Christian Living

COLOR BETWEEN THE LINES, AMERICA

by Charles (Chuck) Robey
08/06/23
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PROLOGUE

After giving much thought to my ongoing problems respecting my morning fast-food breakfast misfortunes. And after expressing these woes within the formats of several perturbed blogs, here comes another blog.

Understandably, we learn from watching others. We all, from time to time, come in contact with a walking textbook on how to succeed, or how to fail.  Regarding my past fast-food experiences, I’ve had numerous talks with the fast-food management. Yes, it is nicer oftentimes to be an appeaser than an opposer.

You see, if you have ever compromised on a particular fast-food service, you don’t need to explain how it works. Compromise steps in when we are able to give in without sacrificing our values. It’s simply a matter of give-and-take. That’s a lesson I learned from the fast-food management.

I’m now happier than a Penguin in an ice chest. Kudos to the fast-food management for finally getting my breakfast right, for an unexpected change. I’m finally well fed and satisfied. At last, I’m ready to move on to greener pastures.

Oops, the calendars have not been changed, we are still in July. I thought we were in August already. No wonder, I seem to be backing up all through the morning. Oh well, time for the mid-morning snack of candy and coke, then a morning snooze. “Alexa, please play I-Heart Fifties.”

Thus, I truthfully sincerely trust you will enjoy this sincere admission in the form of a fictious blog. It’s an earthly parable with a heavenly meaning, a most unusual dream, actually not particularly fitting for this prelude introduction, but a much-needed indirectly related blog, “COLOR BETWEEN THE LINES, AMERICA”

Suddenly and without notice, my usual back porch cat-nap turned into a full-fledged dream, a gigantic combination of faith-based and patriotic proportions.

I was taken back in time, to the good ole Fifties. Mom had just given me an array of new faith-based and patriotic coloring books to occupy my free time. She mentioned, as always, not to forget to stay within the lines.

I just loved my coloring books. Not only did I spend much youthful time coloring, I was careful to stay within the lines. I also saved my work for future reference, after showing it off to Mom. Mom was very adamant, however, in training me to color inside the lines.

Seeing my array of partially-filled out books, however, pulled me back into full-force perturbed action, as they all seemed to have been colored in a haphazard sort of way. There was no consideration of keeping in the lines. Maybe I should change this blog title. But not right now. Please keep reading.

As my dream continued, it changed from a youthful one to a grown-up faith-based, patriotic affair. I knew there had to be something to those partly-filled pages. There had to be a lesson to be learned or a message to receive.

It had to be all about America. What has happened in today’s regressive, socialistic world? Have we, as a people and as a nation, not stayed inside the lines of faith and patriotism? Have our tried-and-true faith-based dictates become scarce in today’s socialistic America?

Religion, per se, is now viewed cynically by government and populace alike. Legislation is attempting to isolate all Christian activity.  Obviously, today’s liberal culture, cares nothing of staying in the lines. Good thing they weren’t coloring a Bible.

We need boundaries. Because of our sin nature, we don’t do well coloring outside the lines. We see in (Romans 13:1-7) we need government. The speed limit applies to believers and unbelievers as well. A judge will not be impressed if we shoplift.  It makes no difference if we name the name of Christ or not, we all must pay taxes. We must faithfully all color inside the lines.  

One particular coloring book seemed to have the most intentionally wayward scribbles. It was the one depicting the various scenes of the Bible with introductory text to match. It was very obvious someone had willfully colored outside the lines simply for spite, not liking the designs given for coloring.

“The principles of all genuine liberty and of wise laws and administrations are to be drawn from the Bible and sustained by its authority.” (Noah Webster)

”It is impossible to rightly govern the world without the Bible.” (George Washington)

 “That Book, sir, is the rock on which our Republic rests.” (Andrew Jackson)

‘Within the covers of the Bible are all the answers for all the problems that men face. The Bible touches the heart, orders minds and refreshes souls.”  (President Ronald Reagan)

“All men must be controlled either by a power from within or a power from without. By the Word of God or by the strong arm of men. Either by the Bible or the bayonet.  But men will be controlled by one of the other.” (Robert C. Winthrop)

“Long and small are not words for the vocabulary of conscience. It knows only rights and wrongs.” (Alexander Maclaren)

Even though this was a dream of sorts, I didn’t mean to preach here, but the apparent destructive coloring outside the lines of my Biblically-themed dream coloring pages got my faith-based, patriotic dander up.

If only we could have a coloring book of American comparison of decades past to today. America was once the leader of the world, with strong moral fiber, affluence, and decent respect for others.

Today, America is a leader of crime, drugs, illiteracy, pornography, and moral decay. The Scripture acutely depicts such sinful disobedience, and labels such a condition as the Last Days.

 In (I Timothy 4:1-2) we see attacks of heresy. In (II Timothy 3:1-9) we see the perils of apostasy. (In II Timothy 4:3-4) we see a description of people who no longer are content to hear the sound teaching of the gospel and will turn to many different teachers of untruths. And in (II Peter 3:3-4) we see mockers of last days prophecy Scripture.

So, what did these coloring books, the ones with the scribbling outside the lines teach me, even in a dream of sorts?

“Mom, mom, what am I to do with these coloring books that have all the bad scribbles?” I called.

“Just look in the back of these books, my son,” she answered.

“Thanks, Mom, I found it,” I replied. 

“God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” (The Serenity Prayer) Amen!

EPILOGUE

In conclusion, I draw an analogy between the point of our blog, which is the importance, or the conscience of coloring inside the lines, as opposed to willfully coloring outside the lines. For this reason, hopefully we have shown that this analogy is more complex, and more important to today’s American populace than a metaphor. 

At best, government is second best. At worst, government is stifling, stripping away human worth. Forty years ago, while Bible and prayer were still in the school system, and these were the major problems in school: (1) talking in class, (2) chewing gum, (3) making noise, (4) running in the halls, (5) getting out of line, (6) wearing improper clothing, (7) missing the wastebasket.

Today these are our problems: (1) drug abuse, (2) suicide, (3) alcohol, (4) pregnancy, (5) rape, (6) murder, (7) assault. Sounds like the description of a penitentiary instead of a school.

Something went wrong. It sure did. America decided prayer and the Word of God should have no part in the school system, and the foundation crumbled. It also sounds like the metaphor of coloring outside the lines, not following the rules. In this particular blog it is not following the principles of God’s holy Word.

So, what about it? Can you color inside the lines of Scripture and of America’s founding fathers, respecting the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution? I surely pray so. I trust the concept of patriotic Christianity came through in this little simple blog.

Looking back to history, I can envision Washington kneeling in the snow at Valley Forge; our founding fathers on their knees at the Continental Congress; Lincoln praying in the hour of national crisis; and Woodrow Wilson reading the Bible at night in the White House by a dim light.

According to Dr. Larry P. Arnn, President of Hillsdale College, “The framers of the American Constitution combined the best political ideas of the past with innovations in what The Federalist called an improved science of politics: federalism, separation of power, and checks and balances. Doing so, they created a form of government which had in the words of James Madison, 'no model on the face of the earth.'"

“Because men are not angels, government is necessary. Because no man stands to another as God to man or as man to beast, government must be based on consent. The moral foundation of the Constitution is in the Declaration of Independence and its principle of equal rights. Under the Constitution, government was to be limited to protect those rights.”

Therefore, I give you a simple solution to it all. Here is a plan of action, a word of hope, and a promise, directly from our living Creator God. Won't you quickly go to work, before it’s too late? Amen!

(II Chronicles 7:14) —if My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

My final benediction!

” Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore.” (Jude 1:24-25)  Amen!

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