I agree with your comparison of the rod and staff, however, I do not believe that patriotism is dead. I think we are seeing everyday, a more and more arousing of the sleeping giant of God-fearing patriots. I think that the apathy that has taken over the right wing conservatives is gradually melting away as we see what Obama and the other liberals are doing to this country. Even the media is starting to question. Some of the Democrats are starting to question. I think people are finally realizing the government isn't going to let us take care of ourselves without intervention, and that we don’t want to share our wealth with those that are too lazy to work and that we want other nations to know we ARE a Christian nation, NOT a Muslim one, among many other issues.
I don't think you should write off patriotism just yet. I think the basic Christian principles are still at work. Our country is founded and grown on them. I just think we have allowed ourselves to become complacent especially since some of the major denominations of Christianity for years, taught that we should not participate in politics...that we should only pray and God would handle it. Biblically, we are supposed to give to Caesar what is Caesar's and God what is God's. In this instance "Caesar" requires the participation of the conservative Christians in order to save him. I think the past mindset is breaking as they see that maybe this is the result of our sins and God's punishment and just maybe we should get back to actually reading the Bible instead of following tradition. God gives us choices and those choices have consequences.
I think as the scales fall off of the sleeping giant’s eyes, he will arise and be a force to be reckoned with.
We may have failed in our job of instilling patriotism, but I don’t think so. I would like to think that all three of my sons would hold up that flag alongside my husband and me...….we love our country and we know where we’re going to end up in eternity. We’re not alone and I think the world will start to know that FACT very soon.
Granna, I did not say that patriotism is dead. I said that if people don't return to the roots that this country was founded on -Scriptural living- that it SOON WOULD die.
ReplyDeleteI am not writing off patriotism. Far from it, I agree that in many people patriotism as again strongly taking root. However, if that SPIRIT of patriotism isn't hand-in-hand with the proper and ORIGINAL ROOT of patriotism- indeed the very reason that patriotism exists- then 'patriotism' is of no worth.
In our family, yes, there is TRUE patriotism; because we all (for the most part) believe and recognize the roots and reason of this moral position. However, not all families are like our own.
I am not saying that patriotism is worthless in and of itself, so please don't take me wrong. I'm trying to say that if our country in it's entirety doesn't begin to return, yes to patriotism, but also to the reason WHY we should be patriotic; then it is shortlived and useless. As a plant cannot grow and flourish without the root it came from, that nourishes and provides the most important needs of life; neither can morals grow and flourish -especially in these harsh times- without Torah, without the Scriptural principals and morals of TRUE Christianity. Our country has proven that the name 'christian' has no meaning in and of itself. Almost everyone CALLS themselves a 'christian'. But if they don't actually live the TRUE Christian lifestyle, if they're not following Yahweh's instructions -New Testament or Old, it doesn't matter- then being a 'christian' has no more meaning than the aforementioned rootless plant.
Does this make sense Granna? I'm not saying that your generation was a failure. In fact, some of man's greatest acheivements were because of your generation. But they are seen as just that- man's acheivements. It just seems to me that what most people call 'patriotism' is not in the perspective that it should be. People wish for the glory that MAN has done to rise again. Yahweh has been pushed out of the picture. The things that man has accomplished is great, yes. But it was through the grace and inspiration of Yahweh- NOT just MAN'S achievements. If there is no root, no plant of any sort will live strong; at least, not for very long.
I love and miss you, (and am not trying to be disrespectful, so please forgive me if I am.)
KallyLyn
Interesting response you made in this blog entry and also from Kaily Lyn - I think you know where I stand in all this. May the blood that was shed by those before us not have been shed in vain. Listening to the National Anthem you sent was invigorating to raise up not only a patriotic spirit but my trust in God. He is watching and there is a God. II Chronicles 7:14
ReplyDeleteLove ya
Bob