When I grew up I saw the United States of America as a country that sought to do good and stand up against evil. When Nazism sought to conquer Europe we sent our men and women into harms way to liberate Europe from the bonds of tyranny. That’s why I served for twenty years in our military – to stand for freedom and the ideals that we cherish. I considered it an honor to make sacrifices for my country and fight for the rights of those who are oppressed.

Twenty years ago the United States entered into the fray against terrorism and a repressive regime that destroyed individual freedom and the rights of women. Progress was made as girls were able to go to school and people did not need to live in fear. We started to earn the trust of the Afghan people – and then we abandoned them.

We are now experiencing one of the greatest humanitarian crises in modern history. Who thought it would be a good idea to leave the Afghans with the specter of the Taliban waiting to rear it’s ugly head? My thoughts and prayers go out to the American men and women who served in our military to fight for the liberation of the Afghan people. My thoughts and prayers go out to the people of Afghanistan who have a death sentence upon them because they had a dream of freedom. And we crushed that dream. May God have mercy on us.

Our task remains the same. The prophet Isaiah tells us what God requires of us:

Is this not the fast that I choose:
To release the bonds of wickedness,
To undo the ropes of the yoke,
And to let the oppressed go free,
And break every yoke? (Isaiah 58:6)

We have a responsibility to stand up for those who are oppressed. How is it that we are more concerned about getting another Covid vaccination than compassion for those who are facing torture and death. We have a responsibility to help those in need and not merely look out for our own personal interests:

Rescue those who are being taken away to death, and those who are staggering to the slaughter, Oh hold them back! If you say, “See, we did not know this,” Does He who weighs the hearts not consider it? And does He who watches over your soul not know it? And will He not repay a person according to his work? (Proverb 24:11-12)

May we return to the ideals that made America great.

Associate Pastor – Discipleship.  The Church at LifePark

Professor of Discipleship, Columbia International University

Follow me on twitter:  rickhiggins5