No Lasting City

I just moved to Maryville, Tennesee in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. Just around the corner is a used book store and coffee shop. Having lived in San Francisco, Denver, and Ann Arbor a place like this is familiar territory.

While enjoying a great cup of coffee yesterday I had to tolerate jubilant gushing over the "new attitude" sweeping the country being attributed to the new President. It's as if all the hopes and dreams of the sixties have become incarnate in the new Messiah, I mean, President.

I think that the kindness and goodness was always there. Look at the recent catastrophes and how people came out to assist total strangers. What I think has happened is that the usually pessimistic and fault-finding left is finally able to see the positive in society. They are finding that it's not all doom and gloom. If anything, at least the hallucinogenic kool-aid they're drinking has altered their perception in that respect.

Hopefully the euphoria will result in a loss of the victim mentality that plagues segments of our American society. The staunch pro-death position of our President does concern me. His socialist ideas seem compassionate, but I know that socialism never works and results in a dependent nanny-state.

Christian hospitals will close down rather than be forced to perform abortions if policies like the "Freedom of Choice Act" go through. It bugs me that my tax dollars once again fund abortions in the Third world whether I like it or not.

But I am comforted by this fact: "For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city which is to come." (Hebrews 13:14) A man made Theocracy is just as bad as a Socialist Utopia. I'm just as weary of the fundamentalist culture warriors as I am the kum-bah-yah kool-aid drinkers.

So what am I to do during my brief journey through this world? "Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God." (Hebrews 13:16) And as Jesus said, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 5:16)

Regardless of the political climate and the current regime, I still must do what I can to help my neighbor. My identity as a follower of Christ and my responsibility to be His hands and feet does not change. Even during times of persecution Christians throughout history continued their acts of kindness and love.

Government will not solve all our problems. Sorry to burst your bubble America. But in this world I know there will always be problems, but the true Messiah will guide me safely through them.