Opus 2023-239: Root Causes

As I was praying for the country my mind went to the question of “What do I want to happen?”

Historically there are numerous examples of God getting up close and personal with kings.  He had Nebuchadnezzar out eating grass.  He showed Belshazzar the writing on the wall just before the Persians invaded the city and ended his feast.  David lost a child for his dalliance.  Pharaoh found out it is hard to swim in armor.  In more recent times it is hard to tell when God is dealing with leaders since we don’t have a Biblical account to inform us.

God does move in the halls of power.  We need to keep praying for our “leaders”.

At the same time we need to remember that old caution, “Be careful what you pray for, you might get it.”  I would guess that when God moves against political leaders it is not done gently nor does the general population get off with a night at Chucky Cheese.  It generally results in disruption and chaos in the streets.  

My feeling is that God only takes the extreme measures when He is forced to do so.  He is not forced by someone putting a gun to His head.  He is forced because the people who are called by His name have refused to step up to the plate as salt and light.  Is the country going down hill?  Is the rule of law being perverted into a totalitarian joke?  Are morals in the gutter?  Is the nation in the handbasket and happy about it?  I trust you know rhetorical questions when you see them.

The reason the country is charging toward joining the failures of the past is because it has abandoned its Christian roots.  The degeneration did not start in Washington or any state capital.  It started in the seminaries and pastoral studies across the country.  It started when those who were given the responsibility to be spiritual leaders surrendered to the siren of popular culture and took the wide gate.  Sure enough, it is leading to destruction.

It started in the leadership but it continued in the people sitting in the pews.  They did not call the diluters to account.  They did not take the spiritual routes of prayer, reprove and correction.  They didn’t even vote with their feet.  

If we are going to turn the country around we need to start at the bottom.  That means you and me.  We need to answer the call to repentance so that those in power can be dealt with.  At this point we also need to accept the fact that the correction is going to be painful for everyone involved.

Shoot for the narrow gate.

homo unius libri