I was thinking the other day about similarities in history. People like to point to the rise and fall of the Roman Empire and try to make comparisons to the state of present-day America. You've heard the comparison. Rome fell because it became more interested in creature comfort and the pursuit of lust that in maintaining its empire through conquest, and that is what America has become; a society that is soft and morally bankrupt - ripe for a fall. Frankly, I understand the comparison, but I don't necessarily agree.
To me, a better comparison would be present-day America to ancient Israel. The Israelis were led from Egypt by the hand of God himself. He told them that if they would simply remember Him, keep His commandments, and love Him before everything else, He would maintain them in the promised land. Over the course of a single generation, Israel forgot the mighty works of God and turned to pagan gods. Ever mindful of His promise, God eventually got enough of their arrogance and banished them to Babylon. Even when they returned, the land was never again a Hebrew possession. Instead, it was conquered by the Medes, the Persians, the Greeks, and then the Romans, who eventually lost it because, they too, forgot God and His promises.
What does that have to do with America, you say? Think about the people who founded this country. Most of them left Europe to escape religious persecution. They founded the country upon religious principles straight from the Bible, and worshipped God with their whole heart, praying publicly for His providence and protection. Sessions of Congress were opened in prayer, not because of some arcain tradition, but because they truly sought the wisdom that only God can provide. The primary book of study in school was the Bible, and children were brought up in nuclear families who taught that reverence for God comes before everything else. In less time than it took the ancient Israelis, Americans have forgotten God and His guidance in this our land. We quake with fear as threats arise from Islam, India, China, and other world economic powers, coming in the name of a god whose name we don not know and cannot recognize because we do not know the God of our fathers. This land, like ancient Israel, will be taken away if we do not cherish the gift and return to the foundation that brought us to where we are; God first and foremost, then country, then family.Dan's Place
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- Dan
- Blood-bought, born-again believer in Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for our sins on the cross; teacher and coach; loving father and husband; avid sports enthusiast; amateur politician; professional student of human nature.
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5 comments:
Dan, you say, "...God first and foremost, then country, then family."
It seems to me the priority pecking order might better be:
God
Family
Country
Knowing where you're coming from, I still must insist my citizenship is in the Kingdom of God. Where the Father has chosen to place me, the USofA, places a responsibility on me to be the best and most law-abiding citizen I can be.
I see Jesus teaching us to worship God with all we have and are, and to love others as we love ourselves. I see Him teaching and commanding us to make disciples for Him, but I do not find Him teaching me to be religiously political. He does teach and command us to teach Him, allowing Him to change hearts. But I still doubt we can legislate faith precepts. I doubt we can legislate changes of heart and actions. Only with the power of the Holy Spirit can these horrific things be changed, one heart at a time, not a whole nation at a time, imho.
If we as belivers find ourselves holding a political office, then yes, we would legislate according to our good conscience before God. For instance, we would not vote yeah for a Roe v Wade law, to the contrary. But it is law now and we need to be about the King's business, changing hearts and minds as God commands us, thereby making this horrible law moot.
I'm not explaining myself very well and you know how politcally active I am, so may find these thoughts kind of strange.
I knew that would bring a response, so here's my logic behind categorizing it that way. God said "thou shalt have no other gods before me," so God must come first. Without God, none of the other things matter. Next comes country. Why country? We are in a time when "country" will become archaic. "The new world order" will reign and allegiance to others will be seen as heresy. I believe that allegiance to family is inherent. We naturally cleve to our families as our source of support and strength (aside from God or in addition to God). Therefore, country becomes the allegiance that has a higher rank on the pecking order because love of country is what separates us from love of world and the dawn of the reign of antichrist.
I know, I know. "Who cares what happens on planet earth as long as I have my salvation and cannot be touched by the evil or the systems of the world?" Well, frankly, I do. Are we not commanded to go forth and make disciples of all nations? Are we not told to love our brothers as ourselves? Of course! How can we, then, take an isolationsist attitude when it comes to saving our lost brothers of humanity from themselves? We must love our country even before our family, because our lost brothers ARE our country! Our families will know the will of God through us - the others are lost without our help!
You say,
"Next comes country. Why country? We are in a time when "country" will become archaic. "The new world order" will reign and allegiance to others will be seen as heresy."
A question, where does God tell us to protect the idea of "country? " Where does He tell us to be concerned if "country" becomes archaic? I'm still not convinced, Dan, sorry. ((((HUG)))
A second thought to add to the one above, Dan.
If "becoming archaic" is our criteria for placement in the "pecking order" then imho, the family definitely would come before country, based strictly on that premise. The family is already becoming archaic, at least in this country and in many of the so-called advanced Western countries, such as Norway, Sweden et al.
God in His word gives us two entities to which we should be concerned and love; Himself and neighbors, was his answer when asked about the greatest commandment. We are commanded to love Him and others as ourselves. Are you sure He wants us to add 'country' to those commandments? Or am I missing your point?
Yes, I'm using "country" here in the non-traditional sense, meaning neighbors and lost friends and acquaintences. Frankly, I don't think God cares any more about the flag of the US than the flag of the PRC. He DOES care for the souls of those both here and there and commands us to care for them as well. Since care for family is inherent and care for others is "outside the box," God wants us to put country (in the non-traditional sense) ahead of family and seek the lost. Just my opinion. - Dan
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