Commit to the LORD whatever you do and your plans will succeed.

Proverbs 16:3, NIV

I have to admit as I get older that I get less certain about the details of just how to go about some things, but at the same time I become more certain about the truth. That's probably about as clear as mud, so I will try to explain. I am convinced that the direction of our country is wrong. Of this I have no question, for I read the Bible and we are doing just about the opposite of everything it commands. But, come down to the specifics as what we should do about it, and I have a whole lot of questions.

Maybe a concrete example will help a little more. About thirty years ago, I came across a radio show hosted by Rush Limbaugh. He was brash and arrogant and often so blunt that it made me uncomfortable. After all, I am a preacher and have always understood the need for preaching the truth in love... or so I thought. But the more I listened to Rush, the more I realized that I agreed with just about everything he said. The way in which he said things still made me uncomfortable, but I knew in my heart that he was very right about the reckless direction of our nation, and I also knew that something really, really needed to be done. I believe that he was secretly admired by the silent majority of America, but many were afraid to associate themselves with his ideas.

What I have observed through the years is that many who have been labeled, "The Silent Majority", are made up of a lot of timid people. The reason that they are in the majority is because they have a brain and can use it. But the reason that they are silent is not as flattering: It is because we are all too often non-motivated and hesitant. A less kind way to put that is that we are lazy and afraid.

So, what is the solution? Do we just allow the nation that we love continue its slide toward Gomorrah? I think nearly everyone would agree that this is a foolish path. So do we then become rude and forceful and meet our opponents with insults and an occasional punch in the nose? This, too, seems to be not quite the right direction. Then do we just hunker down and protect what is our own? A lot of people will opt for this route, but it is a lonely path with few saved but the selfish, and then what kind of a world will they leave behind?

I think there is an alternate path, and maybe you will agree. I think we need to stop being cowards and start speaking up, but I believe that we can do so without a slap in the face for everyone who disagrees with us. This will require both conviction and tact and it will not be easily attained. However, I believe that it is not only possible, but I also believe that it is required by God that we do not just something, but the right thing. Too many people recognize the problems of life but they become so bogged down in the process to correct them that they end up doing nothing. On the other hand, their are some who will compromise both truth and principle to accomplish what they think needs to be done.

And we end up with what we have: A society that is divided between those who are so certain that they are right that they keep their righteousness jealously guarded and strictly to themselves on the one side, and a society that feels that every act no matter how despicable and compromised is justified on the other side. What we need are people who are determined to do the right thing who also love God and their neighbors to the extent that they will also do these right things in the right ways.

And the only way that will occur is if we first seek the counsel of God to know what to do and how to do it, and then pray for His help in doing what needs to be done. The fact is that this nation is, if you will pardon the phrase, sinking into the sewer and we need to do something about it. It will require a combination of determination to speak up and the tact with which to do it. It will also require courage to go along with our convictions and an understanding that we cannot be lazy anymore, but will instead have to put in the hard work necessary to achieve any worthwhile task.

And we will have to commit whatever we do to the LORD, knowing that if we are doing the right thing that our plans will succeed. It's a tall task indeed, but I believe the people of God are up for it. What do you believe?