I receive significant amounts of email from you all, from others, and from automated search engines. As I take the time to read, or at least scan, each email I have begun to find a recurring pattern in people's perspective toward current events. I believe the American populace can be grouped as follows:
1. Patriots: those who see beyond the obvious and are concerned with the direction our government is headed;
2. Citizens: those who find security in having the government control things as well as believing everything the government tells them; and
3. Huddled Masses: those who get uncomfortable when they take the time to think about a government out of control, so they ... don't think about it.
There are two ways a government can continue on a path that the people do not agree with: influence the minds of the people or totally control the people. A government would probably prefer to influence the minds of the people. This will only work on a limited number of people; and as the government strips more and more rights from the people, fewer and fewer people fall under the influence of the government. Eventually a government can only control the people through force.
Where do we currently stand in America?
I. INFLUENCE - Our government has been, and still is, promoting fear in order to scare people into relinquishing their freedoms and responsibility.
a. Phase One: Terrorism - the American people, like a bunch of sheep, relinquished many freedoms because of their fear over a terrorist attack ... and the masses are still running scared.
b. Phase Two: Pandemic - the flue. American people expect the government to keep them from getting sick and they will take anything the government tells them they need to take ... if they are scared enough.
II. CONTROL - Our government knows that, at some point in the future, it must use force to control the American people.
a. We now have no judicial or legislative protection ... all due-process-of-law has been lost
b. We now have an enforcement power to make us do what the government says. We have the "Home Land Security" force and its power is still growing.
b. We now have detainment facilities to hold (and get rid of) those who disagree with the government
As you read this email you probably fall into one of the three classes of people listed above.
I would like to offer you an alternative ... a fourth class if you wish!
4. Christian - those who believe that there is but one God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and but one way to God and that is through Jesus the Christ. A Christian lives what they believe.
As a Christian, we are concerned about the direction our government is taking; yet, we continue to support our government as long as we are not required to break our integrity with God. Most important, however, we do not worry about what will happen in the future. We are not of this world! Our future is not wrapped up in the American government. We would prefer a true democratic republic but we are not obsessed with governmental concerns.
We know:
* If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. John 15:19
* I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. John 17:14
* Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2
* Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 1 John 2:15
Yes, we live in the world and we all should do our very best to be responsible citizens of the country we live in. I also believe that we should be good stewards of the world we live in. I know that we are all God's creation and that the most important factor in our peacefully living together is LOVE.
As Christians we should take an active interest in what is happening around us; we should share our concerns with others; and we should seek to make a positive influence on the corner of the world we live in.
We do the best we can but we do not fret and worry over what is happening. We are Christians!