'A Republic. If You Can Keep It'

I'll never get used to email. It makes me dizzy. I don't like this whole idea of getting rid of paper. I don't have anything against getting rid of paper per se. I got rid of a whole lot of paper today. But this idea that we have to "go paperless," not so much. I don't know if it's because of the cohort of people who believe there will never be enough resources (e.g., trees) to meet the needs of all the people on our "overpopulated" planet, or whether it's because the people in charge of everything just want to be in charge of everything and create a "brave new world" of the 21st century or what, but it's really so oppressive. And they're going to get rid of pennies. And what is next? No more cash, of course, is obviously where they're headed. So, when all their goals are accomplished what will we have? Just a bunch of people typing on electronic devices in cubicles all over the world? No more jobs to go to, because everyone will be working at home, I suppose. So in the Great Reset proposed by the World Economic Forum, which will obliterate human rights and national sovereignty as the godless ideologues around the world plot to take over the world and everybody in it, we will all just live in isolation until we die? Is that the plan? Apparently. The events taking place in our world right now are very concerning on every front, and I believe that there are spiritual strongholds at the bottom of all of it. I believe we are seeing it more and more as we get closer to the end of the age, we will see it more and more and understand it better. Sometimes the power behind the destructive social and cultural trends and even crime and wars, is referred to as evil, but there are actually people who don't believe such a thing exists. I am not sure how they explain it, other than to label anything they disagree with as evil, but I think it's more than that. I think that whole swaths of people don't believe in anything that Christians believe about sin and about evil. They don't believe the Bible is something to take seriously, they don't believe in God and Jesus, and they don't believe in the devil, so talking about these things just makes them want to poo-poo the whole thing. Then they just say, "I don't believe that," and go on about their lives, feeling stressed and worried and angry and confused about what's happening and lashing out at people who have a worldview different from theirs. And that is what we're seeing with the political division that is currently coming to a head. They are giving it names that try to explain what it is, for example a "Constitutional Crisis." Yes, that is what we are experiencing right now. Americans have grown very ignorant about the founding documents of our great nation, and we really need to correct that. Both sides of the divide need to do that. I really think that if all Americans exerted some effort to inform themselves about the Constitution, it would help a lot. There are a lot of things going on in the government that have been going on since the founding of the United States, that most of us are not aware of. The first book I read that really began to open my eyes was a book called None Dare Call it Treason by John Stormer. If you haven't read it, I recommend it to get you started.  Then recently I started taking free online courses by Hillsdale College. I highly recommend them also. It is our duty as citizens of a representative republic to be informed. Otherwise, we will not have an America anymore. As Benjamin Franklin said, "A republic. If you can keep it." Those words really shake me up. I don't know about you. But we all need to be involved. We can't expect elections to solve everything, if we ever could. If elections were all that kept us going as a representative form of government, bureaucrats would not be able to stay in power as long as they do and overrule the will of the people the way they do. We all need to get our heads together and figure this thing out. Elections were intended to be the way to keep our republic a republic, but as evil gets involved and the citizens do not, we will not keep it. I am convinced of that. The founders knew people were sinful. That is why they worked so hard and risked so much to put together the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. And the battle is also spiritual. Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 10:3-6 these words: "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled." My Bible notes tell me the obedience Paul was referring to here means "the commitment of the Corinthians to Paul's cause in opposing the false apostles." Besides praying and pulling down strongholds, the people of God need to pray for the people in government. I confess I have been very lax about this, but Paul writes about it in 2 Timothy 2. In verses 18-20, he talks about church leadership, describing some who have "suffered shipwreck," and which we are seeing also in today's church. And then, he writes, "Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle--I am speaking the truth in Christ and not lying--a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth" (2 Timothy 2:1-7). So, there you have our instructions for this evil age. We are in this world with all kinds of people, and we first need to love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength and then to love our neighbor as ourselves. Simply put, that's what we are to do, and praying for everybody and praying for our government leaders is also what we are supposed to do. Let's pray for each other that we will all hear and do what God is calling us to do.