“Follow what you know God put in your heart.”

I have shared this advice with many people throughout my ministry.  Today, I am announcing that I am taking my own advice to heart.

I can no longer deny that the passion of my heart is to bring our country back to Christ and to our founding Judeo-Christian values…through our youth.   As Christian Americans, we can no longer sit on the sideline as our youth and our nation continue to fall further away from Christ and our Judeo-Christian foundation.

What I also have discovered is that I cannot accomplish this goal continuing to wear two hats.  A year ago Cindy and I moved Reach America, our youth leadership organization, to Idaho.  A few months later I was presented with the opportunity to re-launch the IVA.  In September, the Idaho Values Alliance was up and running. 

But since then Reach America has taken off!

God has been dramatically working through Reach America to impact young people in north Idaho.  We have recently conducted two youth leadership training events and we are hiring two interns for the summer.  By the fall of this year Reach America will be a household name in north Idaho.

Last Sunday, we sponsored our first of three Fundraising Conference Events in Coeur d’Alene.  We invited Shahram Hadian to conduct his conference on the “Threat of Sharia Law in America.”  The response was tremendous!  Over 600 people showed up!

Writing these columns is not going to stop.  But the emphasis will change.

The next column you will receive will be under the banner of Reach America and the topics will center on reaching the youth of America along with progress reports of our launch in north Idaho.

I completely understand if some of you choose to unsubscribe.  But I ask you to be patient.  I am reducing the number of columns to one a week.  You may want to get your pastor and/or youth pastor signed up to receive the new Update from Reach America.

I also believe any parent or youth leader would benefit from receiving the new Reach America Update.

Folks, in 1990, God dynamited me out of my cushy chair from behind my desk in my Pastor’s Office, right into the middle of a war.  A war for the hearts and minds of our nation’s youth and for the soul and the very survival of America.

I have not been able to get the youth of America out of my heart.

Like you, I have attended many conferences on “Understanding the Times.”  What I haven’t heard is “What the church should do about it.”

If these quotes sound familiar they are taken from 1 Chronicles 12:38, “Men of Issachar, who understood the times and knew what Israel should do.” 

As the church in America, do we truly understand what is going on around us?  Do we know what the church should do?  What happens to our youth and our country if we don’t act?

My prayer is that each of you will stick around.

I want to invite you to take a look at our new website, www.LetsReachAmerica.org.

Following my Heart,

Gary Brown

If we do not pass down the Christian values on which this country was founded to our youth, everything, we, adults know and believe about America will go to the grave with us.

I know that was blunt, but I can’t think of any other way to say it. 

Last week, I was engrossed in planning for the spring and summer.  Through my youth leadership non-profit, Reach America, we are making plans to impact hundreds of youth this summer.  When I got to the end of the week, it hit me; I didn’t put out an IVA Update!

After experiencing a momentary twinge of guilt, I put it behind me.  Simply put; the need to empower today’s youth is immediate.  If this is the only column I write this week; so be it.  I believe our country will make it without a few words published from Gary Brown.  I am not so sure America stands a chance without our youth.

For example, today’s high school juniors and seniors will be voters in 2012.  Conservative groups on our Idaho College and University campuses are forming, now.  I have been speaking to more youth groups and visiting individually with youth; they want to lead their generation and they want to be trained and supported, now.

Through Reach America, we are taking action, now.

On February 19th, I sat in my living room with five young adults who are Idaho’s and America’s present.  That right, I said “present” not future.  I will no long refer to the generation, ages 29 and under, as our “future.” 

They are ready, now; and frankly, we need them, now. 

This Saturday, March 12th, I will sit in my living room with a dozen or more young leaders.  These young people, ages 29 and under, are committed to reach their generation.  They are ready to lead their schools, their communities, this state and America back to Christ and to America’s founding Christian principles.

To jump start this movement, Reach America is hiring two summer interns.  Our two interns are University of Idaho students, Tyler Smotherman and Rachael Hackwith. 

Tyler graduated from Coeur d’Alene High School in 2010.  At CDA High, Tyler had a cumulative GPA of 4.226; he graduated third in this class and was Student Body President.  At the University of Idaho, Tyler majors in Political Science and International Studies; his minor is Military Science.   Tyler’s GPA at U of I is a 4.0.

