Dr. Land has been calling for a healing of our land long before $4.00/gallon gas and milk; in no wise demands that non-Christians participate in the initial operation; and cites prior healings initiated in our history by Christians that healed the land for all.
Dr. Land distinguishes between America as “Blessed”, being an undeserved gift, and “Healed’ as having to be earned, and while he also cites Lincoln’s, we need to be on God’s side” for the non-partisan SBC admonition that God is on no political party’s side, he does not hesitate to declare that God is on Life’s side and that one cannot vote for a pro-abortion rights politician or judge and be on God’s side.
But before turning to the “Chronicles” Plan, Land chronicles some past healings that are instructive for stanching today’s cultural rot. He cites the prominent role Christians played in the Abolitionist movement that lead to ending slavery; the Progressive movement that brought necessary workplace reforms; the Suffragette movement for women and the Civil Rights movement.
He then bemoaned that over the past forty years, the secular culture has influenced the Church more than Christians have been salt and light for America.
Our Constitution vests power in We the People, not just we the non-religious people, and Dr. Land enunciated the long held Baptist advocacy for separating church form State lest the state harm the church in its soul saving mission. But he also pointed out that Christians are part of we the people and that free speech is not just free non-religious speech. Land echoed gamecock in his, we speak, we vote, we accept the outcome till the next vote.
That said, Dr. Land then turned to the scripture and declared that the healing we seek for all of America’s land begins with God’s people, as it is God speaking in verse 14 above saying “my people.”
The formula Land cites seems eerily familiar to several periods in America’s history, some of which pre-ceded our founding and the Church’s (and Hebrew peoples’) history for the past 2000-5000 years. The formula?
Revival. Awakening. Reformation.
Revival occurs when Christians humble themselves, pray, seek God’s face and turn from their wicked ways. The first step is for “Christians themselves” to clean up their act so that others want in on the act. When others look and see the benefits of eschewing drugs, saving sex for marriage, staying married and living wholesome lives.
There is no imposing of anything. It is first about an example that persuades and draws others, so that healing is possible. No social construct can cure a disease when the ingredients (see us) are so diseased.
Land’s recent book, The Divided States of America: What Liberals and Conservatives are Missing in the God-and-Country Shouting Match! is a great amen to the sermon yours truly witnessed here in the Tar Heel state.
Christians and non-Christians alike should appreciate his approach to public policy if not all of the substantive positions.
Let the healing of the land begin!
In that regard, Dr. land recently endorsed Alaska Governor, Republican Sarah Palin for theVice-President spot on the McCain ticket. Baptists are truly the liberated woman’s friend. Land also dismissed any suggestion that Obama could peel off more than a marginal portion of the non-black Evangelical vote given his radical pro-abortion views.
Land was also one of many Christians last year and early this year that opposed having a pro-abortion presidential nominee like Rudy Giuliani.
Who says the influence of the Christian Right is waning?
Not me.
Mike DeVine aka Gamecock’s Charlotte Observer columns Legal Editor for The Minority and HinzSight Reports “The way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race.” - The Chief Justice Race 4 2008 “One man with courage makes a majority.” - Andrew Jackson
What the other side never seems to understand is that THEY are imposing THEIR beliefs on America. They demand that we all conform to THEIR beliefs, regardless of our own.
We do not demand that they accept our beliefs -- there is no conversion by the sword -- and yet, WE are demonized for not accepting their worldview as our own.