I was raised with a deep love and respect for America. Because of my upbringing, I sought to give back to my country and served in military.  As I view the current state of affairs, I am saddened by the identity politics and polarization within our country. I seek to be apolitical – I have good friends in both the democratic and republican parties. I look for the good in each party and seek a dialectical consensus. I will preface my remarks by indicating that I am not pro Trump – I do not advocate his divisive nature and unprincipled leadership. Here are a few of the reasons for my concern of our current situation:

Our abrupt departure from Afghanistan – We left people who had helped us to liberate Afghanistan to be hunted down by the Taliban and women were treated like chattel. Al Qaeda now has a foothold in Afghanistan and the Afghani people are suffering under the brutal dictatorship of the Taliban. We must realize that evil exists in the world. The statement, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing” is true. America was the nation that stepped up to aid in the liberation of Europe from fascism. As one views the geopolitical landscape, we wonder if Putin was emboldened to brutally invade Ukraine since he knew America would not risk involvement.

Our hasty rush into green energy – I consider myself a conservationist and seek to avoid wasting energy (we keep the thermostat high in the summer and low in the winter). I don’t see how we’re ready to go all green. Our electric cars will need electricity to be charged – do we have the infrastructure to provide that support? We must realize that climate change is an ongoing reality. We can do all we can to minimize our adverse impact on the planet, but another Krakatoa will undo all of man’s efforts. It is sheer hubris on man’s part to think that we can control nature.

Our abdication of personal responsibility – I am sensitive to those in need and individuals with large student debt have a challenging financial burden, but what are we teaching our young people? Let’s be clear, this not eliminating student debt, it is transferring the debt to those who didn’t necessarily incur it. If we choose to go to college, then we should be responsible to pay for our education. President John F. Kennedy’s historic words, “Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country,” have been replaced with “Ask not what you can do for your country – ask what your country can do for you.” I’m concerned that we’re fostering a generation of people with an entitlement mindset. The New York Times editorial points out who the debt forgiveness benefits:

“Fewer than 40 percent of Americans graduate from a four-year college, and these college graduates fare far better than nongraduates on a wide range of measures. College graduates earn much more on average; are less likely to endure unemployment; are more likely to marry; are healthier; live longer; and express greater satisfaction with their lives. These gaps have generally grown in recent decades.

As a result, many economists have expressed skepticism about the idea of universal student-loan forgiveness. It resembles a tax cut that flows mostly to the affluent: Americans who attend and graduate college tend to come from the top half of the income distribution and tend to remain there later in life. College graduates are also disproportionately white and Asian.

‘Education debt,’ as Sandy Baum and Victoria Lee have written for the Urban Institute, ‘is disproportionately concentrated among the well-off.’

But the idea of loan forgiveness has nonetheless taken off on the political left. As Democrats have increasingly become the party of college graduates living in expensive metropolitan areas — and as the cost of college has continued rising, while income growth for many millennials has been disappointing — loan forgiveness has obvious appeal.” (New York Times, David Leonhardt, August 25, 2022)

President Biden proclaimed that he would seek to unify our country; however, his September 1st speech poured gasoline on the flames of the current culture wars. His speech most likely alienated the 46% of Americans who voted for Trump in the last election. Our current events have pointed out our need for earnest prayer:

and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14)

Rick Higgins

Associate Pastor – Discipleship.  The Church at LifePark

Professor of Discipleship, Columbia International University