— Bible-based commentary on vital issues of the day —

The U.S. Consternation

Can Washington solve the nation's problems?

Possibly, but unlikely. In view of scripture, history, human nature and spiritual reality, we have little confidence in the government's commitment or ability to rescue America from a century of its own debilitating policies.  Though aware of the nation's unsustainable trajectory and that it might still be correctable,  Washington will more likely allow it to collapse.  Even if the GOP sweeps 2012's elections and wins the Whitehouse, apart from nibbling at core issues with much political posturing, they are not likely to do what's required to avert economic chaos.  Here's why: however perverse sounding, it is unreasonable for them to correct the problems.  I'll explain that in a moment.

Having derived from God, government is good (in principle) .  Properly implemented, it can provide society with a framework for civic order, coordinate it's larger needs and administer justice.  It should serve as the skeleton over which a responsible, God-fearing and industrious citizenry build a productive and peaceful culture.  So constructed, the skeleton becomes all but invisible, much like the human body.  Though created in a fallen world, the model nearest to that godly ideal is America, as set forth by its founders and governed by the Constitutionally established rule of law.  But, like most good things immersed in this sinful world, the government progressively expanded beyond its mandate and became correspondingly corrupt.  Unavoidable until evil is ultimately purged.

Since government has no inherent wealth-producing ability, its coin of exchange is political influence and raw power.  Politicians dispense same in return for election funding and job-keeping votes.  Accompanying it's expansion, comes a perverted sense of purpose and importance: from rendering service, to demanding same (e.g. raise the debt limit, or else,  pay more taxes, or else).  Unconstrained, it morphs into a many-tentacled and intrusive entity that threatens to consume its wealth-producing host.  It accomplishes this through currency manipulation, legislation, taxation, obfuscation, bullying, creating ever more government dependents and absorbing workers into its employ.  Also, by controlling key societal functions (banking, energy, housing, education, health care, manufacturing, etc).  It's rapacious power-lust reaches beyond light bulbs, lemonade stands, and freedom of speech ... into bedrooms, bathrooms and church pulpits.  Increasingly, it oppresses and debilitates as it transforms from a servant of society, to its totalitarian master. With due disregard to Dominionist heresy, the world is right where it is prophesied to be.  Could it be otherwise?

"Republicans don't sound much different then Democrats," noted a friend recently and in so doing, hinted at the underlying reason why the system will crash.  It's the root cause for a 100% failure rate of governments world-wide: human reasoning apart from God.  Obviously, when a politician gets elected, he remains morally and spiritually the same.  Like all of us, he is innately a self-serving being.  Even allowing that he might be nobly motivated, self interest will often influence his legislative actions.  That ever-present reality tends to guide all that a politician thinks, says and does.  Further, he is mercilessly subjected to immense pressure from political leaders, lobbyists, supporters, voters and adversaries; plus the ideologically insane.  It's near impossible, even for the godly, to NOT say and do things detrimental to the nation's well being.  Rationalizing, "Later on, I'll help correct things.  After all, compromise is the name of the game; you have to give a little to get what YOU want." (H-mm; isn't that the same paving material used on the Highway To Hell?)

Now, multiply this kind of compromised, self-serving thinking by many of the nation's politicians, times a couple hundred years, and guess what? Ta-daa! ...  it's disaster time.  Now, I'm not saying all politicians are self-serving or immoral.  Some are regenerated, educated and of fine character and intentions; praiseworthy, for sure.  However, many others are not good stewards of public trust.

It is widely understood that this nation must drastically reduce spending; notably in  the near sacrosanct realm of entitlements.  Drawing on subway jargon, the subject is referred to as the "third rail" of politics.  "Touch it and you die!"  But, cutting government largess to a constituency that's been carefully molded into dependency, is an invitation to lose the next election.  So, NOT reducing these outlays keeps voters happy and politicians in office. Unfortunately, at the expense and viability of the nation.  Thus, inaction leaves him positioned to continue trying to repair things before the host gives up the ghost.  However, even though America is now gasping for relief, it never quite gets it.  Ideology, reelection and self-interest typically trump national needs; the fallen nature of mankind.  Pessimism for a happy ending is thus further fueled by this built-in conflict of interests.

However perverse the rationale, it is therefore "reasonable" for politicians to act in a manner injurious to the nation, even while its policies are causing it to careen toward the proverbial cliff with the pedal to the metal. They simply do not have the moral or political wherewithal to hit the brakes and are effectually impotent to alter the coming collapse.  And come it WILL.  As suddenly as a mother's labor pains.  (Please, dear reader ...  meditate on this short paragraph.)

