Fake Culture Wars and True Prosperity

I did not watch any of the Republican National Convention, but I did make note of news reports and commentary. I thought a few comments from a speech as recorded in a July 22, 2016 staff article at CNSNews.com were significant enough to note them in this week’s Sabbath Thought.

In that article, it was noted by Peter Thiel, co-founder of PayPal that “fake culture wars only distract us from our economic decline.”

“When I was a kid the great debate was about how to defeat the Soviet Union and we won. Now we are told that the great debate is about who gets to use which bathroom,” said Thiel. “This is a distraction from our real problems. Who cares? Of course, every American has a unique identity. I am proud to be gay. I am proud to be a Republican. But most of all, I am proud to be an American.

“I don’t pretend to agree with every plank in our party’s platform,” he said, “but fake culture wars only distract us from our economic decline, and nobody in this race is being honest about it except Donald Trump.”

The supposed “fake culture war” involves the decades long battle over abortion, the elimination of the Bible and prayer from our schools, the battle over public school curricula that is growing ever more perverse, and the ongoing abandonment of values that have been fundamental to America’s Judeo-Christian ethic.

In essence, Peter Thiel assesses that the battle over traditional values is a waste of time and all that matters is the economy. Our economic decline, in his opinion, has nothing to do with morality.

The theme “It’s the economy stupid!” was fundamental to the Bill Clinton presidential era. For the people of that time, the morality standards of the leader of the country were irrelevant as long as he got the job done. People saw that the nation prospered during the time of his presidency and concluded that good governance did not hinge on morality.

We are quite a few years down the road from the Clinton era and the Republicans have come to the same conclusion, “It’s the economy stupid!” The problem with this conclusion is that it is completely wrong.

Morality and prosperity go hand in hand.

We only have to look at Leviticus 26 to understand how a nation prospers. We are told in Leviticus 26:3-13, 'If you walk in My statutes and keep My commandments, and perform them, then:

• We will have rain at the right time
• Bountiful harvests and plenty to eat
• Peace in the land and none will make you afraid
• You will overcome your enemies
• Abundant livestock
• And many children

Additionally, Leviticus 26 tells us what happens to a nation that becomes immoral. We are told in Leviticus 26:14-16, “'But if you do not obey Me, and do not observe all these commandments, and if you despise My statutes, or if your soul abhors My judgments, so that you do not perform all My commandments, but break My covenant, I also will do this to you.” Moses then recorded a long list of terrible outcomes that follow the abandonment of morality. None of the outcomes support the notion that it is meaningless to fight a cultural war for right values.

The sad reality is that both the Republican and Democratic conventions display the complete abandonment of the Christian ethic. Our leaders are blind to what truly matters. In their mind all that matters is economics—jobs and prosperity. Without morality long-term prosperity is a pipedream.

Thankfully, God has opened our minds to see that if we want to truly prosper, we must apply the principles found in the Bible. Will we be rich as a result? Probably not. But we can be sure that we will be blessed in this life, in what truly matters, and in the end we will be part of God’s family forever.

Have a happy Sabbath,

Gary Smith

What Will America Be Like When God Stops Blessing America?

In the Sabbath Thought for this week, I thought I would reflect on the contrast between growing up in the America of the 1950’s and 1960’s and the America of 2016. It’s quite a black and white disparity.

In elementary school, we regularly said the Pledge of Allegiance, and sang “My Country Tis of Thee”. We also learned other patriotic songs such as “The Star Spangled Banner”, “America the Beautiful”, and “God Bless America”. Unbelievably in that era virtually no one objected.

It is heartening in our modern age to go to a ball game or other sporting event, and have them begin the event by playing “The Star Spangled Banner”. It is even more moving to have the crowd join in. It still happens at least at baseball games.

I will always remember the 2001 World Series after the destruction at the World Trade Center. It was a unique baseball playoff because there was an added element of patriotism and recollection of God. We were Americans, proud of it, and thankful to God for His many blessings.

I always remember the Star Spangled Banner being played before a baseball game commenced. At the seventh inning stretch, it was common to sing, “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” but I don’t remember them singing “God Bless America.” But they certainly did during the 2001 Series. It had a special significance that year.

Additionally, during that Series, Ray Charles performed his rendition of “America the Beautiful.” He had originally recorded the song in 1972 in the midst of the turmoil over the Viet Nam War. When he sang that patriotic song at Yankee Stadium in October 2001, it was a perfect choice that fit with the pain and sadness stemming the loss of so many lives.

Patriotism and thanks to God were common in the 1950’s and 1960’s and those values were briefly rekindled in 2001. But there seems to be a different spirit today.

Consider an article by columnists, L. Brent Bozell III and Tim Graham entitled, “Now Controversial: ‘God Bless America.” They write, “The folks at the New York Daily News have embraced a mission to become the most provocative jerks in the Big Apple. One day it's personal attacks on those praying for the victims of terrorism, the next it's declaring the National Rifle Association to be murderous. In keeping with this stream of insulting behaviors, columnist Gersh Kuntzman has issued a demand, saying, "Major League Baseball must permanently retire 'God Bless America,' a song that offends everyone."

They note that the columnist Kuntzman went on to say, “It's time for God to stop blessing America during the seventh-inning stretch. Welcome to the July 4 weekend — when once again, baseball fans will be assaulted by the saccharine-sweet non-anthem 'God Bless America' at stadia all over this great land." The song, he says, "should be sent permanently to the bench."”

In 1939, Irving Belin wrote “God Bless America.” 1939 was a time when the dark clouds of world war were on the horizon. Maybe he recognized the need for God’s blessing on America.

He wrote:

"While the storm clouds gather far across the sea,
Let us swear allegiance to a land that's free,
Let us all be grateful for a land so fair,
As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer. "

God Bless America,
Land that I love.
Stand beside her, and guide her
Thru the night with a light from above.
From the mountains, to the prairies,
To the oceans, white with foam
God bless America, My home sweet home.

A question arises in light of this attitude toward God blessing America, “What will America be like when God stops blessing our nation?”

A more important consideration in light of the sad events unfolding in our country, “Has God already withdrawn His blessings from our country?”

As this Sabbath approaches, you might consider the need for God’s blessing on our country. Hopefully, it’s not too late and God will once again bless America.

Gary Smith