What is wrong with America?

Political Science 320 is an endless source of writing material it seems! Today we talked about many of the problems that America faces and here were some of them...

- A Congress/Executive Branch (almost Unitary Executive)/Government that is "totally corrupt"

- People biased against government corruption

- Uninformed people who don't participate in government

- A population that cares more on sex scandals than on power-grabbing scandals (Again, Unitary Executive, or perhaps the NSA wiretapping..take your pick!)

- A population with a complete me mentality, me me me me me me

...and those were just a few.

So, I'm thinking on all of this and I'm like, wow, America kinda sucks (by that I mean Americans). In fact, people kinda suck too. Now, I don't want to come off as a negative doomsayer...but I don't think that I'm wrong. Let's take a look at Romans 3:10-18, take a good looooong look at it. It is pretty scathing, no? Pretty, condemning and harsh. You know, the part where is says things like, (v. 13)"Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.", or the part where it says, (v. 15-17)"15 Their feet are swift to shed blood; 16 ruin and misery mark their ways, 17 and the way of peace they do not know." Well, if this is a description of people without God, that is, without a relationship with Jesus Christ, and we know that "But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it" (Matthew 7:14), then should we be surprised at the condition of America? Now some would say, "Well, this is a Christian nation Uncle~Blogs!"; to this I would reply, "You know, I'm really not sure of that, that it is or is not a "Christian Nation" (A nation full of Christians) but I do know that the gate is narrow, as is the road, and few find it, even in America."

So if much is wrong with America, due to the people not knowing God through Christ, then what should be our response? Well, when America is doing bad, you usually see patriots act to help out, right? Then perhaps we need to be patriots....Heavenly patriots! Someone who is a patriot of the Kingdom of Heaven. Dictionary.com defines a patriot as: a person who loves, supports, and defends his or her country and its interests with devotion. Wow, pretty sweet! If I loved, supported and defended my country and its interests with devotion (profound dedication; consecration-also Dictionary.com) I'd bet I'd see some sweet change! Esp. when one considers our Leader as being Loving, Just, Merciful, Gracious, and All-Knowing (worth voting for I'd say) then that is a Leader I'd work for.

Now if I must make a critism of Christians then it is this: I think some Christians can be so caught up in our earthly government that they don't think enough of our Heavenly Government. Am I saying that Christians should be involved in politics? By no means! I am simply saying that God deserves (and commands) our worship, therefore coming first in our life and at times I think some Christians put too much emphasis on our earthly government over our Heavenly one. Am I singling anyone out? No, not personally, but decide for yourself if you are, and if this is right and if this is honoring to God.

What are your thoughts...?


P.S. The idea of the Unitary Executive, listed above as a problem, is the idea that the Executive Branch of the government is basically above the other two branches and that it can act above the law under certain circumstances....a problem for our Seperation of Powers and our Checks and Balances and a serious threat to Civil Liberties.

Politics, Problems, and Passion

Have any of you been watching the Democratic National Convention? If so, have you seen the passion of the people there? I don't just mean the ones that are in the convention doing there back-patting or their thunderous speeches, I also mean the thousands of protesters out on the street. I mean the millions watching the Convention. You know what people are doing all this for? Some because they want power (many I'd say), some because its a status issue or something of a similar nature, but some, some are there because they want to fix problems. Fix problems of the government, of policy (foreign, mostly), of the "system" in which they live in. (That is, a hegemonic system in which what they say or do doesn't truly matter). And these people, in seeking to fix these problems, will ultimately be disappointed. Oh yes, some victories here or there, some hurrahs for certain things, but ultimately, they will be disappointed. Here's a fact: government cannot satisfy all of your problems. What another fact? here's one: A government that is big enough to fix some problems will create new problems and a government that is too small to fix some problems will create other problems. To what governing can we look!

The governing of Jesus Christ.

A Person able to fix problems, that has answers, that is big, wise, smart, and able to fix our innermost problems? I'll tell you this, it isn't to be found in the philosophy of this age (OPRAH!!!) or to be found in the big people of this age (BARACK, McCAIN), it is to be found in Christ alone.

So then, let's look at these people in a new light.

They are working, delegating, picketing, protesting, pursuing life altering decisions, totally pouring themselves into this goal of changing a government that is incapable of doing what truly is most important: saving people's souls.

Whoa! These people are on fire (well, not to that protesting point yet) for their beliefs. The way they life is dramatically altered for what they believe.


Are we? (myself definately included!)

Why Why Why do we lack the passion of these people! Why don't we "hit the streets" like these people! It just kills me! The lack of committment to Christ and to loving God and people and telling them the truth that can save them! Where is the power behind us?

But there are the people who are, people who's lives are (I've heard this phrase, hopefully I'm using it correctly) "ruined for the ordinary" (something like that). These people who live Christ all day. I know its not everyone! I can see its not everyone, but there are some. These are the models I follow. Not in a 1 Corinthians 3:4 sense (look it up to know what I mean) but in the sense of these are my mentors, my role models, my flesh-and-bones guides, my teachers, etc. How blessed I am for these people! How blessed it is for people when Christ is lived out.

We should all (all who bear the name of Christ) be living out Christ. That is my prayer for believers.



What are you going to do about this live we have?

The New Life We Have

Hola. As this is my first post, I just will write what is most important to my Christian walk, and thus to me; it is simple...I am being cleaned, bleached, made to be nice-smelling, groomed, and the old is being taken out as the new is coming in. Exciting! I am living the Gospel in my own life...being made into the very likeness of Christ. Being made into His image..more and more.

Now, does this mean that I am already Christ-like..in every aspect of my life at all times to everyone: no. I am, however, in that process, and will continue to proceed in this process until I die (for a brief second), then that process will be eternally complete and yet eternally unsatisfied as I love and enjoy Christ forever.

This is the power of the Gospel! To take sinful man (or women) who is selfish, dirty, lustful, arrogant, prideful, and full of vices and turn that very same person into a loving, kind, selfless, caring, sacrificing, bold testifier of the love of God. The new life that they (and I) are led on is the life that was meant for humanity, a life that is beautiful, holy, and pleasing to God..this is the New Life we have, an adventure to the the sound of God's victory march.

I'll be straight with you all..I'm pumped for this New Life and I am full of love and gratitude for the Lord who made this possible with His sacrifice. As a result and in response, this is the love that we are to carry to the sinful world that we dwell in, a message of love and a message of promise for New Life!

Anyway, that is my first post and the desire of my heart...to become more like Christ and to continue in the New Life He has provided. Yeah Boyeeeee....