Repeating history?

By DR. KNOX HERNDON
Pastor

I received this from my good friend Jim, whose last name has just gone into the cobwebs of my mind. Jim, you know who you are and we thank you for this. One day they will have a pill for senioritis and I will take several on a daily basis. Forgive me!

At about the time our original 13 states adopted their new constitution, in the year 1787, Alexander Tyler (a Scottish history professor at The University of Edinburgh) had this to say about ‘The Fall of The Athenian Republic’ some 2,000 years prior.

“A democracy is always temporary in nature; it simply cannot exist as a

permanent form of government. A democracy will continue to exist up until

the time that voters discover that they can vote themselves generous gifts

from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes

for the candidates who promise the most benefits from the public treasury,

with the result that every democracy will finally collapse due to loose

fiscal policy, (which is) always followed by a dictatorship.

“The average age of the world’s greatest civilizations, from the beginning

of history, has been about 200 years. During those 200 years, these nations

always progressed through the following sequence:

“From bondage to spiritual faith;

“From spiritual faith to great courage;

“From courage to liberty;

“From liberty to abundance;

“From abundance to complacency;

“From complacency to apathy;

“From apathy to dependence;

“From dependence back into bondage.”

Professor Joseph Olson of Hamline University School of Law in St. Paul, Minn., points out some interesting facts concerning the most recent presidential election.

Population of counties (total people, not just voters) won by:

Gore, 127 million.

Bush, 143 million.

Square miles of land won by:

Gore, 580,000.

Bush, 2,427,000.

States won by:

Gore, 19.

Bush, 29.

Murder rate per 100,000 residents in counties won by:

Gore, 13.2.

Bush, 2.1.

Professor Olson adds: “In aggregate, the map of the territory Bush won was

mostly the land owned by the tax-paying citizens of this great country.

Gore’s territory encompassed those citizens living in government-owned

tenements and living off government welfare ... “

Olson believes the U.S. is now somewhere between the “apathy” and “complacency” phase of Tyler’s definition of democracy, with some 40 percent of the nation’s population already having reached the “governmental dependency” phase.

I strongly feel that this next election will be the most important in American history. It is not at all about the economy, jobs, interest rates, or even terrorism. It is about the clash of ideas of a conservative verses a liberal form of government.

For what it is worth: if any candidate running for the presidency of the United States, regardless of their party affiliation, allies himself or herself with the likes of Jane Fonda and Ted Kennedy, they are shaking hands with the devil. When you shake hands with the devil, you never get a good deal. Never!

And while I am on this soap box, I will venture further into negative e-mail by stating that if you call yourself a Christian and vote for a candidate who supports the murder of the unborn, you have become part of the problem. Every behavior you and I exhibit has consequences. We are responsible for our allegiances and our vote. Use it wisely before someone else votes for you.

Pray and thoroughly look at the lifestyles and behavior and voting records of the candidates. Our Founding Fathers believed in an “educated citizenry.” As Christians, God's Word speaks to us as the “priesthood of believers.” This is a grave responsibility. Use it wisely.

(Dr. Knox Herndon is the pastor of His House Community Church (SBC). Rev. Greg Mausz is Sr. Assoc. Dr. Lydia Herndon is the Sunday School superintendent, Bible study coordinator and teacher. The church is on Ga. Highway 85 South near Senoia, a mile south of Ga. Highway 16, on the right just past the fire station. Visitors welcome. Church office and prayer line 770-719-2365. E-mail address is KHERN23654@aol.com. Web address is www.hishousecommunitychurch.com. Also visit www.ddaytravelingmuseum.com.)