The State Goes to Church

A civil war, rooted in the pattern of two colors on our map, rages within The United States. Is the violence plaguing our political system the result of a superpower’s disinterest in embracing purpose? This nation has resisted its calling to be an openly Christian domain, a place where the huddled masses can secure the blessings of liberty. 

The rot found in the head weakens the entire body. Consider the number of politicians unwilling to serve the public. Rather, a charismatic personality taps into the culture of amassing likes on social media. Their own agenda promoted without any thought of the constituents who expect to get a seat at the table, at last, via their elected proxy.

This aspirant to a seat of power who campaigns on the platform of advancing the greater good grows deaf to Fatherly advice. “Do nothing out of selfish ambition…[r]ather, in humility value others above yourselves…” (Philippians 2:3 NIV). This death of an unrealized good Samaritan is tragic to witness.

The swell of indifference is compounded by the many fences erected. One party touts itself as the party of God while the other is considered a haven for left-wing radicals. Combatants set up a dynamic where the middle ground is not sought often enough. “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined…” (Matthew 12:25 NIV).

Both sides forget. “Kind words are like honey— sweet to the soul…” (Proverbs 16:24 NLT). Too many in the flock are fixated on certain “bad” behaviors while turning a blind eye to other kinds of missteps. Their sworn enemies are judged as being hell bound. Alleged pleasure seekers, rightly indignant, paint the devout as bumpkins who hold up fables from an outdated book as fact.

A faction of the congregation, when in power, oversteps boundaries. In Ephesians 5:10, each person is encouraged to determine carefully what pleases the Lord. It is between the individual and Him to work out whom they love, when she will be fruitful and multiply, or preferred pronouns, just as each wo/man weighs the consequences of stepping outside the marriage covenant, stealing what is not theirs, or bending the truth until it breaks.

Morality cannot be legislated by passing a glut of laws. The line between church and state is blurred forcibly if “those types” over there are stripped of their right to choose the manner in which they pursue a relationship with the divine. There is, however, no reason why the state cannot draw inspiration from the church.

True disciples heed the call to listen. Peacemakers agree to disagree on hot-button topics, like when life begins or what defines a family. They seek wise counsel from God through prayer and study in order to model the use of a mindful approach when casting a vote on issues like voting rights, a path to economic stability for all, access to healthcare, and protecting the health of our planet.

Priorities change. Everyone, no matter the variety of attitudes shaping their belief system, will shelter under the banner of Old Glory feeling valued. Socioeconomic disparities based on gender, race, and/or ethnicity built into the fabric of America’s constitution, though later amended, are held up as wrongs not to be repeated. Success is redefined as a go-getter using their talents to help others.

A choir of voices raised in a promise to care about family from another mother. The insult of censorship threatening a firebrand’s ability to dissent on a loaded subject, say the relationship between gun control and school shootings, reminds a populace to stay aware. No one condones the added injury of our children being drained of that spark of youth in an internment camp for illegals immigrants.

Leaders, inspired to move mountains, blaze trails. Already vulnerable groups are not denied the benefits of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Acts of war by the U.S. are vetoed when they hint at a return to colonizer ways versus championing the right of fellow humans to live free of authoritarian rule. Surely, wealthy and powerful pedophiles around the globe are not permitted to hide unpunished in redactions.

The risk does not lie in citizens, some under a heavenly influence, pledging to stand in solidarity with each other to create a more perfect union. The shift toward this ideal challenges a sleeping giant to dust itself off, water the garden of Uncle Sam, and stride back onto the world stage to shine brightly like the sun. 

The leader of the free world evolves into a conduit through which godsends flow outward to fill the earth. This is the potential the nations recognize, may even pray is brought to fruition by the U.S. some time soon. But brave deeds will be required of the United States for it to debut such greatness.

 

Make America Great Altogether

What type of legacy will we leave behind for the next generation of Americans?  I have the sneaking suspicion that the United States of America is becoming the butt of some sad the joke on the global stage.  A superpower loses its status as the leader of the free world because the blind was allowed to lead the unresponsive into the proverbial ditch.  And the blame lies squarely at the feet of every citizen, including me. 

We remain bystanders as The Doomsday Clock jumps forward for our country.  The POTUS was willing to use taxpayers’ money to force a foreign government to provide the ammunition for a planned smear campaign during the 2020 presidential election cycle.  Yet, there are no collective cries of horror every time his defenders suggest the crime of attempted extortion, along with the threat to the democratic process, can be ignored because of a relatively solid economy. 

Homegrown crimes against humanity are that much more painful.  The prince in his ivory tower allowed children to die at the border in the name of a flag-waving.  Worse yet, the dire issues evolving in the realm of Twitter are more worthy of his concern.  The powers that be no longer bother to put up the pretense of touting America as a place where immigrants, hoping to become part of a vibrant melting pot, are welcome even if Spanish is their first language. 

I am pointing a finger at myself.  Every one of our children has been failed.  American students live with the fear of staring down the barrel of a semi-automatic machine gun alongside unarmed sons of a certain complexion realizing not enough people care about them being slain in the streets under the shadow of bruised and battered daughters not being rescued from dangerous homes after their names get lost in the paperwork.  This land is on the brink of disaster.

I would like to blame the downturn in homeland security on “those politicians” in Washington.  However, it is us who elect imposters with charisma instead of public servants who labor to enrich the lives of all voters by reaching across the aisle.  Talking heads are rewarded for pandering to what one side or the other supposedly wants to hear.  We are pigeon-holed into being either bleeding-heart liberals or conservative right-wing Christians.  So many voices are silenced when the subtle aspects of our concerns and dreams are disregarded like this.

The skirmishes in the streets and up on The Hill reflect a deep-seated unwillingness to redefine the definition of community.  A nation really is a ginormous extended family filled with people who should not spend the holidays together but must support each other at critical moments.  There is a death knoll ringing from sea to polluted sea.  We will continue to be a part of decaying potential until each patriot holds herself accountable for not getting involved.  We become stumble blocks to effective collaboration if we are not activists at the grass roots. 

By the way, good ole Uncle Sam has not remained true to his roots.  Our nation was founded on the ideal of bestowing the blessings of liberty upon anyone regardless of race, sexual orientation, or her desire to practice the religion of Islam.  Hate-crime violence has hit a 16 year high according to the F.B.I.  The diversity found in our society has become a curse instead of a blessing.  We have allowed the treachery of an us-versus-them mentality to taint the consciousness of our society.

Let’s return to the children.  The smorgasbord upon which impressible minds and souls presently feed: class struggles during race riots, animal species going extinct, criminality in the White House, the possibility of gunplay on school grounds, coastal cities under water after prolonged global warming, voluntary segregation, politicians conducting business as usual while the less powerful are forced to bear heavy burdens like inadequate healthcare…  Need I continue?

 

You got the bad news first.  The good news lends itself to brevity.  Americans still have the choice to change the course of history by being brave.  Respond to the pleas of huddled neighbors, despite the superficial differences.  They grow weary waiting for compatriots to embrace the honor of working together to shape the USA into ground zero for offering justice to all, for protecting the environment and wildlife, and for allowing kin to know the freedom of safety in wide-open spaces. 

For the kids all around the globe.