Sep
16
2009
by: Heather Haskins
The lyrics of the patriotic hymn “My Country Tis of Thee” bring to mind all the wonderful virtues that Americans once admired and sought to develop in themselves and their children. The Pilgrims came here to raise their families in a land where the moral pollution and apostasy of Europe lay a wide ocean away. Our forefathers died on lonely battlefields so we could enjoy freedom to make the most of the gifts with which God endows each of us. Somehow, I doubt taxing some of us to pay for others to buy new cars would fit into their idea of America.
Sep
09
2009
by: Paul Schmutzler
Great privilege brings great responsibility. It also tends to produce laziness, complacency, and pride. Those who enjoy much privilege usually also believe very firmly in what they refer to as their “rights.” The funny thing about “rights” is that people’s opinions rarely agree on exactly what rights an individual has. They range from the almost universal right to life to the downright absurd right to eat Twinkies. Here in the United States, we have a Bill of Rights that Congress created in 1789 whice we've added to and modified over the last 200 years. Technically, only the first ten amendments are considered the official Bill of Rights. America has been a country of great privilege since its founding, and I hope we can all enjoy a good exercise in humility by reviewing some of the rights that we are entitled to as citizens of this great land.
Sep
02
2009
by: Jessica Boling
"America is no longer a Christian nation," said a keynote speaker at a conference I attended recently, as he elaborated on our country's moral bankruptcy.
"America is the best country in the world today," some people assert.
"We've got to get back to our Christian roots!" says another faction of the church.
"America oppresses the world and is full of self-absorbed people," still other Christians claim.
I've heard many opinions on the state of our country. I am amazed by how different they are. The range of opinions is wide, even among Christians. I listen to one person tell me about our nation's hopeless state of depravity, then turn around and hear someone else sing America's praises and insinuate that the U.S. is God's chosen country.