Solomon wrote, “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:34). The people of a nation have the choice to either pursue a biblical world-view, or a secular one. A biblical world-view is one in which people are conscious of God’s existence, and they believe that their own behavior is being constantly judged and evaluated by that omniscient God. Such people will be safe to be around. They live by the first and second great commandments of the law (love God and love your neighbor – Matthew 22:37-40), and by the golden rule (do to others as you would have them do to you – Matthew 7:12). They are supportive of others, and they wish no one any harm. They are productive in society, being trustworthy, honest, supportive and dependable. They are the kind of people that you can trust with your property and around your children and family members.
Secularists, on the other hand, are driven by the operating principle that man is his own moral authority. They see man as being capable of establishing his own standard of ethics and morality. Many secularists are atheists, who deny the very existence of God and of any God-given moral standard. They claim that “right” and “wrong” are determined by the people in a given society. As history demonstrates, this has always had disastrous consequences, for people tend to enact laws that serve their own self interests and subjugate the less fortunate. A secularistic society is a “me-first” society. Thought for others, and commitment to others is replaced with self-promotion and self-preservation. It is driven by greed. History proves that a nation’s days are numbered once it starts down this godless path.
The United States is already on this slippery slope. Our courts and government are increasingly adopting a secularistic approach to important issues. References to God and the Bible have been banned from schools and other public places and institutions. Many people are being fooled by a faulty interpretation of the “separation clause” (separation of church and state). They use the clause to separate the influence of the Scriptures from the operations of the state. The First Amendment “separation” clause was actually intended to prevent the government from mandating a certain religion and banning all others. It was intended to protect the free exercise of religion, not to infringe upon it.
Sadly, many nations lose their way, never to rise again. However, it is possible for a nation’s course to be changed. It can regain its exalted status. Free people can speak out against lawless and godless policies. They can work with one another to effect change. We can do as the apostle Paul, and teach others the limited and God-ordained function of human government (Romans 13:1-4). We can speak to government officials about government wrongs and abuses. We can correct government officials who misrepresent us (as Paul did with the chief captain in Acts 21:37-40, and as he did with Festus in 24:24-26). We can even peacefully protest against wrongs that they have committed against their citizens (as Paul did at Philippi, Acts 16:37). Of course, we can also vote! A vote is a peaceful way of expressing one’s desires for the direction of his leaders and his nation. In most cases, neither candidate is perfectly aligned with God’s holy standard, but it is often the case that one party or candidate is closer than the other. In such cases, one’s vote might be more of a vote against the greater evil than for the lessor one. Helping change the course of a nation requires patience, commitment and prayer (1 Timothy 2:1-2).
—Tim Haile