continue running up the largest national deficit in our history, ignoring the biblical warning that the borrower becomes a slave to the lender. accepted that fellow Americans who are financially successful should be demonized and that their wealth be redistributed, turning the sin of envy into public policy. accepted massive increases in government welfare as a form of compassion and care for the poor, despite the Bible’s teaching that compassion and generosity are a personal responsibility that cannot be shunted off on the government. virtually guaranteed that a wasteful and inefficient federal bureaucracy will destroy the finest health care system in the world The electorate engaged other moral issues as well. Following the lead of the President, two states, Maine and Maryland, voted to legalize homosexual marriages. This marked the first time the practice became legal through a popular vote following unsuccessful attempts in 32 different states since 1998. Two states, Colorado and Washington, voted to legalize the recreational use of marijuana although the federal government still prohibits the use of the drug and despite the tremendous toll drugs take on those poor souls who struggle to be free from its addictive power.
But for me, one of the greatest tragedies of this election was that despite the importance of the issues, too many Americans were poor stewards of their right to vote, to make a difference for their country. People chose not to act. Less than 60% of voting age eligible Americans showed up to participate in the democratic process. It is estimated that 13 million fewer Americans voted in the 2012 Presidential race than turned out in 2008. Showing up to vote, however, were interest groups rallied by their self-interest. Like Rome of old, too many Americans have realized that they can vote for their bread and circuses. About half of America does not pay taxes, yet can vote to take more from others. And politicians are elected promising to take from those who do not support them to give more to those who do. Absent in too much of our political discourse is the biblical admonishment to work as unto God for your resources, if physically able. Absent is a discussion of biblical truth. All decisions whether personal or political flow from the basis of our worldview. We either see man as fallen and sinful in need of laws to enforce standards of moral conduct, justice and freedom or we see man as good and capable of self-governance without standards that restrain or restrict individual sinful desires. We attempt to put God first, or we attempt to eradicate him from our lives and culture. Labels like Republican or Democrat do not divide us. Vastly differing worldviews are the essence of what divides this nation. Is it time to resign from the fight? Based on the results of this election, we continue with this administration; therefore I am moved to pray about the increased spiritual, moral and financial decay that I fear is coming. In spite of all this concern, this is not a time to surrender the battle. Abraham Kuyper said, “When principles that run against your deepest convictions begin to win the day, then battle is your calling, and peace has become sin; you must, at the price of dearest peace, lay your convictions bare before friend and enemy, with all the fire of your faith.” People and the values they live by collectively form a culture. Government in a democracy is merely a reflection of the desires of the people and their choices for leadership. We have the potential to change the culture under the nose of the politicians. We must shift our focus from politics to the hearts of the people. Regardless of what happens in Washington, DC. the real solution to America’s problems is the return of the common denominator that once united a diverse people. We must work together to enrich our culture with common values and biblical principles. In his famous book Democracy in America Alexis de Tocqueville observed the importance of faith to the success of the United States: “Despotism may be able to do without faith, but freedom cannot ... How could society escape destruction if, when political ties are relaxed, moral ties are not tightened? And what can be done with a people master of itself if it is not subject to God? We must work to rebuild our country as one nation under God. The GOP lost the election, but GOD did not. So I say, no more false hope in the Party of the Elephant! No more false hope in the Party of the Donkey! Our true hope is in the Party led by the Lion. The Lion of Judah has been about redeeming people from worldly philosophies since they chose to eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Let us arm ourselves with the ultimate weapons of love and truth and let’s go forth and boldly engage in the battle for hearts and minds. Crown is committed to that task, one person at a time. I invite you to join us in this epic battle. We need your financial support, your willingness to teach our materials and your influence to gain new opportunities in your churches and places of business. The battle has begun. Let’s fight to our last breath.
Chuck Bentley
As always, you're comments are welcome at our blog site. You can order my book, The S.A.L.T. Plan™ How to Prepare for an Economic Crisis of Biblical Proportions by visiting the Crown web site here. If you haven't already signed up to receive this column by email and would like to, you can subscribe here. And please forward to your family and friends. Crown is a 501c3 non-profit ministry and is supported by financial gifts from our donors. If you would like to donate to the outreach of this ministry.
