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the last year of teaching universal history afforded me the great opportunity to research and relearn the beliefs of our forefathers.  the intent of their original writings.  the role of government in the lives of the people.

not only that, but to see example after example of nations that fell into socialism, communism, oligarchy, monarchy, anarchy, tyranny.

as i walked through this study with my students, it became glaringly obvious how far we, as americans, have strayed from the origin and purpose of our country.  how our government, established as a democratic republic, has begun to make the subtle {and sometimes not so} changes into socialism.

socialism – a government in which the means of planning, producing, and distributing goods is controlled by a central government that theoretically seeks a more just and equitable distribution of property and labor.

with the implementation of FDR’s new deal, our country quickly became a welfare state.  the government’s job was redefined to include not only protecting our right to pursue happiness.  but providing happiness itself.

i asked my students what we could do to solve the problems this form of government brought on america.  the problems dependence, apathy, irresponsibility.

with looks of despair, inevitably we all just shook our heads.  concluding that we are too far down the spiral of socialism and government dependence to turn back now.

“but people do need jobs.”

“but people do need food.”

“but people do need help.”

these questions and others would arise.

“are we supposed to just let them be… homeless, hungry, and without hope?”

the answer is no.  and what we all understood in our heads, we had a hard time transferring to our hearts.  that the problem lay deep in sin.

.

who should feed the hungry?  the church.

who should help the poor?  the church.

who should comfort the sick?  the church.

the church.  the church.  the church.  not the government.

sadly, my students recognized, the church is not doing their job.  they are not feeding, clothing, helping, healing, housing.  loving.

and so the government has stepped in.  doing the church’s job.  doing our job.  and we’re letting it.

“so how do we change?”  i’d ask my students.  ”how do we go back?”

still.  sad heads would shake.

it’s too much.  too big.  too full of sin.

and i felt the same weight.  until last night.

.

last night, through the help of the citywide gathering ~ the sing.  i heard my first real answer.  my first tangible step to reversing the effects of government dependence.  to making strides in the fight to restore our nation.

let me set it up.

did you know that per capita oklahoma is ranked #1 in the nation for female incarcerations?  did you know that per capita oklahoma is ranked #3 in the nation for male incarcerations?  did you know that oklahoma has approximately 8000 children in protective custody with no where to go?

the church is commanded to look after orphans and widows.  but who is doing it instead?  the government.

but the government in oklahoma can’t handle it.  and so we come full circle.

they are asking for our help.  for the churches help.  to partner with them. to raise up homes.  mothers.  fathers.  brothers.  sisters.  families.  to welcome these children in to.

asking for churches to commit one family.  check out the 111project:

and while that is really cool.  and i pray that churches step up.  repent of their sin of disobedience.  and take their job back from the government.

what really got me excited. and gave me hope.  was this.

christian services of oklahoma has partnered with DHS to recruit, train, and support christian foster families.  this is not only a partnership of time.  but a partnership of money.

christian services of oklahoma.  in a step of faith.  has announced they {meaning:  the church} will not continue to sit back. but will walk in obedience to our calling.

boom.

if that’s not the church taking back their job.  then i don’t know what is.

and that, my students.  is how we solve this problem.