One of our writers, Dave Hollman, reciently wrote an excellent article on the wisdom of America’s Founding Fathers (likely through divine intervention) in their drafting of the Constitution. It set the stage for what remains the strongest nation in the world, nearly 250 years later.

However, those early American patriots could neither have anticipated nor prepared a document that would have circumvented the waste, corruption, self-serving, and bloated government we currently have, due to the sin nature of man.

Of course, the Lord knew there would be an endpoint in the predominance of America, just as other dynasties have experienced throughout history (ex. the Roman Empire). The adage from Lord Acton, “power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely” has proven true in every instance.

The cycle repeats itself as a successful nation grows, becomes arrogant, then complacent, finally descending into insignificance as the next superpower takes over (China). It remains to be seen if Trump and his MAGA rhetoric and policies interrupt the decline. Regardless, the trend will continue based on a departure from a Biblical Christian worldview, an unmanageable debt due to wasteful spending, and an increasingly large percentage of the populace looking for socialistic style handouts.

Recently, Finland and Denmark (largely considered socialistic countries) have been named as having the most “happy” populace in the world. However warm and fuzzy their people may be, their resources are devoted to internal government handouts and social causes, with no interest in building a dominant economy. They, as with many other countries, rely on the United States to protect their democratic interests. When we stumble, the world stumbles.

John Adams said, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”

Sadly, we are no longer those moral and religious people and see the results of that both in our government and in the news media. According to Gallup, fifty years ago 87% of U.S. adults identified as Christian. Today, that number is 68%. However, the term “Christian” has also weakened over time to the point that according to Barna Research (details here)…

• Over half (54%) stated that people are basically good.
• Exactly half said they believed one can earn their salvation through good works.
• Twenty-four percent “reject the Biblical nature and character of God”.
• Twenty-six percent “worship spirits other than the God of the Bible”.
• Fifteen percent occasionally cast spells on other people.

The Lord was clear in the Bible on two, potentially irreconcilable, commands. The first was to honor those put in charge of us…

Romans 13:1 – Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.

The second was to honor God and His teachings…

Joshua 24:15b – And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve… But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

Each citizen must decide for themselves when the line in the sand has been crossed between following man and following God, as we await the Lord’s return.