Wake Up, Look Up

Hello, everyone. Thanks for listening to Wake Up, Look Up, a podcast where we connect events happening in real time to the gospel of Jesus Christ. I'm Zach Weihrauch and in today's episode, we're asking the question, is America dying? This is actually prompted by an interesting article I read recently in the Washington Post looking at historian Johan Norberg's take on the potential of an American decline. You know, America is coming up on its 250th birthday, and that's right about the window where some historic civilizations have faded out. And what Norberg is asking is, is America undergoing a similar kind of thing? You know, it's interesting, when you study the decline of civilizations, war is not the ultimate unraveler that you think it is. Typically, instead of war, it is a, uh, kind of loss, at least according to Norberg, a loss of openness, confidence, innovation. It's a kind of inward fighting that brings down people who were once rowing in the same direction towards some lofty goals. Now, that probably resonates with you. Of course, America will was not founded on ethnicity or nationality. It was founded on a set of ideas. And for a while, the country was full of people rowing in the same direction in pursuit of those ideas. But what Norberg argues, and this is interesting to me, is that America is moving from an Athenian mindset, which is one of curiosity, dialogue, discussion, debate, to a Spartan mindset, which is one of control. He talks about how both the far right and far left are growing tired of listening to anyone else's opinion. They seek power, they seek control, which means eventually they are in conflict with each other. And that conflict is usually what brings down civilizations. Now, listen, I have no idea where we stand on the life cycle of this country, I hope, because I live here and I like this country. We last for a long time. But it brings up an interesting theological conversation. And that is, how should we, as biblical Christians, think about the potential decline of our country? Well, let's just start here. You may not realize this, but the Bible actually has a lot to say about what brings down a, uh, civilization. In fact, usually I reference a Bible verse. Here. Let me reference a section of the Bible. There are 12 minor prophets in the Old Testament, and one of their dominant themes is what brings down a country. They talk about greed, they talk about infighting, unrighteousness, calling bad things good, calling good things bad. And if I'm honest, much of what the minor prophets are talking about exists in our country. Eventually, I think what the prophets are telling us is that Bill comes due. And that's actually my second point. Righteousness upholds a, uh, people. Proverbs 14:34 says that righteousness exalts a nation. You know, morality is kind of a forbidden topic in our country because, uh, we tend to think that each person can decide for themselves. But of course, the Bible tells us there is a God and he has a standard. And eventually his own desire for justice requires that when we fall below that standard, judgment must come. Morality does matter. Righteousness does, does matter. Not just in the sense of facing God's judgment, but unrighteousness does not lead to human flourishing. And that's, I guess, my third point. Judgment comes, it will come. But also so can healing. 2 Chronicles 7:14. God says, I will heal their land. He says that to a different group of people and to a different nation. But it holds here. God doesn't look at America and resign us to decline. He. His call is always to repentance. It is always to renewal, always towards healing. And of course, that's my fourth point. The church participates in that. Jesus Sundays in Matthew 5:14, the church is a city on a hill. We're meant to be a contrasting society where righteousness does matter, where repentance is displayed, where dialogue does happen. And if America is going to last for, for another 250 years, I believe it will be because the church plays a prominent role. After all, the church played a prominent role in the founding of this country. But let me end here in my fifth point. No matter how long America lasts, 25 years, 250 years, 2,500 years, Christ's kingdom is forever. In Hebrews 12:28, we're told it is a kingdom that cannot be shaken. And while historians wonder, will America make it? There is one kingdom. They will never have to ask about that. And if you're listening to this podcast, as a follower of Jesus, listen, feel concerned about your country, but know it is a temporary home. Your kingdom, it'll last forever in Jesus. Hey, thanks for watching this episode of Wake Up, Look Up. 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