Rachael was born in Idaho, but spent the majority of her childhood years in Las Vegas, Nevada.  Rachael graduated from high school in 2010 as the Valedictorian of her class.  She was a member of the National Honors Society and participated in Varsity Mock Trail.  At the U of I she majors in Political Science and Spanish; she an International Studies Minor.  Like Tyler, Rachael is a 4.0 student.

No doubt, Tyler’s and Rachael’s resumes are impressive.  But what impresses me most about these two is their love of Christ, their peers and their country.  Both have a servant’s heart.  Their humility and dedication to Christ and America, frankly, humble me.

We must take action and the next six months are critical to 2012.

Through the years, as a pastor, I have had many (too many) visits with troubled teens and their parents facing teen drug and alcohol addiction problems.  Lately, my conversations with parents have been very different.  Christian, conservative parents are concerned about their children’s liberal leanings.

In the past few weeks, I have met with several Christian, conservative parents who are raising their children to follow Christ and love this country but have discovered that their children do not hold Christian or American values.

Even youth raised in good homes are not getting it!  It is time to raise up young leaders.

Folks, Gary is now 51 years old.  Sure, youth can still love older adults.  Youth will love and respect anyone who loves and respects them.  But youth need someone their age to reach out to them.  I am in no way discounting the tremendous influence of parents, family, pastors and mentors.  But, as they grow into their teen years, youth need solid, peer leaders.

God has led us to two young leaders who are growing into the kind of young adults we all want our children and grandchildren to become.

Is God leading you to help us?

We want to provide our interns with some funds to help them through their college years.  The Reach America Board has approved a stipend of $3,000 for each of our interns.  We would like to raise another $4,000 for programming.  We want to conduct two retreats and a large event this summer.

We are moving forward with our plans.  We hope to train up 50 strong leaders during the summer, impacting hundred’s of youth across Idaho.

For a gift of $10,000, or a number of gifts totaling $10,000, we can get the job done.  I know times are tough, but I believe we all would agree that we are quickly losing our youth. 

FACT: the generation ages 29 and under put Barack Obama in office. 

If we do not impact this generation, now; removing Obama in 2012 is futile.  Should we succeed in 2012, they will just elect another “Obama” in 2016.

Want to contribute?  Make your check out to Reach America, designated to Summer Interns.  Remember, your contribution is tax deductable.  Then mail your check to:

Reach America

PO Box 683

Rathdrum, Idaho

83858

Thank you very much!

After reading Bob’s letter I decided to try something a little different.  Perhaps we can begin a dialog within the IVA on this issue. 

Read Bob’s letter; and should anyone email me with comments, I’ll post them tomorrow.

I found Bob’s letter to the editor interesting considering his educational background. Fresh out of college Bob taught in high schools in Montana for 13 years and then spent two years working with school districts in Montana assisting them with labor relations and personnel issues.  Subsequently, he spent a career as a partner with a multi-national firm prior to retiring.

Bob thanks for your letter and for your permission to publish it here.

As I followed the deliberations of the state legislature and the education proposals I was amazed to read the articles in the Coeur d’Alene Press and thought surely they must be covering two different issues. The headlines alone gave the entire story- “Educators First” and “Collective Protection” screamed at us that teachers were being threatened and the legislature would destroy education.

Teachers are important, we all remember that teacher that encouraged and motivated us in our education. (We also may remember a few teachers that were deadly boring in their presentations also)  Being an educator is a high calling and having the best for our children is a priority for everyone.  How we get there with  the resources available is the issue.

Labor unions like Idaho Education Association (IEA-NEA) are obviously working for the same things all unions seek for their members.  Those being more money and benefits, less work, more time off and job security. 

We have to face facts that the State of Idaho is facing a budget shortfall of $140 million and when you realize that public education takes about 17% of the state budget there has to be cuts in this area also. Do we take a meat cleaver and cut across the board or attempt to allow schools to be creative and flexible in their staffing decisions?

The proposals have provided for the following:

• Investments in technology.
• Paying for college credits for those students who have met graduation requirements. 
• Increasing starting pay for new teachers to $30,000, implementing a pay for performance system to reward outstanding teachers. 
• Eliminate tenure and replace with a two year rolling contract for new teachers.
• Forbid seniority as the only criteria to determine layoffs. Tie at least a portion of teacher and administrator evaluations to student performance.                          
• Locally elected leaders would have more flexibility to manage year to year and to streamline collective bargaining.

