Patriotic scholars can argue that America was different
by design, that people from all over the world came here for freedom and
opportunity. Detractors can point out the hideous flaws of slavery, discrimination,
and the displacement and massacres of Native Americans, and claim America
is not worthy of acclaim. Who is correct? To me, it's simple. Sinful people
trying to do something better were blessed by God, not because of their
virtues, but because of grace.
There are different faces of grace. One face is forgiveness of sins. For the penitent who sincerely seeks forgiveness through the Blood of Christ according to scripture, this face of grace is God's kindness carved into unchanging marble. It is absolute. Every time you return, it will be the same. Another face of grace is freedom from consequences of wrong or unwise behavior: circumstantial grace. This face is as changeable and unpredictable as the clouds. One moment a cloud resembles a horse and then it reminds you of an old man in a hat. The thief crucified beside Jesus who asked to be remembered found forgiveness but not freedom from consequences. Barabbas, who was released instead of Jesus in honor of Passover, found freedom from the consequences of his wrong but, apparently, not forgiveness. Unpunished wrong is not virtue, it is a type of grace.
Perhaps the Founders found circumstantial grace for themselves and subsequent generations because they sought the grace bought with His Blood. Unless God reveals His reasons we will be, at best, making an educated guess. Circumstantial grace is beyond our wisdom. Why a devout follower of Christ in Africa would suffer starvation and a far less noble believer in America would suffer obesity from enjoying our plenty is not for our attempts at logic.
But what does seem clear is that we have claimed the Barabbas-grace as our birthright and denied the need for fundamental, ongoing forgiveness. The cloud is set in stone and the statue is ever re-sculpted by the winds of opinion. The expectation of unending circumstantial blessing is an air castle—we can live there only in our imagination.
It's been my contention that one can only be dis-illusioned if there are illusions. It is an illusion to believe that we have a God-given right to be prosperous and free from persecution. If that were not given to Jesus or His apostles, how can it be mine? Those blessings were given for a season, like youth. A facelift or a comb-over does not restore youth, but gives the illusion of it—at least from a distance. What we have believed to be forever has sagged or thinned. The extraordinary blessings of freedom of religion-even the encouragement to actively participate through tax deductions—seem to be fading. Pictures of Christ, the Ten Commandments and the Bible are being removed from schools. There are severe restrictions on prayer in public functions. Ridicule for attempts to live Biblically seem to be evolving into open hostility.
In this season, there is outrage at the baby steps towards persecution. (Ask a believer in the mid-east facing death daily if targeted tax audits are significant.) Some are politically active. Some stockpile food. Others post and re-post pictures and quotes. These are perhaps good things, but not the best. Consider these:
Pray
as if your life depends on it. It does.
Get
to know the Jesus who called the poor, blessed; who promised persecution
as a result of following Him, who embraced suffering without complaint.
Hope in the promises of God.
Love the people around you in practical ways, especially the “least of these.” Comfort them, give to them, visit them in their distress.
These are not air castles clouds blown away by the wind. Doing these things is seeking the unchanging face of grace. It is building on the rock. The events mentioned are only the rumble of thunder in the distance. Unless God stretches out His arm to calm the storm, it will come.
