Ran across a passage written by Flavius Josephus, the Hebrew historian, which jumped out at me as being applicable in America today.
The passage describes the grandchildren of Noah and the dealings of the world’s first super-tyrant, Nimrod. Josephus writes, “He changed the government into tyranny, seeing no other way of turning man from the fear of God, but to bring them into a constant dependence on his power.”
“He changed the government into tyranny…”
The French author, Alexis De Tocqueville wrote in the 1840s, that America would one day become a benevolent dictatorship, where the people would be cared for from cradle to grave. We are currently seeing the passage of laws that enable the government to ignore our God-given rights; the Patriot Act under the previous president, and the NDAA under the current one.
…seeing no other way of turning man from the fear of God…
It’s not difficult to see how those who believe in God are mocked and marginalized by news commentators as well as smart and witty scientists. Christian groups are being excluded from the use of public school buildings which many other groups are allowed to use at night and on weekends.
Been reading two books lately that both credit the existence of free societies today to the uncommon doctrines of the equality of man before God which were brought to us through our Judeo-Christian heritage. Had the Assyrians succeeded in wiping out the Jews, there could have been no Christianity. Had the Romans succeeded in their attempt to kill all the Christians, there would have been no Enlightenment period that spawned the philosophies upon which our free society is based.
Our self-styled “intelligentsia” sincerely believe they know what’s best for the rest of us (Have you noticed how all tyrants use that line?). But can they see clearly to preserve freedom while fostering dependence on them and their wisdom? I seriously doubt it. Before this is all over, I suspect they will demand we change the basis of our trust and allegiance from God to them. And if we don’t abandon our beliefs in the “fairy tales” of religion and bow down before them, no candy for us.
I suspect that future historians will look back at our day and write, “They changed the government into tyranny, seeing no other way of turning man from the fear of God, but to bring them into a constant dependence on their power.”