These are some of the highlights and have caused most of the controversy. One net effect would be larger class sizes and yet by increasing class size by one or two students saves nearly $100 million and doesn’t make our average class size much different than Washington or Oregon.  Utah spends about a $1,000 less per student than Idaho and yet test scores are as good or better.

Tenure is an issue that many states are looking at ending, even Illinois that has a Democratic governor and legislature is looking at changes and applying performance as a key criteria.  Let’s face it, as a nation we have spent billions and the nation and state have poured increasing amounts of money without real change.

What Was Left Out?

Tom Luna made a beginning foray into some fundamental reform but unfortunately failed to tackle some bigger issues:

First, I would have hoped he would have proposed real compensation reform. The raising of the beginning salary was fine, however, the real problem is the salary schedule itself that has a grid and matrix that forces large percentage raises across the board whenever the starting salary is raised. 

The schedule should be squeezed tighter to allow teachers to move up quicker on a pay scale and more of the pay tied to incentives.  We lose too many good teachers in the early years who don’t want to wait a decade to make a decent wage. Too many people in any profession have the same experience twenty times over instead of twenty years of growth. 

We compete to hire the best football coach and give them incentives based on performance – why wouldn’t we do that with a chemistry, math or English teacher?

Secondly, we haven’t brought in one of the most important features of our free market society, COMPETITION!  Charter schools should be expanded.  Look at the test scores at the CDA Charter Academy and compare them to the public schools locally. It is jaw dropping! 

We should consider a voucher system or tax credits for education costs and tuition. In a scientific poll conducted of 1,000 likely Idaho voters nearly half are not satisfied with the state’s current public school system -47% rate it as “poor” or “fair”.  If we exclude the one out of five voters who are undecided the number jumps to 59%. 67% like school choice such as a charter school and 60% say they are favorable to school vouchers.

Here is the most shocking number in the poll – when asked, “If it was your decision and you could select any type of school would you would you select in order to obtain the best education for your child?  ONLY 12% CHOSE A REGULAR PUBLIC SCHOOL IN IDAHO! 39% said they would choose a private school, 25% a charter school, 21% homeschool and 3% virtual school. 

Two recent movies, “Waiting For Superman” and “The Lottery” are heartbreaking as they recount the failure of what has happened to education in this country and the desire for a competitive system that will deliver. If you read the platform of the IEA you see that two of their goals is to see more regulations on charter schools and homeschooling.

Thirdly, someone in state government will have to address the whole issue of unfunded employee pensions.  Here is the sales pitch from Idaho’s own website: 

“ When you retire, the PERSI Base Plan will pay you every month for as long as you live, and if you choose a Contingent Annuitant at retirement, after you die that person will continue receiving a benefit for the rest of his or her life.

You “make back” every dollar you put into the PERSI Base Plan within about your first three and a half years of retirement. For instance, say you put $60,000 into PERSI during your career. If your monthly benefit is $1,500, you will receive your $60,000 back in just over three years. But, we will continue paying you that $1,500 (plus yearly Cost of Living Adjustments – COLAs) every month for the rest of your life. If you are retired for another 30 years, you will receive another $540,000 from PERSI (plus COLAs – so the value will really be much higher.). It would be extremely difficult to find another investment with such a secure, long-term return.”

Do you wonder who pays the $540,000 in the example?  We do for all employees.  Idaho has more than a $2.5 Billion unfunded pension plan! 

Summary:

To be fair, I am not blaming teachers or administrators for all of the failings of schools or performance.  Parents and society in general share responsibility also.  Teachers, however, need to realize that they need to be willing to raise professional standards and become the models of respect they once were. Be willing to be judged on performance and accept change. I believe that the IEA/NEA has been effective winning some battles but is losing the war.

 Unfortunately the limits of space prevent me from covering so many important issues but I would ask the citizenry to educate yourself by walking through the schools and see what is going on, read Tom Luna’s proposals and the policies and labor agreements that your school district has adopted. Please educate yourself.

Currently, in America and Idaho, the Tea Party movement is the most effective group waving the conservative flag.  I love the Tea Party.  I have been at every Tea Party event in north Idaho and elsewhere, as my schedule has allowed.

