“Once Great”

By: Steve Huston

Do you ever get tired of hearing the term “once great” to describe the United States of America, its varied institutions and organizations? It’s not just America; Chris Johnson used that phrase regarding Europe in our latest newsletter: “Perhaps Europe is still capable of waking up and restoring Western Civilization in their once great continent.” (p. 6) From the start, we must recognize that every person, organization, and nation is on one of two paths; we’re either traveling a path that leads to life or one that leads to death.

I, myself, very much dislike having to use “once great” as an adjective to describe my native land, a land that I love and whose founding principles I cherish. It’s not that I feel it’s an attack against my “patriotic pride.” Instead, it’s because I recognize what had made us “great,” what has led to our being “once great,” and realize that we’ve left the path of greatness by our own choosing: rejecting the principles and precepts of God.

Regardless the reason for our choice – deception, greed, fear, desire for unleashed liberty (another article for another time), or a host of any other reasons – our nation, by and large, step by step has politically, judicially, legislatively, culturally, educationally, and, more often than I care to admit, ecclesiastically and personally rejected God’s Word. We’ve not held the principles and precepts of God in the highest regard – keeping/guarding them – so, for all practical purposes, we have rejected them.

If one has any doubt to the veracity of this claim, I invite you to read this PSA (Public Service Announcement) which is reflective of what was played across the airwaves during the time we affectionately call “Old Time Radio” today:

Freedom to worship in the church of his choice is the heritage of every American. Do you, as an American, exercise that right by attending your church regularly? Everyone needs the comfort and inspiration of a religious service. Faith helps hold our families together and builds moral and spiritual character and it creates a spirit of brotherhood on which democracy depends. All of us are aware of the important role played during the war by chaplains of all faiths in helping our soldiers adjust to military life. Faith and worship are of vital importance for the moral fiber of America. It is the need to worship which drove our forefathers to leave their native land and come here. And the need of strength through faith is no less today. Today, perhaps more than ever before, there’s a need to turn to a way of life based on the enduring principles of religion. The religious institutions in your community need your interest and support. To face the problems of the present and the future America must be morally strong. And that moral strength comes through worship and faith. Go to church this week and take someone with you.

Such an appeal shows that church attendance was already waning, but that people might be open to such spiritual prompting. How well would such a PSA be received today? With the whirlwind, post-Christian culture we live in today, we can only say: “We’re not in Kansas anymore, Toto!”

Where did our nation’s downfall begin; when did “great” start on the path to “once great?” I have my thoughts and you, along with a myriad of voices, would be quick to give varying opinions. Individually, some may ask, “Where did my relationships go wrong?” Ecclesiastically, I’ve heard many ask, “Why does the church lack power today? When did it stop turning the world upside down?” Culturally, we might scratch our heads wondering, “When did abortion become pro-choice? How can we accept murder as a viable option?” or “When did perversions and mental illness become the ‘norm’ and accepted practice?” Of course, this list of questions is endless. Regardless, we’re left to face other questions like: Where do we go from here? How then shall we live? What do we do now?

Whether talking about national troubles or personal woes, C. S. Lewis wisely advised, “You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.”

Nationally, instead of starting where we are by following a man to “Make America Great Again,” the path we should have pursued was to “Make God Great Again!” With the blatant attacks on former President Trump and his MAGA followers, had we chosen the MGGA path, we could have expected the same or worse treatment from the Left and its agenda to paganize America. (MAGA would at best be a temporary fix to our real problem and no answer for our real need. MGGA in our nation can only be done through transformed lives – by God’s amazing grace – which transforms a culture and a nation – by that same grace.)

If our desire is to have a great nation once more, better relationships, a powerhouse church that turns our communities and the world upside down, or to see a reversal in our broken culture, we must recognize that C.S. Lewis was correct and we need to start where we are instead of simply longing for “the good ole days.” The only way to “change the ending,” from where we are heading, is to trust God completely, fear Him, and depart from evil (Prov. 3:5-7).

Our nation is a republic, so, by its very definition, it’ll be a grassroots effort which involves each one of us experientially knowing the Word of God and intimately knowing the God of the Word. It’s this relationship with God that directs us to interact politically, culturally, educationally, ecclesiastically, and the list goes on. This God-led, God-focused interaction is the highest form of activism and it begins by living obediently, intentionally walking in excellence, and truly trusting God to be our refuge, strength, and very present help when the world attempts to knock us down.

True believers – as opposed to simply the organized church – must live the gospel and share the gospel regardless the cost, putting into practice what we’ve preached for so long: this world is not our home. The Bible must become more than a precious book to us; it needs to be the life we live, daily stretching our faith by putting God to the test.

To “start where you are and change the ending” requires that we evaluate where we are; then, take corrective measures that will lead to the desired outcome; and finally, we must intentionally and faithfully implement that course of action. In other words, we must do as David did in Psalm 119: 59-60.

“I thought on my ways (that’s evaluation), and turned my feet unto thy testimonies (here’s corrective action). I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments (that’s intentional and faithful implementation).”

Some will decry that God’s hand of judgment is already upon us and there is nothing we can do. Take heart and remember God’s promises from Jeremiah 18:7-10.

“At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it; If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them. And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it; If it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them.”

What path are you traveling? What’s its destination? Are you content to keep going the direction you are?

By God’s grace, ALL things are possible for one who believes and trusts in God!

 

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