A Cut-Flower Civilization

We're cut from our roots

     "When that happens, the flower shrivels and dies. Unless there's renewal. Take the American experiment, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin and many of the Founders. There's a tie among faith, virtue and freedom. I call it the Golden Triangle of Freedom: freedom requires virtue, virtue requires faith, and faith requires freedom.

     "Today, the Framers' republic is on its last legs. The challenge is to restore it, but no one's talking about that. 'Make America Great Again' is always a matter of economy or the military. America didn't become great through economics or the military. 

But you're still an optimist?

     "Decline always leads to fall. But decline and fall is not the Biblical pairing. The Biblical pairing is exile and return. Reject the way of the Lord, and there will be displacement, dislocation, exile. 

     "Adam and Eve were east of Eden. Israel was under Babylon. The Church, again and again and again has been corrupt and decadent. G.K. Chesterton's line: 'Looking at history, five times the Church has gone to the dogs, and in each case, it was the dog that died.'    

     "So, we have the grounds for renewal. Will there be renewal? Only the Lord knows. I'm wary of announcing revivals, but we cannot be pessimists."

                                      Friday - conclusion