My Dad’s generation has been rightly called, “The Greatest Generation.” After all, they defeated Nazism, Fascism, and Communism at least for their times. They came back from the war and educated themselves and re-built America. They were fearless.
This generation seems scared of its own shadow. It’s allowed Nazism, Fascism and Communism to re-emerge, not just in Europe but here at home. To this generation, wearing a mask is patriotic. I wonder what my Dad who had a friend on the draft board lie about his club foot so he could join the marines, would think about that. Their generation ran to the fight not away from it.
This generation is afraid of a virus, being called racist, being proud of its country. It generally flees from responsibility or service. It was willing to “fight” the virus as long as the government covered its unemployment benefits and went trillions of dollars in debt to send everyone a check.
What made Dad’s generation so great? It was fearless. It was unafraid of dying for the country and not intimidated by politicians. They were imperfect people of faith. If you have faith in Jesus, your future is secure; you have no fear of death. You have principles to stand on. You don’t kill your unborn children. You don’t dessert your families. You love and help your neighbors. You run to the fight and not away from it.
This generation is faithless. Participation in the formal church is way down, but more importantly, so is the following of Jesus. We are afraid to call other faiths what they are not The Way, The Truth and The Life. We are too afraid of giving offense to share the truth. We do what is “right” in our own eyes. 2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts. 3 To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice. 4 A high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin. Proverbs 20.
It’s interesting that Donald Trump won the presidency promising to Make America Great Again. There is a knowledge in most hearts that we are not as great as we once were. That longing to return to greatness powered Trump into office. It also set off the most vitreal response from a world that rejects the greatness we once enjoyed. We live in a world that respects tolerance over truth, fun over faith, and socialism over personal responsibility.
It’s also interesting after providing much of what he promised, Trump is likely to lose in November. People still secretly crave greatness, but they have discovered the price is too high. Increased stock prices and decreased unemployment is nice. Conservative judges and reduced regulation are great. But greatness requires more. It requires bending the knee, not to movements but to the Lord of the Universe. It requires personal sacrifice and individual patriotism. It is based on truth no matter how uncomfortable or politically incorrect. It requires we look to ourselves to provide what we need and not to the next generations to shoulder an incredible debt to provide what we are too lazy to provide for ourselves.
Can this generation redeem itself? Of course not, the only possibility is to return to the faith that was the foundation of the greatness of Dad’s generation. I miss you Dad and I am so sorry I didn’t recognize your greatness until after you went to your reward.
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