The Tea Party is necessary.  The issues of lower taxes and smaller government are important American and Christian values.  I am not suggesting the Tea Party needs to change a thing; the Tea Party needs to keep holding government’s feet to the fire on all levels.

But within the conservative movement there are two crucial elements terribly missing.

First, is our message; this is not a “conservative” movement.  This is a movement to restore “historical Americanism.”  America was founded on the Christian ideal of freedom and liberty.  Our goal is to restore America to her founding values which include smaller government and lower taxes.

The Tea Party message is Taxed Enough Already!  Excellent message; but incomplete.

How do we complete the message?  We complete the message through an intentional effort to engage Christians in Idaho in the political, cultural impacting process.  Christians need to lead the way in broadening the message of “taxed enough already” to a “we care” message.  As Christians we can do more than bring lower taxes to Idaho; we can usher in a revival of Americanism in Idaho.

Secondly, what is terribly missing in the conservative movement is; youth!  We need to go all out to reach out and engage young Christians ages 29 and under.

This was the topic at our Reach America board meeting last Sunday evening.  Reach America is my Christian youth leadership non-profit.  For a year I have been cultivating relationships with key young leaders in north Idaho.  Last Saturday, we conducted our first core leadership training event in my home with five bright, engaging, Christian young people.

Saturday, I sat in my living room with a handful of Idaho’s and American’s future; Christian youth who love Christ and this country; young people ready to give their lives to lead their generation back to Christ and America back to her founding values.  

If America is to truly turn around, our message needs to be broader than “taxed enough already” and our target needs to be the youth of this state. 

As Christian Americans, our message to all Americans should be; we are the ones who really care about all people.  We need to shout from the rooftops that it is our love for God and for all people that drives our passion for our country to return to our founding values!

Why should we continue to let the progressive, political left win the “caring” messaging war?  Why should we continue to let liberals win the battle for the hearts and minds of our young people? 

In my home, on March 12, I am holding a second meeting with the faithful five that came to the first training event.  The goal is to increase the core leadership group; to increase the core group to 12.

I am convinced there are dozens, if not hundreds, more young Christian leaders in Idaho. 

Will you help me find them?  If so, email me at gary@idahovaluesalliance.com.

If God has pricked your heart; if you, like me, love the Tea Party, but know our message is falling short; if you are serious about reaching the next generation of Christian American leaders; please contact me.  There is much to be done!

I encourage each of you to contact your State Senator in support of this bill.

I wholeheartedly support the passage of SB 1070.

Physicians should not be allowed to intentionally kill their patients, either by providing the means of death or ending the patient’s life by their doctor’s hands.  There is a tremendous distinction between allowing someone to die naturally when medical technology cannot stop the dying process and causing someone to die through assisted suicide or euthanasia.

By definition, the act of physician-assisted suicide involves a medical doctor who provides a patient the means to kill him or herself, usually by an overdose of prescription medication. 

Do we really want to go there in Idaho?

The current policy debate in the Idaho legislature involves physician-assisted suicide; not euthanasia.  However, the best data available on the subject comes from the Netherlands where the two practices go hand-in-hand. By the way, in the Netherlands, both are illegal but when conducted under certain guidelines the courts turn their heads.

In the Netherlands, physicians engage in both euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide.  Dutch studies document that the practice of euthanasia is 10 times more common than physician-assisted suicide.  What is even more disturbing in the Dutch studies is that among all euthanasia deaths, in 1990, approximately one quarter involved patients who did not give their explicit consent to be killed.

On September 10, 1991, the results of the first official government study of the practice of Dutch euthanasia were released. The two volume report is referred to as the Remmelink Report. 

For the sake of clarity; in this report, the direct and intentional termination of a patient’s life, performed with the patient’s consent is termed “voluntary euthanasia”; without the patient’s consent, is termed “involuntary euthanasia.”

According to the report, in 1990, 2,300 people died as the result of doctors killing them upon request or after receiving the person’s voluntary consent.  However, 1,040 people (an average of 3 per day) died from involuntary euthanasia, meaning that doctors actively killed these patients without the patients’ knowledge or consent.

According to the Report of the Royal Dutch Society of Medicine, the main argument in favor of euthanasia in Holland has always been the need for more patient autonomy; that patients have the right to make their own end-of-life decisions. Yet, as the studies show, Dutch euthanasia practice has ultimately given doctors, not patients, more and more power. The question of whether a patient should live or die is often decided exclusively by a doctor or a team of physicians.

