Crossroads: Seven Golden Arches to a National Restoration
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“Where there is no vision, the people perish.” (Proverbs 29:18)
“Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.” (Prov. 14:34)
“There was no king in Israel and everyone did was right in his own eyes.”
(Judges 21:25)
“When the righteous rule, the people rejoice. When the wicked rule, the people mourn.” Prov. 29:2)
“The government is downstream from the culture, from the church, and from “We the People” – all of which are downstream from God!” (Rakazzi)
“The Lord has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land because there is no truth nor knowledge of God in the land. They have forgotten their Maker.” (Hosea 4:2 and 8:14)
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From a Slough of Despond to a New Hope for America?
In recent years, and especially during the eight years of the Obama administration, we witnessed an accelerated departure from our God-given, Judeo-Christian heritage in favor of a secular state that rejects God as well as the constitutional principles on which America was founded.
As a part of that, we have too often been forced to bow down before a Supreme Court that includes members who appear to believe that they know better than God and His Word about what is Right and what is Wrong. As quoted above from Hosea, “They have forgotten their Maker.”
For example: God’s incredible design for Life was tragically distorted by the Court in Roe v. Wade in 1973 to legalize abortion, which was then aggressively promoted during the Obama administration.
In addition, God’s grand design for Marriage between only one man and one woman was perversely distorted by the Court in Obergefell v. Hodges in 2015 to legalize same-sex “marriages”. This also was aggressively promoted during the Obama administration.
We have also seen the growth of Big Government as our new Provider “from whom all blessings flow” and to which we are beholden for all of our rights – in place of our Creator.
As a result, we have mortgaged the future of our children to a national debt that is now nearly $22 trillion – over $66,000 per citizen — so we can live in the styles to which we have become accustomed.
Taken together, it reflects a growing trend in America toward what the people of Israel experienced when “There was no king in Israel and everyone did what was right in his own eyes”, also quoted above from the book of Judges.
Against that background, and like the writer of Proverbs says above, we have been in an extended period of mourning. Therefore, it is tempting for us to slide, like John Bunyan’s Christian, into a Slough of Despair and Despond.
We cannot let that happen, but what can we do? Where is our hope for the future?
The Golden Arches: A New Vision for America
That is our challenge, and our original Crossroads radio team will again this weekend affirm our vision for America aimed at reversing the trends described above.
This vision carries us through Seven Golden Arches, beginning with Remembrance and then on to our final destination — a National Restoration and a Golden Gate of Rejoicing.
Although we have seen a dramatic reversal of many of these tragic policies under President Trump in ways that give us fresh hope, one thing remains very, very clear. We cannot have political Reform unless and until we have a new spiritual awakening and Revival in America.
It won’t be easy but, with willing hands, obedient hearts, and the help of Almighty God, it can be done, as described below with periodic references to Scripture for background.
Arch No. 1 — Remembrance: We must know where we came from in order to know who we are and where we are going. We have a rich Judeo-Christian heritage in America going back to the Pilgrims and the Puritans. Therefore, like the children of Israel in the Old Testament, we must keep that flame of faith and freedom alive. (Deut. 8 and Ps. 105)
Arch No. 2 — Repentance: As Israel did so often (Ps. 106), we too have disobeyed God in many ways. So, like them, we too must humble ourselves, pray, seek His face, and turn from our wicked ways. Only then will God hear our prayers, forgive our sins, and heal our land. (II Chron. 7:14)
Arch No. 3 — Revival: Just as the two Great Awakenings in the 18th and 19th centuries were spiritual events that stirred Americans to throw off the chains of British tyranny and the shackles of slavery, so we too must have a spiritual revival and a Third Great Awakening that returns us to our Godly heritage.
Arch No. 4 — Righteousness: The Bible contains 515 references to “righteous” or “righteousness”, including those cited above from Proverbs. That means a complete transformation of our spiritual, moral, and political culture in surrender to God as we work for a rebirth of Righteousness in America.
Arch No. 5 – Resist and Rebuke: With hearts revived and on fire with righteousness, a confrontation with evil is inevitable. Just as the prophets of old resisted evil kings, and as our Founding Fathers stood up against tyranny, so we too must now stand up and speak out against evil in our culture. (Phil. 2:15)
Arch No. 6 — Reform and Rebuild: Like Nehemiah as he worked to repair the broken-down walls of Jerusalem, so we too must now work to restore America to its Biblical foundations as “One Nation under God” and promote our values of Life, Faith, Family, and Freedom in our culture. (Neh. 1-13)
Arch No. 7 — Restoration: As George Washington emphasized in his Farewell Address, religion and morality are indispensable supports for our political prosperity. On those two great pillars, we can again reclaim and restore our early settlers’ vision of America as a shining “City on a Hill”. (Mt. 5:14)
At No. 8 — The Golden Gate: Rejoice! Once we have passed through these seven Golden Arches, we can praise God for all He has done, reflecting the words on top of the Washington Monument: “Laus Deo”! And then, like the people of Israel after they had rebuilt the broken-down walls of Jerusalem, we too can then celebrate with a joy that can be heard around the world! (Neh. 12:43)
Crossroads: Where Faith and Culture Meet
To that end, please join our original Crossroads team of Rita Dunaway, John Sloop, and me again this weekend on one of the following Valley radio stations: WBTX (1470 AM and 102.1 FM) on Saturday at 4:00 p.m. and again on Sunday at 7:30 a.m., followed by WSVA (550 AM and 92.1 FM) at 8:30, ESPN (1360 AM and 106.9 FM) at 9:00, and on WNLR (1150) at 11:30.
Crossroads is entirely listener supported, and we are so grateful for your prayers, your encouragement, and your generous financial support. If you would like to help, please send your check to Crossroads at PO Box 881, Harrisonburg, 22803. All donations are tax-deductible.
For God and Country,
Dean