A National Revival

Happy 246th Birthday, America.

I wanted to start this on a positive note, because those golden bonds of national unity seem to be hanging by the merest, frayed strands, at this point.

On July 4, 1776, the 13 American colonies declared their independence from England, with a bold notion for a free democracy. While there were misgivings and disagreements among those founding fathers, they all determined that these United States were a risk worth taking, and on August 2, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was signed.

On September 17, 1787, our Constitution was signed, and by December, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia and Connecticut had quickly moved to ratify it into the law of the land. Soon after, every state, except Rhode Island (Really, guys?) had followed suit.

One of those signers, Benjamin Franklin, seemed to have our number, even then.

"…when you assemble a number of men to have the advantage of their joint wisdom, you inevitably assemble with those men, all their prejudices, their passions, their errors of opinion, their local interests, and their selfish views."

A republic, if you can keep it.

So what was Franklin’s fear, and how have we seen his worst fears play out?

We are a nation made up of individuals, in a system of government that was meant to give weight to the individual, rather than the collective, in a hopeful attempt that somehow, someway, the strength of each individual would somehow coalesce into a strengthened and unified country.

It wasn’t just wishful thinking. Our system of government, imperfect, as any manmade system will be, has lifted us into one of the most powerful and influential nations in history.

Our freedoms have allowed for immigrants to become international success stories. Farm boys become world leaders. Women become innovators that break barriers in education, industry, space, and beyond.

We have much to be thankful for. We are blessed.

Does that mean we are a nation without trouble? That in a land of plenty, strife does not darken our door?

Quite the opposite.

Along the trail of  history, we see man’s inhumanity to man. We have not gone untouched by horrors that plague every other nation in the world. We have seen our laws work differently for some Americans. We have seen prejudice and hate take root.

We have seen what happens when cultures and ideologies that are in direct opposition to each other are given equal ground.

And what we are seeing today is the result of a spoiled and faithless generation, led to believe that only they matter. They believe hard work is a tool of oppression, just as surely as is civility and commonsense were meant to “hold them back.” Everybody gets a trophy, and diversity hires trump experience and qualifications, because, after all, you don’t want anyone to feel bad.

I’ve said all of that, in order to segue into this:

There are a growing number of “ME, ME, ME” advocates who have decided that they will not celebrate Independence Day, this year, because of the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

Frankly, how or if you celebrate the day doesn’t matter. In fact, some would say that by not celebrating, you’re still celebrating, after a fashion, because we’re free to express ourselves in whatever manner we choose, as long as it’s not disruptive or dangerous.

For me, I can say that I’ve always celebrated this day. I appreciate that we have something here that so many other nations have not been able to boast.

If the candidates I back in any given election win or not, the following July 4th, I celebrate.

In 2012, during the wretched, arrogant Obama administration, states took gay marriage to the people, allowing them to vote on its legality.

My own state, North Carolina, voted overwhelmingly, across party lines, in favor of enshrining into our state’s Constitution that marriage be defined as between one man and one woman. I was a poll worker at that time, working in one of the bluest, rural communities in the state. I saw how important the issue was to people voting in both parties.

When the nation didn’t jump on board with Obama’s plans, the issue was snatched from the hands of the states and put to his Supreme Court for decision. The will of the people became moot, in a twisted interpretation by a liberal SCOTUS.

And the following July 4th, I still celebrated.

The reason I celebrate, rather than puff out my jaws and clench my fists is because I’ve expanded beyond the emotional depth of a toddler.

I celebrate because I still recognize what this nation was founded upon, and what it could still be. A perceived loss in court, at the ballot box, or on the battlefield does not make me less American.

With Roe v. Wade, we see a perfect example of retarded emotional growth. Shrieking harridans on one side, screaming about “rights” that never were, as if they’ve lost anything.

Misguided right wingers who think abortion has been ended. It has not.

The states have been given more power, which means the more conservative states will have more stringent abortion laws, while the more liberal states will have looser, expanded abortion rights.

I dare say, we’ll see a revival of the horrific partial-birth abortion in places like California and New York, where life has far less value, unless it votes Democrat.

Regardless, not every state wants to be California or New York. SCOTUS fixed a 50-year mistake with the overturning of Roe.

Welcome to the American government.

Would this nation run more smoothly if we were all on the same page, rather than pulling and pushing against each other?

I dare say, while not perfectly, I’m sure it would run more smoothly. So how do we get there?

This is where the Democrats say, “DO EVERYTHING OUR WAY!”

This is where the Republicans say, “MAKE TRUMP KING!”

My personal thoughts are that we need personal and national repentance.

Now the atheists start peeling the skin off their faces and shrieking about theocracies, etc…

I don’t want a theocracy. Theocracies don’t work. Theocracies legislate morality from the top down, forcing people to follow.

What I want is revival.

Revival begins in the homes, on our knees, humbled before God. Revival begins in communities and bubbles upward and outward.

Our churches need revival, as far too many have allowed their pulpits to be polluted with politics, thinking our God needs the help of politicians.

We need men and women in places of power to openly call on God to heal our land.

We need a nation of broken and repentant individuals, looking to hold each other up, rather than beat each other back.

Do you want to see abortion, gay marriage, racism, crime, and every other issue resolved?

Pray.

We need a unity that no one apart from God can maintain forever.

We are hanging on to this republic by the skin of our teeth, at this point. It could be that one thing that too many are unwilling to try is what sets our feet on firmer ground.

Those complaining about where we are haven’t the moral vision to see that we are still a nation to be thankful for.

Today, as I celebrate – and celebrate, I will – I will also pray for our nation. I’ll pray for repentance. I’ll pray for revival. I’ll thank God that I was born in this nation, given these freedoms and liberties, the opportunity to call on Him for all things, and ultimately, I will trust His promise to those who believe in Him.