[H. Jochemsen, trans., "Report of the Royal Dutch Society of Medicine on 'Life-Terminating Actions with Incompetent Patients, Part 1: Severely Handicapped Newborns.'" Issues in Law & Medicine, vol. 7, no.3 (1991), p. 366.]

In Holland, the slope has indeed gotten very slippery.  According to the report, some Dutch doctors have gone as far as to provide “self-help programs” for adolescents to end their lives. Also, cost containment has arisen as one of the main aims of Dutch health care policy creating concerns that the “right to die” has become the “duty to die.”

Could the abuses witnessed in Holland be repeated in Idaho? Do we want to create a climate in our state where doctors make end of life decisions for us?  What’s next; adolescent “self help programs” to assist teens to end their lives in our state?  And as health care costs continue to rise, could the “right to die” become the “duty to die?”

I wholeheartedly support the passage of SB 1070.

Note: A summary on the Remmelink Report, published by the Patience Rights Council’s International Task Force, Steubenville, Ohio, is attached to this letter.  Link to the website http://www.internationaltaskforce.org/fctholl.htm

Sincerely Yours,

Gary N. Brown, President

Idaho Values Alliance

One such playbook recently exposed is Saul Alinsky’s “Rules for Radicals.”  I am going to resist the temptation to turn this column into a book report of Alinsky’s version of Fabianism through community organizing; instead, I thought I would give an example of how we are seeing these principles worked out in front of us in Idaho.

Four Progressive tactics for culture change are messaging, networking, working the political system and incredible patience.  As you read the following example, I will place in parentheses (  ) the tactic employed.  In my next column I will provide analysis and recommendations.

The Safe Schools and Fair Employment Working Group is based out of Boise.  (Messaging)

To learn more about this group check out this link; http://www.4idaho.org/HumanRights/index.html.    

Who is this “Working Group?”  According to their homepage; The Idaho Safe Schools & Fair Employment Working Group is a large and informal group of people from across Idaho who cares. (Messaging)

In this legislative session the Working Group attempted to garner support for a hearing to be held in support of Idaho Senate bill s1033.  Summarizing from the state of Idaho website;

 HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION – SEXUAL ORIENTATION – Amends existing law to provide that discrimination against sexual orientation or gender identity is a criminal offense; to provide that freedom from discrimination because of sexual orientation or gender identity is a civil right; and to prohibit discrimination against a person because of sexual orientation or gender identity under the Human Rights Commission Act with exceptions.

Although their efforts for a hearing failed this year, they have vowed to make it happen in the 2012 legislative Session.  With 2012 being an election year, they believe legislators will have to hear them out.  Notice the Work Group isn’t looking for the passage of legislation similar to s1033 in 2012; all they want is a hearing.  (Working the Political System)

Progressive liberals know how to change society; inch by inch.  The Working Group would be perfectly happy with the following potential scenario.  This year, 2011, introduce a bill; next year, 2012, get a hearing; 2013, get a bill out of a committee; 2014, a vote; 2015, passage.  (Incredible Patience)

While they slowly work the politics of state government, they are building an increasingly effective message and state-wide coalition.  The Work Group’s  address is PO Box 775, Boise, Idaho, but they list they can be found in Idaho Falls, Pocatello, Moscow, Emmett, Meridian, Hailey, Eagle, Caldwell, Nampa, Salmon, and Coeur d’Alene and beyond.  (Networking)

Did you catch that?  Beyond!

In Part Two, I will provide analysis of the effectiveness of this strategy and compare it to the strategy of the Tea Party.  Strategy does matter; messaging, networking, and working the political system with incredible patience does work.  There is no doubt that conservatives are right, but as I have stated before; being right isn’t enough.  We must make right work.

Colossians 1:15-17 reads;

“The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.  For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities.  All things have been created through him and for him.  He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”

In this scripture the Apostle Paul reveals to us the majesty and glory of the invisible God, Jesus Christ; “in him all things were created in heaven and on earth”; including “thrones, powers, rulers and authorities.”  He wrote that these “thrones, powers, rulers and authorities” were created “through him and for him.”

The last six words of verse 17 are remarkable; “in him all things hold together.”  Incredible; it is in Christ that all things are held together! 

