CHAPTER TWO

Keep the Roots Alive

AS A CHILD, I WAS CAPTIVATED BY THE STORIES that my grandfather told about life on the farm in Oklahoma in the early 1900s. The images that I’ve held are not those of pleasant surroundings or ideal conditions; they are impressions of twelve-hour days spent working the land, dust storms that could devastate a crop, blistered and sunburned skin, and poverty unlike most Americans know today. Life, in general, was harder then, but interestingly enough, families seemed stronger—it was a time when the roots of commitment, integrity, and honesty ran deep. A handshake and a man’s word were generally good enough.

I’m not suggesting that we return to that time in history, but that we learn from the past and strongly encourage those same character traits today. A nation, like a tree, is easily destroyed when the roots are removed. 

Today, careers are built at the cost of the family. Being a family man or a stay-at-home mom is often frowned upon. Ironically, the strength of the nation will depend on the stability of the family. Noted author and speaker, Josh McDowell, once stated that the reason so many young people are losing ground in the area of spiritual truth is because their parents are not involved in teaching them in word or action. He added, “One of the most common questions I get is, ‘How could we live for Christ, when we don’t want the Christ that our parents have?’”⁵ Wow, that should force us all to ask, “Who am I influencing, and who’s influencing me?” When the destruction of the family is coming from within the same walls that were designed to protect it, it’s time for change.

On that note, let’s briefly discuss the issue of homosexuality—some legislators have attempted to redefine marriage and the family in order to accommodate this lifestyle. I believe Christians err when they embrace one of two extremes. At one extreme are those who insult, or who are violent toward those trapped in this lifestyle; homosexuality appears at the top of their sin list; there is very little love or compassion. The other extreme excuses this sin and looks the other way.

Biblically speaking, homosexuality, like all sexual sin, is morally wrong and harmful. In Matthew 15:19, when Jesus said, Out of the heart comes evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications . . . these defile a man, He condemned all sexual activity outside of marriage. The word for “fornication” in the Greek is porneia—this is where the word “pornography” comes from; it includes all illicit sex. Many other passages in the Bible contain strong warnings against any sexual activity outside of marriage as well. Sadly, it’s impossible to un-know what is known. Think about that: Sexual experiences cannot be un-done. Each time we engage in illicit sex, we add emotional weight to our lives. Sex is good and God-ordained, but only within the context of marriage between a man and a woman. That’s how God designed it. God’s principles are guardrails through the canyons of life. They don’t prevent us from enjoying life; they protect us from falling.

You may say, “Times change.” And you are correct, but God’s standards do not. The sin that once amazed us now amuses us; just look at what is considered “entertainment” today. When sin begins to amuse us, we are dangerously close to the edge—“Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil” (Isaiah 5:20). No matter how many laws are passed in favor of same-sex marriage, it will not change God’s mind. I am the Lord thy God—I change not (Malachi 3:6); yet, the goal of some is to justify homosexuality, adultery, and pre-marital sex. It’s been said that if you tell a lie long enough, and often enough, people will begin to believe it. And isn’t that true.

Granted, we should have compassion, but at the same time, we should not condone or excuse this type of sin any more than we condone or excuse any other sin such as adultery or fornication. In reality, one of the greatest misunderstandings is in the concept of “individual rights.” For example, pornography and other forms of so called “personal expression” that harm individuals as well as society, do not fit within the concept of exercising personal rights—logically, biblically, or historically. As a matter of fact, many cases of sexual violence can be traced directly back to pornography. Personal rights were intended to operate freely, but only within the framework of social responsibility. We will always have the “freedom” to choose, but no one has the “right” to do what is wrong—no one!

Abortion and illicit sex are now determined by personal preference rather than by God’s Word and social responsibility. Pornography is commonly protected as an expression of free speech while school prayer is often banned. Our society clearly reflects man’s digression from God. This detour cannot produce safe, secure living. The spiritual state of a nation simply reflects the spiritual state of her people—spiritual decay undermines stability. When the family deteriorates, the deterioration of the nation is close at hand. Sexual sin undermines health, and often results in the death of a family, a marriage, and the integrity of an individual—the entire family loses. That’s what sin does; it draws the life out of you, and those closest to you.

It’s been said that culture is religion externalized. In other words, the culture around us simply reflects who and what we value. As things stand, the future of America will be an atmosphere of even greater intolerance toward those committed to God’s ways, absolute truth, and traditional values. Ironically, groups that promote “tolerance” often lack tolerance for those who hold opposing views.

If we fail to return to our biblical roots, we will lose a rich harvest of God’s blessings and experience the pain of regret. But in order to take the initial steps to regain lost ground, it’s important to understand why America was established, and it’s equally important to note just how far we have drifted from the original intent of the founding principles. Woodrow Wilson rightly said, “A nation which does not remember what it was yesterday, does not know what it is today, nor what it is trying to do.”⁶

I’m a firm believer that if we don’t water the roots, the plants will die. As a kid during the summer, one of my jobs was to water the flowers that lined our front and back patios. It was a simple job, but I was easily bored and anxious to finish. After quickly sprinkling the plants now and then for a few weeks, most of the flowers withered and died. Rather than a lecture, my mother felt the best way to teach me responsibility and the need to soak the roots was to have me replace the flowers with my allowance. I learned a valuable lesson that summer: Keep the roots alive. In the same way, if we fail to keep America’s spiritual roots alive, the fruit of that blessing will wither and die. Let us not forget: America did not produce the blessings of liberty and freedom—liberty and freedom produced the blessings of America.

Nearly 400 years ago, many sacrificed their lives and their families to promote religious freedom, and America was born. Many of those early Americans understood God’s design for a prosperous life—they were not found in government, but in God alone—it was on this foundation that America was built. Some may be offended by America’s Christian heritage, but that does not give them the right to remove God from America’s history.

Fortunately, God will continue to call from each generation those who will support His principles. I believe that many today are called to support these truths. John Chalfant, a member of the Council for National Policy, said the following in his book America—A Call to Greatness: “If we participate in dragging down our country by refusing to become involved when we are commanded to be virtuous and to let our convictions be known, do we deserve to be free?” The price of freedom is never free. The moral state of our nation cannot be left to chance. We must keep the roots alive.