“No people can be great, who have ceased to be virtuous.” Samuel Johnson (1709 – 1784)
This week I am witnessing first hand the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio. As I’ve been observing the happenings within the Quicken Arena, the one theme that continues to pop up again and again, is Make America Great Again. Of course, that being the Trump campaign motto, it should come as no surprise. From t-shirts to ball caps, street vendors to banners, the motto is everywhere I look, here in Cleveland.
The brilliantly conceived message is one that plays well with disillusioned and disgusted voters, who have experienced the last seven years of an Obama Presidency and grown increasingly skeptical and angry with Washington DC. But to add to that anger, Republican voters have had to endure a party establishment who cares more about power and reelections than they do about upholding the Constitution, and fighting back against Obama’s all out assault on our freedoms, national security and economic revitalization. So Trump stepped into a perfect storm and has been a master at tapping into the base emotions of voters, with a message that sells to the disgruntled masses.
While the overriding theme of the Convention this week is Make America Great Again, the Trump campaign has played brilliantly off that theme to devise a relevant emphasis each day as follows:
Monday: Make America Safe Again
Tuesday: Make America Work Again
Wednesday: Make America First Again
Thursday: Make America One Again
I wouldn’t deny that these are all worthy topics and aspirations, but as I’ve considered Trump’s Make America Great Again theme, I believe the New York billionaire is attempting to place the cart before the horse. It’s as if Trump’s seeking to build one of his skyscrapers before digging the foundation. Sadly, many of the American people have eagerly embraced Donald’s message, believing they can simply don a baseball cap, elect a businessman, and the nation’s course will be reversed, with Great days ahead, absent any personal sacrifice or change.
In order for a business to achieve greatness, it requires a superior product or service, with a comprehensive approach and attention to the way it treats its employees, suppliers, investors and even its community. Similarly, a person will only be truly great, if that person possesses the inner qualities that lead to greatness: humility, service, wisdom, courage, forgiveness, trustworthiness, and more. In years gone by, the word that was often used to describe these qualities was virtue: “behavior showing high moral standards.”
So can a nation be Great, as in “superior in character or quality” without being Good or virtuous? Clearly Trump’s message suggests, by the use of the word “Again,” that America is no longer Great. And if that is accurate, which I believe it is, then what was it that led to America’s greatness in the past? Was it merely the desire or goal of being great, by those before us, that led to America becoming great? Or was it based on some other qualities our forefathers and grandfathers possessed, that led to our nation becoming the greatest nation this world has ever known?
I would suggest that to be great, America cannot simply seek to be great, anymore than wishing to be a great company can cause a business to excel. Greatness results from small, daily routines when others are not watching that flow from conscious decisions that ultimately develop into one’s character. Greatness is not the end goal but rather it is a by-product of other disciplines.
If America is to become great again, it will not be as a result of a mere focus on greatness but it will rather flow from a commitment to the individual attributes that lead to greatness. Those attributes must be developed in our lives, and consciously taught and passed on to the lives of our children. There is a famous quote that we have all heard before: “Sow a thought, reap an action; sow an action, reap a habit; sow a habit, reap a character; sow a character, reap a destiny.”
Sadly, the current destiny of our nation has resulted from the thoughts, actions, habits and character that we have developed individually and collectively as a people. Our fall from greatness will not be restored with mere political victories and cheap cliches that induce warm and fuzzy emotions. Rather, it will require each of us to take serious inventory of our own character to determine how and where we have contributed to the current course of our nation. And as we identify our own flaws and weaknesses, we must then be willing to make the hard changes in our own lives and thus begin the more difficult but absolutely crucial changes to right the course of our nation. Only when we do so can we #MakeAmericaGoodAgain.
“Bad men cannot make good citizens. It is when a people forget God that tyrants forge their chains. A vitiated state of morals, a corrupted public conscience, is incompatible with freedom. No free government, or the blessings of liberty, can be preserved to any people but by a firm adherence to justice, moderation, temperance, frugality, and virtue; and by a frequent recurrence to fundamental principles.” Patrick Henry
Bad men cannot make good citizens. Patrick Henry spoke the truth! However, as we know from Scripture, “there are none good.”
I ask, “Can God change men? Can God change men’s hearts?” YES! YES! Pray for Donald Trump! We must now allow Hillary Clinton to win!
Praying for your safety.
In Christ,
Ben
We all make mistakes. MY comment had a mistake. We must NOT allow Hillary to Clinton to win!