How does Christ hold together these “thrones, powers, rulers and authorities?”

We find the answer to this question in Galatians 2:20.  “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”  According to Paul, as a Christian I am dead; I no longer live, but Christ lives in and through me. 

I often hear Christians talk about how hard it is to live the Christian life.  The Christian life isn’t hard to live; it’s impossible!  We can’t live the Christian life.  All we can do is daily surrender our “so-called life” to Christ and allow him to live his life through us.  The only life I have is Christ’s.

Now, let’s put everything together. 

Jesus holds together “thrones, powers, rulers and authorities” through Christians! 

As we surrender to Christ, he lives through us.  When we stand up in the school board meetings, Christ is standing.  When we run for office, Christ is running for office.  When we testify at hearings at the state capitol, Christ is testifying.  When we write, call or fax our congressman, they read Christ’s words.

If we do not participate in the political system; where’s Christ?  How will our government “hold together?”

Let’s not forget the political philosophy of President John Adams.  According to historian Gleaves Whitney, Adams believed that the American experiment would only succeed if citizens leavened their freedom with virtue.  Otherwise liberty would devolve into license and the republic would crumble from within.

I believe spiritually the same is true.  If Christian people do not become involved in the American political process, thus holding it together, our nation will crumble. 

Christians, the future of America is literally in our hands.

America was founded as a Christian nation.  From our infancy as a nation, America and Christianity were conjoined.  It never entered the minds of our Founders that the two would ever be separated.

Consider this quote from John Quincy Adams.

 “From the day of the Declaration…they (the American people) were bound by the laws of God and by the laws of the gospel, which they all acknowledged as the rules of their conduct.”

(As Secretary of State, Oration celebrating, July 4^th 1821)

The Founder’s formula for a successful nation was simple; the Constitution constrained the government and the Bible constrained the people.  They believed should the government and/or the people stray from the boundaries set forth in each, America would crumble from within.

Critics of the Christian founding of America imply that we can’t be a Christian nation because if America were we would legally require all Citizens to be Christian.  This is not the case.  Supreme Court Justice David Brewer (1837-1910) explained it well:

“[I]n what sense can [America] be called a Christian nation? Not in the sense that Christianity is the established religion or that the people are in any manner compelled to support it. On the contrary, the Constitution specifically provides that ‘Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.’  Neither is it Christian in the sense that all its citizens are either in fact or name Christians. On the contrary, all religions have free scope within our borders. Numbers of our people profess other religions and many reject all. Nor is it Christian in the sense that a profession of Christianity is a condition of holding office or otherwise engaging in public service, or essential to recognition either politically or socially. In fact, the government as a legal organization is independent of all religions. Nevertheless, we constantly speak of this republic as a Christian nation – in fact, as the leading Christian nation of the world.”

The relationship between our Constitutional Republic and Christianity is unique in the American experience/experiment.  Not only did those who founded this great nation consider it Christian, so did others who came to America to examine our government and culture.  None of these investigators were more respected than Alexis de Tocqueville; a French jurist who came to America in the 1831 to study this new American experiment of government.  After his visit, he wrote the most important book of that day concerning American government and culture called, “Democracy in America.”

In “Democracy in America” Tocqueville wrote he was amazed how religious Americans were and the central role Christianity played in the workings of American society and in government.  Tocqueville perfectly articulated the unique relationship between Christianity and American government.

“Religion in America takes no direct part in the government of society, but must be regarded as the first of their political institutions…I am certain that they hold it to be indispensable to the maintenance of republican institutions.  This opinion is not peculiar to a class of citizens or to a party but it belongs to the whole nation.”

Tocqueville continued…

“The Americans combine the notions of Christianity and of liberty so intimately in their minds that it is impossible to make them conceive the one without the other.”

Tocqueville concludes his remarks with a powerful observation and a pertinent warning…

“I sought for the greatness of America in her harbors and her ample rivers, and it was not there; in her fertile fields and boundless prairies, and it was not there; in her rich mines and her vast world commerce, and it was not there…Not until I went to the churches of America and heard her pulpits aflame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power.  America is great because she is good and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great.”

Okay, I take it back.  I am glad no one shot the first guy who said it was not proper to mix politics and religion.  But isn’t it time to start a trend of our own?  Try this.  Not only is it proper to mix politics and Christianity, if we are to save our republic it is a must!

