Thoughts on Discipleship by Dr. W. A. Dillard - HTML preview

PEOPLE’S POLITICAL PLATITUDES

Every four years, the country suffers the deluge of political platitudes in sufficient quantity to ensure weariness. It is expected, and among those who think, most of the grand promises promoted are taken with a grain of salt. However, in this context, it is troubling to note an apparent lack of understanding about the history of the nation and its relationship to God. It is often heard that “America needs to return to God!” or some similar statement of the same import, except in recent political rallies where He has been booed. Really?

In the early days of this country, Baptists were imprisoned for nothing more than preaching Bible truth. They were taxed against their will to build church houses of Protestant denominations. To be sure, the Lord’s churches have enjoyed a tremendous degree of freedom here, and flourished therein, but most of those freedoms came about because God blessed the consistent, pressing efforts of His people. Moreover, this also was not without undesirable repercussions. Some were jailed simply for being adamant about their beliefs of God and freedom.

So, in the general context of religious life, America is noted as a “Christian” nation. However, the persistent rejection of foundational ethics of Judeo-Christian origin, moral, ethical, and religious standards have been more in a nose dive than on a slippery slope.The bottom line is that as a nation, America has never been in step with God. The platitude of “America needs to return to God” would better be stated, “America needs to turn to God.”

It is still true that Satan is the god of this world. His power is such that he offered the kingdoms of this world to Jesus if only He would worship him. Was the offer legit? Surely it was, and had to be in order for it to be a temptation.

But it is demonstrably true that God had, and has, much to do with this country; much more than the country has to do with Him! It is lamentable, but Bible students have peace in this world of turmoil because they have read the last chapter of the Holy Book. The sinking of nations into the cesspools of sin is a precursor to the return of Jesus. Meanwhile, how nice it would be if leaders would learn that “righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people!” Prov. 14:34

FOR THOUGHT: Do you and your family, or your friends, ever talk about God and politics? Some say those two topics are so controversial that they are off limits. Why? Are they not the two great forces that affect life here and hereafter? What do you enjoy talking about?