Americans have become soft. And when I say this, I am necessarily referring to many things. But for today, I am speaking of moral compass. For the most part the majority of Americans do not search for truth, but rather accept what is seen on television, viewed on computer screens and heard from Hollywood Icons, etc. Half truths are now 'taken for granted' as being real truth without proof.
What most have seemingly lost are the facts of history, whatever they may be. But the one fact that has been taken from the course of education is the rule of law. The democratic experiment that began on the North American Continent more than 200 years ago depended upon many things. And perhaps the most significant principle is that Law rules the State. But from the 1940's this principle has eroded and the rule of State is quickly absorbing the rule of Law.
Our social order is falling into chaos because the populace is becoming dependent upon the State for existence. And this depends upon thte rule of State rather than the rule of Law. HOWEVER, the law does fall under the proper maintenance of the State which must yield authority to God.
Look for the moment at 1Peter 2:13-17, "Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor." (ESV) "God has ordained the state as a delegated authority; it is not autonomous. The state is to be an agent of justice, to restrain evil by punishing the wrongdoer, and to protect the good in society." (Chrisitian Manifesto; Francis A. Schaeffer, p.91)
What we have witnessed from the 1960's until this moment is a decay of the Western culture.
Leaders of political and religious America (conservatism) have cut the ropes of integrity from the moorings of responsibility and have drifted into the swift currernts of moral collapse. There are some definite signs of the desire of returning to those moorings in search of new ropes that will secure them to sound morality.
But there is so much doubt and frailty among the constituency that the path to change will be difficult...not impossible, but very, very difficult. The house is divided against itself and Jesus Christ has said that with problems like that, division rules and collapse is near at hand.
In June of 1858, Abraham Lincoln addressed the Republican State Convention of Illinois and began with these words, "If we could first know where we are, and whither we are tending, we could then better judge what to do and how to do it." This is a well known phrase that has its foundations in Lincoln's rich faith in God and trust in the Bible.
Lincoln's 'Trial by Fire' came when he wrote (in 1861) and later delivered (in 1862) the "Emmancipation Proclamation" speech. In that speech Mr. Lincoln stated, "I made a solemn vow before God, that if General Lee was driven back from Pennsylvania, I would crown the result by the declaration of freedom to the slaves." (Abraham Lincoln, Elton Trueblood, p.24) His moral struggle until the delivery of the speech was a difficult one because of the division of the Union that was obviously at stake, in part, because of slavery.
For the eighty years that followed the United States struggled to free itself from the horrors of the Civil War while being involved with military and political conflicts that ravaged the Nation around the world. The Nation that was born on the Atlantic Ocean had spread itself to the Pacific Ocean. Many trials were endured by the pioneers who crossed mountains and plains to find 'home'. Wars were fought with countless Indians who fought for their own survival under the press of the 'Blue Eyes' coming on the 'Iron Horse'. Our military and economic power provided opportunity to defend our shores in Europe and the thousands of islands in the Pacific without shedding blood on and destroying our homeland. We had survived the 'Trials by Fire'.
Today, that truth seems to have been forgotten by those that claim leadership at almost every level of our culture. We no longer "dance with the girl we brought." Those principles of Judeo-Christian heritage have not only been forgotten, but have been substituted with Secular Humanism.
This is enough for now. But life as I see it is hard and becoming more difficult for all of us. No, the end is not so near as some might believe, but the road back is one of rediscovery of our roots.......