Today, we took a look back at history to show the essential partnership between politics and Christianity in America.  Tomorrow, we’ll take a look in the Bible.  If you want to get a head start, read Colossians chapter one and I’ll meet you back here tomorrow.

In Part 1 of this article, we discussed how and why judgment is coming.  In Part 2, we address the question: Is it too late?

Is it too late for America?

One Scripture still rings true and inspires hope in the hearts of many – 2 Chronicles 7:14.  “If My people” has become a rally cry synonymous with “We the People” from the Constitution of the United States of America.

Both of these phrases, however, came with a price – a hefty price.  The question of “Is it too late for America?” can only be addressed after answering, “Are you willing to pay the price?”

In 2 Chronicles 7:13, 14, the Lord appeared to Solomon by night and said, “If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people;

 If my people; which are called by my name (Exodus 20:7, taking the Lord’s Name)

Shall humble themselves (Deuteronomy 8:2, time in the wilderness to humble thyself before Him; 1 Peter 5:5, be clothed in humilty for grace is given to the humble)

And pray (Matthew 6:5-15, Jesus teaches how to pray)

And seek my face (Matthew 6:33, seeking the kingdom of God, and His righteousness)

And turn from their wicked ways; (Matthew 5, Jesus sets the bar)

Then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

Each of us, called by His Name, is accountable to perform the actions of 2 Chronicles 7:14.  It is a call, a reminder, from John’s First Epistle.  1 John 2:15, 16: “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.  If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.”  

This is not a time to give lip service to our faith walk.  Now is the time to summon the courage to give the Holy Spirit permission to take inventory of our lives and reveal those things we need to know to truly turn from our wicked ways and seek His face in prayer for this country.         

Are “We The People” Anymore?

There are four fundamental works upon which America was built: the Bible, the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.  America is known as a “Christian Nation” because it was founded as such a nation – with known Judeo-Christian understanding of Scriptures. 

James Madison, the fourth president of the United States and “Chief Architect of the Constiution,” wrote:

“The religion then of every man must be left to the conviction and conscience of every man; and it is the right of every man to exercise it as these may dictate.  This right is in its nature an unalienable right.  It is unalienable, because the opinions of men, depending only on the evidence contemplated by their own minds cannot follow the dictates of other men:  It is unalienable also, because what is here a right toward men, is a duty toward the Creator.  It is the duty of every man to render to the Creator such homage and such only as he believes to be acceptable to him.  This duty is precedent, both in order of time and in degree of obligation, to the claims of civil society.  Before any man can be considered as a member of civil society, he must be considered as a subject of the Governor of the Universe….”

Many voices are uniting with a call to return to America’s foundations as laid by the men known as the Founding Fathers.  Some voices are reluctant prophets resembling Jonah as he told the people of Nineveh they had forty days until their demise.  Some voices resemble the Maccabbees crying for revolt against Greek tyranny.  And some voices still believe in the miracle of America’s founding and that God is not done with her yet.

However, this is the time to allow the question, “Has God judged America?” to pierce our collective conscience and set our feet to the path of 2 Chronicles 7:14.  It is time to collectively acknowledge our Creator and put Him back in America!

In discussing the status of America recently, a friend challenged me with a statement (from his college days): “A question pierces the conscience, whereas an accusation hardens the heart.” It seems that the status of America raises many questions, as well as, many accusations. For purpose of this discussion, however, the accusations come from Scripture.

“Why hasn’t God judged America?” is a question that has most often been asked whenever conversations turn to Biblical prophecy. Perhaps, however, the question most appropriate now is, “How far and for how long will the judgment of God be upon America?”

A close look at Paul’s Epistle to the Romans reveals a truth many Americans do not want to acknowledge. Romans 1:18 begins the story: “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness.”

The point crystalizes in Romans 1:21, 22: “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.”

Paul then goes on to describe the judgment of homosexuality that falls upon a people who worship and serve the creature more than the Creator. Following a dismal listing of human degradations, Romans 1:32 ends with: “Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.”

Despite the efforts of multitudes of citizens and organizations to stem the tide, laws, official policies, and America’s public education system have moved forward to “have pleasure in them…..” In April 2008, a booklet entitled “Just the Facts about Sexual Orientation and Youth: A Primer for Principals, Educators, and School Personnel” was sent to the 16,000 school districts across America.

