As we wake up and start our Sunday, the tension is high in the United States of America. Threats of violent acts taking place across State Capitals have the great citizens of America concerned about their country’s health and welfare. People making threats or committing violent acts against the government, and with those we disagree, is a twisted idea at best. The thought that these kinds of actions will change the past or the majority’s minds about the world’s issues are immature. Throwing rocks and calling people names doesn’t win you friends nor influence people toward peace. It only causes more fear, deep resentment and divides our country even further.
“I think that people want peace so much that one of these days, the government had better get out of their way and let them have it.”
The majority of Americans desire peace, love, unity, and justice for all people. God calls on all of us to strive for peace at all costs. In scripture, we are taught “blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God (Matthew 5:9).”
Many have put their full faith, future, and security in the government, and if their people aren’t in charge, then America will fall and their lives ruined. America has had 45 different presidents and is about to swear in the 46th. Despite American having presidents from a diverse political spectrum throughout our history, America has continued to grow and enjoy much success. Do some leaders do a better job carrying out the constitution than others, you bet, and that’s why we vote. But at the end of the day, placing all of our dependence on a group a fatally flawed people instead of the Creator of the universe for our peace of mind and joy is missing the mark by miles.
The evolution of the internet, social media and the ability to obtain information within seconds has invited darkness into our culture in ways we never knew possible. The amount of uncertainty and fear caused by the media and countless other agencies worldwide has fueled our country’s political divide. One network spews out negative and one-sided news 24/7/365 days a year against another. If you disagree with our positions, you are no longer our opponent; you have become the enemy. The amount of hate speech and divisiveness from every possible means, fancied or real, has taken us to the point where we are ready to destroy each other at all cost to get our way.
“While you are proclaiming peace with your lips, be careful to have it even more fully in your heart.”
We can confess with our lips that we want peace, love, and justice for all, but do we? It’s important to remember that the problems we are experiencing are not coming to us; they are coming from us. If we peel back enough layers of the cultural onion, we will find the root of all our problems. Amerca’s individualism and extreme self-centeredness are so deep that the delusion that we can be happy, joyous, and free if everyone would get in line with our plan is all that matters. The quest for power, glory, and prestige has become the driving force in our culture. The party that has the power is in control of the empire; until they’re not. This vicious cycle continues has played been played repeatedly throughout human history, and always at the cost of peace, unity, and justice for all.
The journey America is on will end badly if we don’t change. Our country in time will cease to exist because we will eventually cripple each other to the point that another nation or nations on the same mission for power, glory, and prestige will devour us. We must become unified and focused on ensuring every American has what they need to live a healthy and productive life. This starts with me and you. We must become committed to peace, unity, and justice for all. We must commit ourselves to the double commandment to love God and neighbor at a level we never knew possible.
If we can learn to lay aside our desire for power at all costs and shift that energy toward peace, love, unity, and justice for all, America will become better than its ever been throughout its short history. We can do this, and it will take all of us unifying to make it happen. We must lay down our weapons, reel in our tongues, lay aside our desire to be in control, and pick up the spiritual toolkit laid at our feet to repair what is a spiritual problem. We must have God’s help, and it will require a deep surrender on everyone’s part. You can do this! We can do this! America can do this! And God will do this if God were sought! Let’s join hands, let’s put God first, and see what happens. America wins if we all win.
God of grace, mercy, and forgiveness, we raise our flawed ways to you and ask for Your forgiveness as we have desired our individual welfare ahead of everyone else. Your ways have not been our ways. We find ourselves in the state of disliking more than loving our neighbor. We have said wicked things and contemplated harming those we disagree with. Help us find our way back to You. Grant us the ability to lay aside our differences and strive for love, unity, peace, and justice for all. God, we are praying boldly for You to bless America and turn us white as snow. In Your Spirit and Name, we pray these things. Amen
Leave a Reply