Having spent much time in Philadelphia, and with Benjamin Franklin being one of my early heroes, I'm reminded of his classic comment concerning the nation's just-birthed Constitution.  Since deliberations of their 1787 Constitutional Convention were behind closed doors, many citizens gathered outside Independence Hall, awaiting the outcome.  When the proceedings ended and as delegates left the building, a woman eagerly asked Ben Franklin, “Well, Doctor, what have we got?”  Without hesitation, he replied ... “A republic, if you can keep it.”

Dare we suggest that America HAS lost it?  By incrementally violating the terms of that carefully crafted treatise, it's arrived at the place where the Constitution is routinely breached by those sworn to uphold it.  A heinous reality.  Worse yet; because of the self-serving political climate, this is done with nary a peep or challenge from the "loyal opposition."  Hence, the republic is morphing into the antithesis of our nation's founding model ... a Marxist-Socialist tyranny.  Increasingly, it threatens to deprive citizens of the "life, liberty and pursuit of happiness" proclaimed by its Declaration of Independence.  Further, insidiously and beyond voter reach, Constitutional enemies and America haters have been treacherously embedded into government bureaucracy.  Such perversion creates a parasitic burden, upon which too many become too dependent and drained by ... to beat it back.  Tyranny and mobocracy are in the offing.  It's the nature and fruit of a godless world.

President Reagan said: "Government is not part of the problem.  It IS the problem!"  But, it also needs be said that we citizens bear responsibility for the nation's condition; either for better or worse.  On the "worse" side of the equation are those who have abandoned (or never embraced) America's early Judeo-Christian ethic and founding virtues of hard work, thrift and personal responsibility.  Those who have (unwarrantedly) exchanged the dignity of an earned paycheck for a government dole; lunch instead of labor, indolence for industry, and sloth for success.  Vote buyers and bait takers alike, are part of the problem and this failure factor cannot be understated.

Can Washington solve the nation's problems?

Probably not, but God can.  What we've been discussing are the fruits of a God-rejecting and failing society.  Short of national repentance and divine intervention, it surely cannot long endure.  But, there is good news.  Almighty God remains on His throne and is entirely in charge of all that is going on.  The wise will thus be heartened with the reminder: "The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will" (Prov 21:1).  He is sovereign and in spite of appearances, we strongly assert that ALL is in divine order and according to His timetable.  He has the ability to very quickly turn America around ... though doubtful He will.

Regardless of 2012 election outcomes, it's far more likely that a global economic and social implosion lies ahead.  Self interest will prevail over national survival and the god of this world will be given reign to romp, but only for a season: "... in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away" (2Tim 3:1-5).

The Church is advised by the Word of God, to get its act together and priorities straight.  The same holy writ reveals that churchdom, being deeply compromised, will continue on the broad road to expanding apostasy.  However, God will see His true family through.  Being indwelt by the Spirit and equipped with Scripture, all who transfer their trust from the world to Himself, will be led, guided, protected and provided for.  He is networking His own, from within compromised churches and from without.  Therefore, be wary of the onslaught of movements to involve you with their agendas, including the political and deceptive, "God and Country" (Dominionist) type ... even though pulpit promoted (see Acts 17:11).  In the final analysis, most are conduits back to Rome.

Dear believer, it's crunch time.  Implicit in being born-again is the call to "come out" (2Cor 6:17,18)  of dependancy on worldly ways and to assume our God-ordained roles in His "kingdom of priests" (1Pet 2:9).  We are to "live by faith" in God and His Word (Gal 2:20) being led and empowered by His Spirit (Eph 5:18).  Glorious days for followers of Christ lie just over the near horizon (1Thes 5:6-10).  However, the valley in between will be filled with the terrified, quaking, shaking and horror-struck unsaved and Churchdom's play-actors.  Incredulously, some will be blaspheming rather than pleading for mercy from a just, holy, merciful and loving (though deeply offended) Creator/God.

One does well to place no confidence in a political system or man-made solution for America's woes (Ps 118:8,9) and there is nothing on the prophetic radar suggesting divine intervention.  History records that when a person, tribe or nation cuts God loose as their anchor, they will eventually be driven upon the rocks of defeat and destruction.  Can you not HEAR the waves and FEEL the Ship of State's timbers buckling?! For "... evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived" (2Pet 3:13).  Mercifully, our loving God provides ample warning and guaranteed remedy.  He assures, if one repents of sin, accept Jesus as Savior and Lord, commits their whole minds, hearts and lives to His care ... He WILL save and deliver them.  Friend, little time remains to get right with God and put our lives in order.

And to His own, He exhorts ...

Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.
For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.
Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.
Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. (Psalm 37:1-9)

Come quickly, Lord Jesus!

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