IS AMERICA STILL GOOD?

 In 1830 Alexis DeTocqueville said: "I sought the key to the greatness and genius of America in her harbors, in her fertile fields, in her boundless forests, in her rich mines, in her vast world commerce, in her public systems of education and institutions of higher learning. I sought for it in her democratic congress and her matchless Constitution.

But it was not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits aflame with righteousness that I understood the secret of her genius and of her power. America is great because America is good. And if America ever ceases to be good, then she will also cease to be great."

I know that Glenn Beck continues to proclaim that America's citizens are good.  But to any honest outside observer, that cannot be as easily recognizable as it was to DeTocqueville.

To acquiesce to and accept without universal resistance hundreds of thousands of murders of unborn children, to acquiesce to the removal of God from our public discourse and public places, to acquiesce to a mandated definition of marriage as something abhorrent to God (His words not mine), to acquiesce to and support elected and appointed officials obviously deceitful in their claims and oaths to defend and support the principles of the Declaration of Independence as embodied and protected by the Constitution in order to receive the illicit largess their positions enable them to proffer, to acquiesce to and embrace the culture of the "prosperity gospel" rather than maintain a faithful and responsible commitment to upholding and sustaining the "biblical" foundations of our faith - upon which our nation was founded, is to guarantee that we cease to be good!

Our fall began long ago, but, as a falling body continues to accelerate, so does the slide of our nation into the abyss of godlessness, statism, and ultimately the godless imprisonment of fascism.

There are many who tout the principle of 2 Chronicles 7:14 about humbling and praying to our Great Creator for salvation, but to proclaim that as a solution without employing the principle of Micah 6:8 (paraphrase): "to live justly, love mercy and walk humbly before your God," is only to throw God's promise of mercy back in His face.  For the blessing to be given, righteousness (good) must be sought after, striven for, and to the best our abilities, practiced.

And, while I agree with Beck that many do, I fear that more do not, particularly among those we freely chose to lead and govern us.  Our government is indeed corrupt - we made it so and we must accept the responsibility!  God can save us, but He will only if we commit to the real message of 2 Chronicles 7:14: repentance.  We can go the way of Nineveh when instructed by God through Jonah, or we can go the way of the ancient nation of Israel who refused God's guidance and counsel.  Nineveh repented, survived and prospered, the nation of Israel refused to change its ways, was divided and carried in to literal captivity and slavery.

The great adversary of God makes it hard and uncomfortable to be good.  Those who strive to be so are criticized and often ostracized, persecuted and beaten down.  Such are the tactics of those who proclaim concern for the "less fortunate" while laboring for statism over freedom and dedication to goodness ["act justly (contrast with Eric Holder), love mercy (contrast with enslavement to welfare) and walk humbly before your God (contrast with  Jeremiah Wright: "G** D*** America")].

Our President bows before Kings devoted to false and unforgiving gods dedicated to the destruction of all who would follow the True God of the Bible.  For salvation, we must most humbly bow before that Great Creator of the Universe and solicit His blessings by demonstrating our devotion and commitment to His ways - the ways of goodness.

From the Aspen Grove: may this day be a good one for you, and may the Great God who loves you bless you and yours.