Author: John Page 159 of 166

John Stuart Mill, 19^th Century British political philosopher, said something similar to Burke (referenced in the previous post) in an address to the University of St. Andrews: “Bad men need nothing more to compass their ends, than that good men should look on and do nothing.”  Six months ago, I decided that I could no longer look on and do nothing.  Every day since February 1^st, I have had a specific period of prayer at a time and place separate from my workplace.

Often, I have gone to my base chapel at lunchtime to pray.  Several times while traveling I have prayed in chapels of other bases.  I have prayed in airports; I have prayed on airplanes; I have prayed while parked in my car.

Frequently my prayer time has been at lunchtime, but often it has not.  At times, I have prayed nearer to breakfast; at times, I have prayed nearer to dinner; after particularly long and demanding days at work, I have prayed at night before going home.

PLEASE PRAYERFULLY CONSIDER HOW YOU WILL PLUS.  Maybe it is starting a period of prayer with students at your Christian school.  Maybe it is at home during naptime.  Maybe it is with some colleagues in a conference room at work.  Maybe it is in the cafeteria at your Bible college.  Maybe it is on the road while driving your tractor-trailer.  Maybe it is by yourself when your busy schedule allows.  Regardless of the when and the how, please do it.  Otherwise, we are compassing the ends of bad men rather than those of good men.

James 4:17 “Therefore, to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.”

Edmund Burke, 18^th Century Irish statesman and supporter of the American Revolutionary cause, is credited with proclaiming the following:  “the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.”  It was several months ago when I realized that I was failing to uphold my responsibilities as a Christian American citizen.  In doing nothing to wrestle back our nation towards Christ-centeredness, I was regularly committing sins of omission.  Furthermore, I was letting evil triumph because this “good man” was doing nothing about it.  While my 19-years of military service were commendable, they were not sufficient to solve the problems of our nation.  These convicting thoughts prompted the creation of PLUS, both as an individual responsibility and a call to ministry.

Evil is triumphing in our nation because the good are doing nothing.  The following sins of omission are evident among us (as written about previously):

• Failing to uphold the formula for revival (March 24)
• Failing to be salt and light (March 31)
• Failing to be peculiar (April 3)
• Failing to resist the tug towards worldliness (April 10)
• Failing to properly teach the next generation (April 14)
• Failing to adequately pray (May 1)
• Failing to seek servant leadership (May 19)
• Failing to stand on the solid foundation of Biblical faith (June 2)
• Failing to put our concerns into action (June 9)
• Failing to shoulder our responsibilities (June 23)
• Failing to demonstrate passion for our situation (July 21 and 24)

If we continue to shirk our responsibilities, then our sins of omission will allow evil to triumph in our land.  PLEASE PRAY THAT CHRISTIAN AMERICANS WOULD SEE OUR INACTION AS SINFULNESS THAT WILL DESTROY OUR NATION.  We must immediately arrest our sins of omission.  Otherwise, we are as guilty for the downfall of America as those who we would label evil.  They will triumph because of us.

Colonel BP McCoy, USMC, wrote a short leadership book entitled “The Passion of Command:  The Moral Imperative of Leadership.”  In the beginning of this book, he begins with this warning: “Without genuine concern, this is all worthless.”  In doing so, I think he had two points.  The first is that the rest of the leadership advice he offers will be worthless if you don’t have a genuine concern about your people and the mission.  The second is that you will be a worthless leader if you don’t have genuine concern about your people and the mission.  The same is true among Christian Americans.

If you don’t have genuine concern about the ungodly direction of our nation, then you probably won’t bother taking a meaningful leadership role to begin with.  If you don’t have genuine concern about the ungodly direction of our nation, then any leadership role you do decide upon will be ineffectual.  Either way, your leadership will be worthless and the cause of Christ will suffer in America.

America needs worthwhile Christian citizens.  America needs worthwhile Christian leaders.  America needs worthwhile Christ-like leadership.  America needs worthwhile change.  America needs Christians who would demonstrate genuine concern for our land.  PLEASE PRAY THAT YOUR GENUINE CONCERN FOR OUR NATION WOULD TRANSLATE INTO WORTHWHILE CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP.  America will suffer if its Christian citizens are worthless.

Jude 22 “And of some have compassion, making a difference.”

At the individual level, investing in lives with a heart-felt compassion can make a difference.  Compassion demonstrates care and concern that breaks down barriers and creates an environment conducive for trust and growth.  True compassion motivates action while feigned compassion masks apathy.

At the national level, compassion can make a difference as well.  True passion about our country’s condition should motivate action among those who are concerned about a nationwide divergence from Christ.

What does it say about us if we fail to act?  Likely, it indicates an apathetic condition among Christians who are not actually concerned about America’s dedicated drift away from the Lord.  We may complain about our national direction within the safe walls of the church house, but a lack of action reveals that such complaints are simply feigned for effect but nothing else.

If Christian Americans want to make a difference, we need to put our passion into action.  Indeed, we need to demonstrate our passion by our actions.  PLEASE PRAY THAT CHRISTIAN AMERICANS WOULD PUT A PASSION FOR THE THINGS OF CHRIST INTO ACTION IN OUR NATION.  Otherwise, it is probable that our passion is nothing more than pretense.

PLUS is intended to prompt action before it is too late.  It is my response to the question – what can we do to help our country as it diverges from its Godly heritage?

The tract depicted under the PLUS Tract tab on this website is yet another tool in the arsenal of the concerned American Christian.  Put it on your wall to remind you to pray daily for our country.  Give it to friends, family members, neighbors, coworkers, and classmates so they can do the same.

Give it to anyone you hear complain about the errant direction of our country.  This tract can send a variety of messages in response to such a concern.  The challenging message – what are you doing about it?  The implicit message – here is something you can do about it.  The hopeful message – there is something you can do about it.

These options are far better than the fatalistic message prevalent among American Christians – there is nothing we can do about it.  PLUS intends to erase that message by turning to the One who can do anything.

If you are interested in ordering these tracts, please refer to the ordering information under the PLUS Tract tab.  I just bought 1,000 for my church, and maybe you will feel led to do the same.  PLEASE PRAYERFULLY CONSIDER HOW THIS TRACT CAN HELP YOU MEET YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES AS A CONCERNED AMERCIAN CHRISTIAN.