Between the specter of secular humanism and the growing threat is Islamic encroachment, culture in the First World barely remains nominally (officially and/or politically) Christian...if only of the complacent kind. America may be fortunate that our Revolution was steeped in the decidedly non-secular values of Anglican liberty, as opposed to Europe which has given under the sway of a secular Gallican liberty that manifested back in the French Revolution then evolved into the various forms of socialism. That in news recently has been open attacks on "Christian Nationalism" (whatever that means) shows the corruption of power motive that comes when Man focuses on Man and not God and with no small irony that, at the same time, among the strongest defenses of Christian values working in a society are coming from non-Christian sources (including, arguably, Donald J. Trump).
I've written before about how attempting to use "separation of church and state" to box Christian ideas into a subculture unwelcome in open political discourse fails the logic test because the point should be about implementing the best ideas regardless of where they come from; that won't be reiterated further today. In the past year I've been inducted into and had the opportunity to grow my involvement in the Sons of the American Revolution. We know we are not a perfect country though, since America is not a traditional nation but a vision formed into a nation, what prompts love of country is the understanding that such ideals are worth defending (most especially from those who seek to change and/or abuse the system to increase their own lot at the expense of others).
These have been trying times in history for another special nation: Israel. Also an imperfect people (in the past allowed by God to face defeat and exile for drifting away from Him), the Jews nevertheless are still God's chosen people and His plans for them are not through...nor are the blessings for those who support the blessed children of Abraham and condemnation against those who stand opposed. In the cases of both America and Israel love and support does not involve assent of actions when wrong, but a commitment to be steadfast in standing by the people and the ideal while defending both against all enemies foreign and domestic.
When America was born in 1776 (then reborn in 1789) she stood unique among forms of government in the world at that time. Washington, Adams, and others are quoted directly asserting that, even though our system of government was not made to be strictly inclusive of Christianity, the freedoms granted by God and marked for protection in the Constitution only work in a culture where individuals practice the self-regulation of Christian morality (which was prevalent in American culture at the time). Those values having broken down in our culture these past several decades (some suggest longer) leave little wonder why not only the systems themselves are collapsing but also the people's faith in them; disastrous policy decisions made on the basis of ideology instead of reason are an effect rather than a cause of this.
Sight has also been lost of the truth that, while government is supposed to be of and for the people, in the American ideal it is also supposed to be by the people instead of acting as its own separate agency. From the Declaration of Independence: "That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles [that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights] and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness." The elites who control First World government (along with their ideological cohorts who dominate in academia, media, business and philanthropy) are known to pursue their own ideals, hence the recent fearmongering from them about the rise of populism.
Yet, as Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes, there is nothing new under the sun. He had it all in this life, yet at the end still realized how meaningless such pursuits were. Possession of wealth and power certainly are not sinful, but reliance on either to the point of building life centered on either is; the most dangerous people in history have been those who had so little else to live for they let themselves grow ruthless in the cause of these pursuits. It is no coincidence that, between the emptiness of secular humanism and brutal authoritarianism of Islam, people are being left so little to live for...and the results are predictable.
Does this mean the ideal is concentrating power in the people? Not quite, an important point I mustn't leave unaddressed. If there's anything the destructive ideological decisions by those in power prove, it should be how depraved humanity can become when unbounded. The Founding Fathers were among the wisest men of their time, deliberate in not making America a Democracy because they understood the folly of mob rule. That is the genius of their mandating a Republican form of government: the ideal is actually dispersing power as widely as feasible in order to best preempt its abuse by any faction. Yes, the Federal (and other levels as well) government has grown too powerful and needs reigning in, but it must also not be forgotten that the purpose of having government at all is to restrain the people so that they are not inclined to run roughshod over their fellow human beings. It is ultimately about the checks and balances, at all levels and upon all parties.
