By Dr. Douglas F. Levesque, Founder of The Levesque Institute
Every soldier and public servant covenants by solemn oath to defend the Constitution of the United States from all enemies, “foreign and domestic.” We sing, “land of the free and the home of the brave”, thousands of times a day across this country. We pledge allegiance, “to the republic”, in countless venues, and a myriad of times in our life. Are such commitments poppycock? Is our rhetoric without understanding or truth? I have personally preached a score of sermons related to the commitment of good citizenship and the uniqueness of our heritage, charging good Christians to be good Americans. I have weighed the times and the seasons, the costs and the ramifications. It is time to stand up and be counted for right, and align clearly against wrong in our National life.
Wrong War
The examples in Scripture are there for our wisdom. Consider Judges chapter twelve.
Jephthah and the Gileadites had no difficulty of conscience in fighting against the Ammonites and Amorites when invaded. The decision to war against such enemies was clear cut, and to fight a defensive war, dependent upon Almighty God was just, even right. But when confronted by their own countrymen, the Ephraimites, a plea and dialogue was put forth by Jepthah as to his rightness, but to no avail. Ultimately, the men of Gilead responded to the threats of Ephraim in order to keep themselves from enslavement by their own kin. A battle ensued. The tragic deaths of war bloodied the Jordan river. Jephthah emerges victorious. We do not want to rally against our own country men, but their incessant threats of enslavement are becoming real chains and rapidly.
Brother Against Brother
With the death of national sovereignty will no doubt come an attack upon personal liberties. Bible preachers will become “hate mongers”, Christian educators will be labeled “child abusers”, and Christians will be pushed into a deepening silence. What will we do about it? What can we do? I return to the Biblical account for help.
Ephraim, by pride and jealousy, initiated a war of enslavement and conquest. It was the wrong war to fight. They should have joined Jephthah against Ammon, but missed out for unknown reasons. Why did Gilead seem like more of a threat to Ephraim than the Ammonites? And so it is in America today. Liberals count Bible advocates as a greater threat than Taliban terrorists, and conservatives do nothing to stop the bashing because their eye is upon the waxing and waning of their ever precious stock reports. Christians are fighting moral corruption but will not be joined by Democrats or Republicans. Instead, both parties struggle to free themselves of the “fundamentalist” Christians in their ranks like a leper seeks to be free of his spots. Do we have a principled or historical leg to stand on? Who are the real keepers of the Constitution?
A Dark Decision
The men of Gilead were forced to fight, and some day so might we. Let us refrain from foolish bravado or untaunted saber rattling. However, let us pledge the flag and the republic with truth. Let us sing about our land bravely. Quote the Constitution, herald the Declaration. Repent of wrong. Commit to right. Humbly pray and seek God’s face and miraculous reform, but . . .prepare for the dark decision that faces every Bible believer. What will you do when your child’s education is no longer your choice, or Biblical truth is considered criminal, or faithful churches are litigated against for “treason” when all thy really do is declare the Scriptures, and hold to the founding fathers own sentiments? The fight is being brought to us. May God help us and the dark decisions we face as he aided Jephthah and the men of Gilead.
