The Real Problem

I have listened to both the Republican and Democratic versions of what is wrong with our nation. I have listened to both of their solutions. I want to say this with love and not be too rude, but they are both full of crap.

If the real problems of our country are going to be solved, we first have to be honest. The Republicans and Democrats and all the other political parties are addressing the symptoms not the root cause. The problem is not the economy or the educational system or crime or violence. Those are simple the symptoms of the real problem. This country is where we are today because of a lose of character. We have lost our godly character. We have been so busy chasing the "American Dream" that we have compromised every right and good thing to try and get it.

Let's look at three examples of this truth.

First, let's look at the economy. The problem with the American economy and for that matter the world economy is GREED. We are in the situation we are in economically becasue people want more than they can afford or even need. And there are people who will risk giving it to them so they can earn even more money.

Second, let's look at the educational system. The problem with the educational system is not in the system. It is first in the parents of children who do care and have raised their children not to care. Ask any teacher and that will tell you that the vast majority of the parents who come to parent-teacher conferences are the parents of the students who are doing good or striving to do good. The parents of the students who don't try because they don't care, don't come. They don't come because they as parents don't care. Another reason our educational system is not working is because in the hast and panic to fix the problem, politicans have established fixes that made things worst. We are blaming teachers and the schools for things they didn't cause and they can't fix. We have given schools the responsibility to parent the children. That will never work. That will never fix the problem. The problem is Apathy and Irrresponsibility of the parents and children.  

Third, let's look at the social problems in our culture today. Thins like violence, teen pregnancy, and drug addiction. The answer we are hearing for many about these problems addresses again the symptoms. The root cause of the social problems that we see is a Denial of Truth. This denial leads to an inability to communicate Right and Wrong.

I believe that living out the truths that Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls entails will lead to solutions to these and other problems. The reason is simply that  Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is based in the unchanging truth of God's Word.

The solution to the economy is found in Philippians 2:3-4 which says, "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others."

The solution to the educational system is found in Ephessians 6:4 which says, "As for parents, don't provoke your children to anger, but rasie them with discipline and instruction about the Lord."

The solution to the soical problems is found in Isaiah 56:1 which says, "This is what the Lord says: 'Be just and fair to all. Do what is right and good, for I am coming soon to rescue you and dispaly my righteousness among you.'"

The model for solving our nation's problems are the life and words of Jesus.

Let's quit trying old, tired, man-made answers and go to some new, fresh God-made solutions.

Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls
                           Joe