I mentioned at the start of this post that people had become complacent, and by that I refer to the well-meaning people who really do want what is best for everyone (not the radicals who are only involved for themselves). Among the defining aspects of the First World (most especially America) is regular people being able to live wonderful lives. As with all the great empires of history, downfall came due to people letting themselves grow too comfortable with this, yielding weakness. Today that often manifests itself as a popular attitude that people do their part just by working, growing careers and families, and at the end of the day enjoying the fruits of their labor. Too many consider society's issues as best solved by others who are more learned, motivated, or otherwise qualified on the matter, which further cultivates elitism leading to authoritarianism because there will always be those willing to offer their expertise in exchange for power, results be damned because people tend to grasp onto the hope of mere promises and great persuaders know exactly how to take advantage of that. Self-sufficiency is considered niche, even reprehensible in some circles. Many of those who understand how poorly the system works are nonetheless bound to it with no alternative because they are unaware of any and let fear cloud their judgment. People offer freedom lip service but too little is said anymore about what it costs. A recent poll discovered how shockingly small a percentage of America's youngest voting generation would even be willing to defend this country in the event of invasion, the same who have fond thoughts of replacing the status quo with a global socialist order because they know so little about history they cannot begin to see the downside of such an endeavor. Many such ideologues are in our armed forces and positions of authority in our businesses, injecting their ideology into the culture wherever they go without regard for those who get left behind as a result of changes wrought because, again, such petty passion is all they have to live for and is why they cannot bring themselves to question the cause: that would be questioning the very purpose for their lives which is [understandably] horrifying.
Those of us with faith in God should not have that problem: He's revealed to us purpose for living which ties directly to why we aren't immediately taken up into Heaven upon salvation. Make no mistake about it: of all the promises in the Bible none involve having cake and eating it too in this life. Doing the right thing will frequently come at great personal cost, and for those of us with families it can also seem as if they get held hostage by these forces of evil.
As Holy Week begins for 2024 reflection is supposed to be made on the sacrifice Christ made for us. He really gave up everything: His throne for the limitation of humanity, His business for the sake of ministry, His life in the cruelest manner despite having done no wrong. His followers frequently lost everything they had too, knowing that standing for Truth holds greater importance than personal needs. Above all it was for Faith, Hope & Love.
Would we be steadfast in today's trying times to have Faith in God, Hope for the future, and Love of our neighbors! The United States of America is a sovereign nation with established borders (that ought to be protected for the sake of common sense and people's livelihoods) but it is also an ideal that requires sacrifice to sustain. Many of America's Founders were well-to-do, and yet were willing to risk it all for the sake of a vision that hadn't even manifested to be tried by that time. If they believed it was worth fighting to the last full measure for, what excuse does that leave any of us?
Some sacrifices seem inconceivable for now, some proposed actions too revolutionary. Many in the 13 colonies and Confederation had the same thoughts. America's early days were her most tumultuous prior to the Civil War because so few could agree on the best trail to blaze in all the new ground, and at times the differences seemed so irreconcilable that there was often talk about forming multiple nations instead of keeping one. Ultimately that would still be a decision for the people themselves to make, if the corruptions of government and fear of cultural subjugation become too much to tolerate prompting enough to consider that saving the American ideal may have to involve the redrawing of some borders and the replacement (or abolition) of some institutions. If it comes to that, it would necessarily require greater effort and sacrifice to buffer against the tumult that would certainly follow, and no one would be spared its effects which makes getting involved a matter of one's own interest.
If you are reading this and not Christian you know you are still welcome to participate in the American ideal. Yet it is the wish of those of us who love you as our fellow human beings that you may make room in your life for the one thing only Christian faith offers: purpose for both this life and eternal life after. To not be bound by the countless arbitrary moral philosophies conceived by a flawed humankind, to avoid the listlessness that comes from trying to develop your own meaning to life: this is true freedom. If you embrace it, you can understand why exerting the means to help others to experience the same is worth such a full measure thereof.
Whatever the future holds, there is always hope for those of us who know God is in control and that all are ultimately bound by His will. This truth is dreadful to those who would rather be the ones in control themselves, motivated by their own desires because it is what they want and not because they work or are right. In this life that ruthlessness may grant them riches and prestige, but in the end they have only the same grave or urn to look forward to with none of their gains able to be taken along. If that is really all there is to the sum of humanity, then what is worthwhile at all?
I thank God to have been born in a nation (descended from those who fought for its founding) of those who understood life has greater meaning than selfish pursuits, and who backed up that belief with more than just words. I am honored how this ideal has been emulated all over the world which means people can still see the wisdom manifested nearly a quarter of a millennium ago. Even if among a minority of the population today, I hope the spirit of that ideal remains strong enough to sustain and pledge to do my part in making it so.