History repeats itself

Dear Editor,

According to Ralph Reed, they author of the book Awakening, the United States of America has gone through several cycles when debauchery, greed, moral disintegration and abandonment of the family sought to destroy the fabric of our nation.

Each time, this backsliding was followed by a spiritual awakening that purged our country of its social ills.

Each great awakening of the church was triumphant in turning conversion into a collective experience, with broad social and political implications.

The founders envisioned America as an experiment in self government birthed and blessed by God.

But instead, America became a violent frontier society drenched in alcohol, dancing, dueling, Sabbath-breaking and gambling. The family took a back row seat.

Revival meetings swept the country calling for repentance in order to sidestep the wrath of God. The resulting spiritual outpouring mended marriages, sobered drunks, closed taverns and turned the public eye to the evils of slavery.

There have been four great spiritual awakenings, the last of which was touched off by the rebellious upheaval of the sixties and sexual promiscuity of the seventies. billy graham and Norman Vincent Peale said that our great nation may be destroyed by God before the turn of the century.

The Southern Baptist revival, the Moral Majority and the Charismatic movement helped bring us back to our senses. The popularity of Pope John Paul II cemented the relationship between the Vatican and the evangelicals.

The gifted political leadership embodies in Ronald Reagan, who had a Biblical worldview, was indispensable in engendering the spiritual awakening that renewed America.

Yes, history repeats itself. The condition of our nation could use some salt and light. Our pastor at Peace Lutheran has conjectured several times "what would happen if millions of Christians in America would start living every day for Christ.

Then, if people who are called by my name will humble themselves and and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and heal their lands. II Chron. 7:14

Janine Hall,

McCook, Nebraska