Hello Mark,
Your obediance to The Lord encourages me.. I also understand the emotions of the masses to want change. Well, change is on its way. But it want be through Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton or any other candidate. Let me try to explain, but Im not the writer or orator that you and others are…. God ordained America but America has never lived up to the God ordained Pledge of Allegiance, much less Gods ordained Word. Its ben 240 years now since America became a Nation and we still havent been undivided and had liberty and justice for all. Even our religious freedom is off track. American law allows its citizens to worship what ever god or religion they choose. But The Lord says “Thou shalt have NO other gods before Me”….”Thou shalt serve The Lord your God and Him only shall you serve”… America has always trusted… God and…., there is no God and….its just God!!! Right now America is saying “God bless our ungodly choice”. Thats the same attitude Israel had when The Lord said to Samuel “go and anoint Saul, for the people have rejected Me as their King”. The Lord also says dont be unequally yoked together with an unbeliever!!! But America just shakes its little dust fist in the Face of God and says “we want “Saul” to rule over us.
America is on a path of change but its not going to be the change that Trump, Hillary or the people that vote them into office have in mind. Eden, Israel and America are the only Nations in the history of the world that God put His Name on and all three will be restored to the place where God is King and all the inhabitants will know it. Then, God will set up His Kingdom throughout the whole Earth.
God is now in the process of raising up a Church that will usher in His presence… A body of believers that will deny self, take up the Cross and follow Him…”For this Gospel will be preached throughout the whole world AS A WITNESS,.then shall the end come. The word “witness” here means an “eye witness”…or to be ” beheld as a witness”. All power of Heaven and Earth has been given to the Saints; the Church to accomplish this and believe me The Lord will see to it that its accomplish as the Scriptures have foretold. Trials and tribulations have been the catalyst to spread the Gospel which is the Lordship of Jesus Christ more than anything. And this is something in comparison to other countries that America as a whole knows nothing about…yet. But always remember…His love is greater than His anger. For He will deal with us as Sons and Daughters of The Most High…Praise The Lord!!!
So continue my brother in the ministry that The Lord has ordained for you. For one day, when this vapor of life is over, you will see that you fought the good fight and run the race set before you and therefore gained an eternal reward.
In His service,
Joe
Hello Mark,
Your obedience to The Lord encourages me.. I also understand the emotions of the masses to want change. Well, change is on its way. But it want be through Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton or any other candidate. Let me try to explain, but Im not the writer or orator that you and others are…. God ordained America but America has never lived up to the God ordained Pledge of Allegiance, much less Gods ordained Word. Its ben 240 years now since America became a Nation and we still havent been undivided and had liberty and justice for all. Even our religious freedom is off track. American law allows its citizens to worship what ever god or religion they choose. But The Lord says “Thou shalt have NO other gods before Me”….”Thou shalt serve The Lord your God and Him only shall you serve”… America has always trusted… God and…., there is no God and….its just God!!! Right now America is saying “God bless our ungodly choice”. Thats the same attitude Israel had when The Lord said to Samuel “go and anoint Saul, for the people have rejected Me as their King”. The Lord also says dont be unequally yoked together with an unbeliever!!! But America just shakes its little dust fist in the Face of God and says “we want “Saul” to rule over us.
America is on a path of change but its not going to be the change that Trump, Hillary or the people that vote them into office have in mind. Eden, Israel and America are the only Nations in the history of the world that God put His Name on and all three will be restored to the place where God is King and all the inhabitants will know it. Then, God will set up His Kingdom throughout the whole Earth.
God is now in the process of raising up a Church that will usher in His presence… A body of believers that will deny self, take up the Cross and follow Him…”For this Gospel will be preached throughout the whole world AS A WITNESS,.then shall the end come. The word “witness” here means an “eye witness”…or to be ” beheld as a witness”. All power of Heaven and Earth has been given to the Saints; the Church to accomplish this and believe me The Lord will see to it that its accomplish as the Scriptures have foretold. Trials and tribulations have been the catalyst to spread the Gospel which is the Lordship of Jesus Christ more than anything. And this is something in comparison to other countries that America as a whole knows nothing about…yet. But always remember…His love is greater than His anger. For He will deal with us as Sons and Daughters of The Most High…Praise The Lord!!!
So continue my brother in the ministry that The Lord has ordained for you. For one day, when this vapor of life is over, you will see that you fought the good fight and run the race set before you and therefore gained an eternal reward.
In His service,
Joe
Sorry, I tried to correct the spelling of “obedience” and posted it twice. Thanks Mark for all you do. Joe 🙂
Hello Mark,
I re-read my coment and it sounds like Im saying America was never in covenant with God. But, what Im saying is; America, just like the inhabitants of Eden and Israel, began in covenant and then were soon turned away by the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life.
Thank you for tolerating my comments.
Joe