Does morality matter? What are the long-term consequences to a people and a nation when its moral foundation crumbles?
by David Treybig
As the United States begins gearing
up for another presidential election, its citizens turn their attention
to the examination of individual and national values that are part
of the process. Each candidate strives to capture a majority of the
electorate's attention through his or her assessment of current conditions
and thoughts about how to improve our country.
History teaches us that this political
process is sure to generate a lot of ideas-many of them in direct conflict
with each other.
But just what is the significance
of thinking and trends in the United States and its leadership? As
the leader of the free world, what happens in the United States inevitably
affects the rest of the world to some degree. Its thinking, trends
and culture seem to invariably filter down to other countries around
the globe.
So where is the United States headed
and how can we measure its progress? Though most people are accustomed
to measuring nations by their financial conditions (gross national
product, imports, exports, taxes, cost of living indices, inflation,
interest rates) and sociological conditions (human rights, personal
freedoms, democratic structure, respect for minorities), the Bible
reveals another broader and more accurate indicator of the condition
of a nation and its people.
Some 3,500 years ago, in working
with ancient Israel, God revealed an important principle that identifies
true international leadership. To these people, described as examples
for us (1 Corinthians 10:1-11), God said: "Now it shall come to pass,
if you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully
all His commandments which I command you today, that the LORD your
God will set you high above all nations of the earth. And the LORD
will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and
not be beneath, if you heed the commandments of the LORD your God,
which I command you today, and are careful to observe them" (Deuteronomy 28:1,13).
