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This is not your father's America. Over the last few decades, and the last twenty years in particular, we have seen this nation undergo a radical transformation. Even at a casual glance, one can see that every level of this society (education, law, family, etc.) has suffered severe erosion.

The family has come under fierce assault of late. Whereas the idyllic family structure was once respected by the society, and even glamorized by Hollywood in such shows as "Little House on the Prairie," today we see a deplorable 50 percent divorce rate - even among professing, "born-again Christians."

The familial roles, once well defined and commonly accepted, have become vague. The American populace is so brainwashed, in fact, that to begin a statement with "a woman's place..." makes people cringe. The biblical and natural truth is that everyone has his or her respective place. Elder men, elder women, husbands, wives, young men, young women, and children each have a role to serve in society. When people begin to deny that men and women have different roles, society as we know it begins to decline, and a new social structure develops to replace it.

While considering even this one example, we must ask the question, "What must we do?"

Among those of us who believe in the Almighty God, we have our choice of two courses of action: We can plant our feet and fight in the courts, in the schools, and in the media for America to become a Christian nation, or we can join the faithful throng and declare that we are strangers and pilgrims on this earth, seeking a country - a heavenly country - whose builder an maker is God.

There were a lot of good things going for the children of Israel in Egypt. Even though they had to work hard, they had food and houses, and even Egyptian friends. They lived in the world's superpower, and enjoyed the comfort and security that goes along with it. They left Egypt with some reservation: leaving the "devil you know," as it were, for the unknown harshness that awaited them.

Are things any different today? Christians work as hard as anyone else in this country. We have food, houses, and even unbelieving friends. We live in the world's sole superpower and enjoy the comfort and security that America provides.

Nonetheless, just like God's people of old, we do not belong here. We're strangers and pilgrims: the square peg forced into a round hole. Let us endeavor to be that peculiar people which we are called to be. If we must fight, let us fight the good fight of faith, contending earnestly for the faith that was once delivered to the saints, knowing this, that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

David M. McNabb
Editor & Bible Guy