In a press release that preceded the distribution of the booklet, the following organizations were listed as endorsing, and participating in, the preparation of the information contained within the booklet:

A Publication Endorsed by:

• American Academy of Pediatrics
• American Association of School Administrators
• American Counseling Association
• American Federation of Teachers
• American Psychological Association
• American School Counselor Association
• American School Health Association
• Interfaith Alliance Foundation
• National Association of School Psychologists
• National Association of Secondary School Principals
• National Association of SocialWorkers
• National Education Association School
• SocialWork Association of America

The purpose of the booklet is contained in its introduction:

“The reason for publishing this booklet now is to provide you, as principals, educators, and school personnel, with accurate information that will help you respond to a recent upsurge in promotion of efforts to change sexual orientation through therapy and religious ministries. This upsurge has been coupled with a demand that these perspectives on homosexuality be given equal time in schools.

Sexual orientation conversion therapy refers to counseling and psychotherapy to attempt to eliminate individuals’ sexual desires for members of their own sex. Ex-gay ministry refers to the religious groups that use religion to attempt to eliminate those desires. Typically, sexual orientation conversion therapy is promoted by providers who have close ties to religious institutions and organizations. Some religion-based organizations such as Focus on the Family have invested significant resources in the promotion of sexual orientation conversion therapy and ex-gay ministries to educators and young people in conferences, in advertising, and in the media.

This booklet provides information from physicians, counselors, social workers, psychologists, legal experts, and educators who are knowledgeable about the development of sexual orientation in youth and the issues raised by sexual orientation conversion therapy and ex-gay ministry.We hope that you and others who care about and work with youth will review the factual and scientific information provided here and weigh it carefully in responding to controversies about sexual orientation when they arise in your school.”

Every organized effort to reach out to help the youth overcome the indoctrination of the public education system has been met with a concerted effort to demonize or minimize the endeavors.

It mattered not to these organizations that proponents of the homosexual agenda in America have lied from the beginning regarding the percentage of participating population – stated at 10% for over two decades. The truth was inadvertantly, but blatantly exposed in a Friend of the Court brief filed with the U.S. Supreme Court on March 26, 2003 in Lawrence v. Texas (the case in which homosexuals in Texas were trying to have the state law against sodomy declared unconstitutional by the Court).

In footnote 42 on page 16 of the legal brief, 32 homosexual and pro-homosexual groups admitted the following:

“The most widely accepted study of sexual practices in the United States is the National Health and Social Survey (NHSLS). The NHSLS found that 2.8% of the male, and 1.4% of the female, population identify themselves as gay, lesbian, or bisexual.”

The booklet was not distributed to school districts to help our children. It was a determined effort to recruit our children into accepting as “normal” the behavior that is Biblically described in Romans 1.

It is no longer “acceptable” to find that behavior “unacceptable”. The 2000 Census found same-sex couples living in 99% of U.S. counties.

Ronald Inglehart’s “World Values Survey” found that tolerance in general, and tolerance toward gays and lesbians in particular, is associated with the shift to “a more modern, more democratic, and more affluent ‘post-materialist’ political culture.

“Soul of the Community”, a study conducted by the Gallup Organization, found that more open and tolerant attitudes toward LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) people was one of two key factors, along with natural beauty and environmental quality, that corresponded with higher levels of satisfaction with, and emotional attachment to, a community.

A cross-national study conducted by Marcus Noland of the Peterson Institute for International Economics found that tolerant attitudes in general correlated with more open attitudes toward globalization as well as with higher rates of economic performance.

In summary, it is the consensus of progressive surveyors that a visible LGBT community is the proverbial “canary in the coal mine,” that signals openness to new ideas, new business models, and diverse and different thinking kinds of people – characteristics of “a local ecosystem that can attract cutting-edge entrepeneurs and mobilize new companies.”

As Justin Darr wrote in 2005 (and it is more applicable today):

“…when reality strikes you in the face and the preponderance of evidence is undeniable, the truth is the truth no matter how insane or impossible it may sound. The facts in America today are that the homosexuals have been elevated to be America’s Super Citizen, above the law to the point where their psychological need for acceptance trounces even the most basic Constitutional rights of others.”

America has become a house, a people, divided; and a house divided cannot stand – without a miracle.