[Note: This article was originally published in September 2022.]
I write today as a bipartisan patriot, a student of history and our Founder’s Declaration and Constitution, a veteran of 33 years in the US Air Force, a loyal and proud American of almost 90 years, a retired senior pastor of one of Fayetteville’s churches and was active on numerous community boards and committees. I seek to be a balanced citizen as I read both liberal (progressive, leftist) and conservative (traditional, rightist) literature!
I listed the above, for the majority who might read my comments and have no idea where I’m coming from. I’m trying to say I’m one of you! My wife and I raised our two children here, although we never thought we’d leave our native Texas. We’ve been in Fayetteville for 57 years. We have our own rather firm political convictions, but still love everyone without prejudice and help those who need us when we are capable. We are common and average Americans who love our country, have enjoyed its freedom and blessings for over 80 years. We definitely believe the factual account that our government began about 245 years ago with Judeo – Christian Foundation.
My point and appeal is this: I couldn’t agree more with President Biden’s comment in his shocking presidential address last week that our nation has passed the point of normalcy! Something is radically different in America, and most of us would agree with the President’s analysis that “equality and democracy are under assault.” He blames the “MAGA movement,” but I, and millions of others, point to the “WOKE movement.” “Extreme obedience” to the teaching of Jesus will never do the destruction of “extreme obedience” to the flawed, finite and inadequate mind of human beings who disregard the reality of the personal God presented by Christ.
Both sides, conservative and liberal, will contribute to America’s decline and doom to the degree they reject and junk the mind, will and message of Judeo – Christian tradition. It seems to be the chaos the Scriptures prophesied before the return of King Jesus is upon us. I don’t know! But this I am certain of…every professing Christian who has a vital relationship with this same Savior Jesus has no fear. Our first, radical allegiance is never to other human leaders, or to political parties or to manmade deceptive ideologies (to communism, God is dead or doesn’t exist) but to the Lord Christ who lived among us as Jesus!
Daniel, one of the Scriptures greatest prophets, lived in the same confused, conflicted and chaotic world we now live in (about 600 BC). In spite of our amazing advances, mankind’s capacity for evil, violence, selfishness and stupidity never ends…at least they haven’t for over 4000 years plus!
“I, Daniel, was troubled in spirit, and the visions that passed through my mind disturbed me” (Daniel 7:15). “I, Daniel, understood from the Scriptures the work of the Lord” (Daniel 9:2).
King David around 1000 B.C. had the men of the tribe of Issachar fighting with him, and “they understood the times and knew what Israel should do ” (I Chronicles 12:32). We Christians who have cast our total lives on the word of the Savior have deep sorrow for our fellow citizens who deny our biblical Judeo-Christian history, who trash our churches as irrelevant, claim all Christians are hypocrites and who treat the claims of Jesus as insignificant. We humbly pray for them in love.
All authentic Christians must become sons and daughters of Issachar. We do understand what’s really going on, and whether we conquer or perish we joyfully and confidently will do whatever our Commander from Heaven tells us!
