George Soros is funding a group to create a one-world economic system. Gadhafi continues his murderous assault on his own people in Libya. Oil prices are becoming prohibitive again. Our military is fighting on two fronts. People are out of work. Abortions continue. Banks are failing. The Mets keep loosing. How will it end?You’d think with all the citizens’ groups cropping up something would change. Unfortunately, little if anything does. All the evils here yesterday before all these self-proclaimed champions-of-whatever groups started are still around.
If you don’t like something you can find a group of like-minded pals who share your dislike. You could join the Citizens Against Government Waste, or the Citizens Against Litter, or the citizens against Human trafficking, lawsuit abuse, the death penalty, red light cameras (really), ugly street spam, safety goggles, tolls, loud motorcycles and more.
On the other hand, if you like something you can probably find a citizens’ group that likes your something too. You could join the Citizens For Responsibility And Ethics In Washington, or the Citizens For Tax Justice, or truth, or Batman (yes, really), or the arts or retiring the penny. But here’s my favorite: Citizens for Citizens. All these folks who are either for or against something have websites and astute sounding, carefully worded credos.
Most citizens’ groups claim to be non-profit. In other words, they don’t sell goods or services to make money. But they need money, lots of it, to rent their meeting rooms and print their brochures and write books and grow their members and contributions and impact policy makers for the good of society. And where do they get their money? They sell their message of hope, or annihilation, depending on whether you’re for or against something, to their members. They try to get members to recruit other members and then send all their fees and dues and contributions to the home office.
Don’t misread me. By no means am I against all citizens’ groups. Some groups have been able to impact our government and society for positive, effective change. Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD) is making an impact. Amber’s Law, Meagan’s Law and Adam’s Law were all born of family tragedies. All resulted from citizens’ groups passionate about protecting children.
A friend of mine is now all excited about some group that believes radical Muslims may rule the United States.
Here is their credo: The mission: ACT! For America is a non-profit issues advocacy organization dedicated to effectively organizing and mobilizing the most powerful grassroots citizen action network in America, committed to informed and coordinated civic action that will lead to public policies that promote America’s national security and the defense of American democratic values against the assault of radical Islam. It sounds as if they conned a politician into writing this credo for them.
Whew! Can anyone out there explain that too me. I have two college degrees and I have only the foggiest notion what they’re saying.
The group’s founder, Brigitte Gabriel, claims to be a victim of radical Muslim brutality or torture or emotional distress, or post traumatic syndrome or something. She doesn’t talk about her experience except at carefully orchestrated meetings in homes or expensive conference facilities where invited folks get to watch her video. She may have a moving testimony about her experience with radical Muslims. It might, indeed, be credible.
My friend has started what he calls a new leadership position in her group. He’s going to start a local chapter in his home. This threat of radical Muslim takeover has swallowed the guy up. He’s sending out information emails to encourage people to join him in the group. One thing all these citizens groups have is information. Gobs of it. They claim it’s all credible and they can quote you statistics they’ve memorized about their cause in an effort to get you as excited as they are.
In my view neither my friend’s group nor any other citizens’ groups (except those I mentioned above plus a few others), for or against something, will cause any ripples in the pond. My friend’s group and most other citizens groups are relying on their own skills and talents and abilities and efforts to be the agent to change the minds and hearts of others and to eradicate some evil in the world.
God is the only one capable of preventing Muslims from overtaking the United States. God is in charge. He is in control. And if we try to wrestle control from Him by forming or joining a citizens group propagated by self-effort and self-interest we will fail.
God may choose to allow the Muslims to rule this country. So what? If He did it would be a part of His plan for His children. He allowed His own people to suffer years of loss, hardship and captivity. It was their disobedience and lack of faith in God to rule in His sovereignty that got them in trouble.
If these efforts succeed or fail, they will do so at the behest of God almighty, not some group of citizens in fever-pitch over a popular social ill. Only when we come to the end of ourselves and trust God and His Sovereignty to rule and to reign can we impact society one prayer at a time.
For His Glory 