As I was watching the news this morning I saw a report about a 19 year old kid who was arrested in Chicago on his way to join ISIS. This baffled me. Why would a person who has grown up in the United States, one of the most blessed countries in the world choose to go to the middle east to join an organization that is oppressing people. The reporter shared that he left a note for his parents saying that the western world is getting too materialistic. The direct quote is:
“We are all witness that the Western societies are getting more immoral day by day, I do not want my kids being exposed to filth like this.”
I agree wholeheartedly with his sentiment. The American culture is moving farther and farther away from what our forefathers intended; and I want to protect my children from the immorality as much as the next parent. Where I struggle is the need to join an oppressive organization to accomplish that goal.
I have wondered for a long time what the difference is between ISIS and the US Congress for a while now. ISIS says that they think they know best and if everyone was subject to sharia law then the world would be a better, more peaceful place. The US Congress says that they think they know best and if everyone would just let them make all the decisions for them; from education, to healthcare, to retirement funding, the world would be a better, more peaceful place.
Both “governments” feel that they know what is best for their citizens. Our place as citizens is to do one of two things: respect the laws of our land and live as peaceful citizens, or move on to a new place with similar ideals.
Romans 13:1-2 says:
1 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.
It isn’t my place to try to overthink what my government has decided. It is however my place to make the right decision for myself and my family. My government has access to information that I do not know, and most likely would not like to know if I did have access. While this might scare most people, it doesn’t bother me in the least.
Proverbs 19:21 says:
Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.
Things are going to come and go, but God’s purpose will always remain. It seems to me that people who are frustrated with the direction the country and western civilization are headed are forgetting two things; the governments we have are established by God and in the end His purpose will prevail.
We know that God has historically had to remove governments that had lost sight of His supremacy and leadership; and I hope sincerely this doesn’t happen to the United States. What I do know is that the Lord has always, and will always, love and protect His own. Those that He loves and are called according to His purpose.
As the world goes crazy, that is what I hold on to. God will always be in control and His purpose is all that matters.
An Ordinary Methodist 