This is a devotional that my father submitted to the newspaper when he was pastor at Alva Wesleyan Church. It was from Sept. 18, 1998. What he has to say is similar to what we are going through now. He titled it “America on Trial!” What follows is what my father wrote:
“It would be almost impossible to be alive today and not hear some bit of detail about the crisis the president is having. Amid all the accusations and denial I have to ask myself, “What is really going on in our country?” What the president is accused of is reprehensible. But I see a much deeper crisis than that of just one man. The White House is but a mirror reflecting the spiritual condition and the moral climate of our society and nation. The president is not on trial. America is on trial! If there is a lack of morality and character in any of our leaders it is because there is a lack of these virtues in our society.
“The past four decades our nation has stood on the eve of destruction. Such things as the “God is dead” theology, situation ethics and moral relativism have brought us the brink of disaster. What is the reason for a lack of outrage toward the reported conduct of our land’s highest officeholder? Is it because many people are doing the same thing? Do people think their silence will justify their own actions? The Bible gives us the answer: Everybody wants to do that which is right in their own eyes (Judges 21:25). Is anyone concerned about what is right in God’s eyes?
“Several years ago Dr. Karl Menninger wrote a book titled “Whatever Became of Sin?” The question begs to be asked again. Is money more important to us than morals? Is private conduct to be cherished more than personal character? Is financial bankruptcy to be feared more than spiritual bankruptcy? British author Oliver Goldsmith wrote that Rome rose by temperance and fell by luxury. Could a craving for luxury and a disregard for temperance lead to America’s fall and decline? Gold may make us powerful, but only God can make us pure. We are facing more than a constitutional or presidential crisis. We are facing a character and culture crisis in our nation!
“We have come to another defining moment in our nation’s history. Will America cease to be great because she ceases to be good? “Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth” (Psalm 124:8). We need God’s help! As I think of current events, I am reminded of two Biblical principles from Sunday school: Be sure your sin will find you out (Numbers 32:23); righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people (Proverbs 14:34).
“I believe God is telling us that we must return to living our lives by the Ten Commandments, the Sermon on the Mount, and the Golden Rule. The phrase “God bless America” is spoken over and over by our politicians. They know the words, but they seem to know little of what it takes for God to bless America. Biblical truth and absolutes are given to us by God so that we may have happiness, peace and meaning in life. When these are lost sight of or fail to motivate us, culture and civilization will decline. We stand on “the eve of destruction.” We must pray and intercede for our leaders. We must pray for our people and our nations and our world. We must heed God’s Counsel: If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land (2 Chronicles 7:14).”
Of course this was written when another president was accused of misconduct. The result was different than the current situation will be. Much of what my dad wrote still applies today. I have to wonder how many of the people accusing our current president have looked in the mirror and “removed the plank from their eye.” We have continued on a road of hate and entitlement. We will pay a price for our arrogance.
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