If you turn on Fox News you will hear about the political and social sky falling in our nation right now. Maybe it is. Maybe it isn't. I honestly don't know enough about politics to have any sort of educated comment on matters of health care, the Constitution, or political process. But what I do know is this. Even with serious problems in our government, I am very thankful to live in the United States.
Yesterday I went to lunch with a buddy of mine who grew up in South Africa. Basically the infrastructure of that country (like many other African nations) is seemingly broken beyond repair. The whole system is corrupt and is more dysfunctional than any American could ever imagine. My friend's parents still live there but have told him to never consider moving back since there is nothing there for him anymore. My friend wants to work as hard as he can so that hopefully someday he can afford to move is parents away from South Africa. We are surely blessed to live in this country.
I don't believe that this dose of perspective should lead me to keep quiet about structures of evil in our country but we should keep in mind that we can be both thankful and resistant. It's not an either/or. I know that having a spirit of thankfulness will temper my resistance and perhaps infuse it with a winsome spirit that could be attractive to an on-looking culture. Most people already think that Christians are angry, homosexual hating, and arrogant. We need to push back against this assumption with gentleness, humility, and love.
So speak and vote against Health Care if you believe it is harmful to our society (I'll always speak out against abortion) but just keep in mind you don't live in South Africa, Iraq, or North Korea. We have much to be thankful for and let that spirit temper your speaking.
8 comments:
Yes, there is plenty for which to be thankful.
Yet, the rest of the world should be thankful that there is a United States of America Even with its many flaws it is the engine of innovation and progress. When we cease to be what we were designed to be the whole world will be poorer.
That is why we should stand against evil in any form.
I live in South Africa ... and I used to think that your posts were theologically sound and factual!
Neil,
I would love to hear more about your perspective.
South Africa faces numerous challenges - none of which are beyond the power of the gospel. I hope never to be accused of pursuing a life of ease and pleasure when I daily have the opportunity to live out Micah 6:8, Titus 2:14, James (the whole book)esp 2:5, Matt 28:18-20, Mark 8:34-36 - in very practical ways.
I want my children to grow up to be robust believers who don't run at the first sign of opposition, but commit their way to Him who able to sustain them.
Psalm 37 provides much counsel and hope.
God is sovereign - I'm prepared to let Him have His way. I have NO doubt that He is at work in our land and I really want to be a part of it.
I hope you didn't infer from my piece that I would disagree with anything you wrote above.
I don't want to infer that at all and apologies if that's the impression I gave.
I do take objection to the comment :"seemingly broken beyond repair. The whole system is corrupt and is more dysfunctional than any American could ever imagine." That is a very broad generalisation, unfortunately very common amongst pessimistic short sighted, "Your God is too small" types.
I thank God every day for my country. I pray for our leaders and for an awakening among all our people. Rather than griping about the perceived difficulties, I am committed to seeing the gospel triumph and am willing to play my part.
I thank God that I don't live in America!
The problem is, recognizing these facts as true, this bill moves us closer to the South Africa you speak of, not further away from it.
That's why it is just, moral and right to speak against this travesty.
As Thomas Jefferson said:
"""To take from one, because it is thought that his own industry and that of his father's has acquired too much, in order to spare to others, who, or whose fathers have not exercised equal industry and skill, is to violate arbitrarily the first principle of association -- the guarantee to every one of a free exercise of his industry, and the fruits acquired by it."
THANK. YOU. This is how my heart has been feeling all week, amidst the "sky is falling" rhetoric. My son died in Ethiopia over diarrhea. DIARRHEA. We are blessed beyond measure.
Post a Comment