AMERICA: Where art thou?

Does anyone remember the 1985 television special, “America: You’re Too Young To Die,” aired on a major network? This Life Action production changed the lives of many Americans. A free book, “The Rebirth of America,” was offered to all callers. Ronald Reagan’s words on the program encouraged our hearts.

Believing the Scriptures, “Righteousness exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people,” and “Blessed is that nation whose God is the Lord,” we embraced the call to have a deeper love for God, country and our fellow man. We were then moved to involve ourselves in moral, social, and political issues and to try to make the world a better place. Some of us organized the “I Love America” concerts at the North Idaho College Auditorium.

After viewing the program again on YouTube, I am wondering how our movement went astray. Somehow over the years, the focus transformed into a hardened version of political action that has become far ruder, more aggressive and unreasonable than we could have imagined. This probably started after the 2008 financial crisis when incompetency and unwise actions resulted in great harm to our democratic republic. But I fear that the sarcastic, spiteful, radical anti-government attitude of many leaders who took over the evangelical movement will ruin our testimony for Christ and portray a false view of the love and compassion of our dear Saviour and the Gospel message.

The world is heading for worship of the same carnal lifestyle of ancient Corinth and Ephesus and it is indeed tragic to us who believe I Peter 2:11 — “abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul.”

But I think we will win more souls for our Lord by following the example of Christ’s Sermon on the Mount and displaying the fruits of the Holy Spirit. Above all, I long to see people saved and living happy lives pleasing to the Lord.

TWILA LITTLE

Coeur d’Alene