Convention Highlights and Lowlights

Over the last few weeks the nation's Presidential candidates were offered up and scrutinized by the American voters at two party's national conventions. The first gathering occurred in the middle of hurricane Isaac which amazingly struck on the 7th anniversary of infamous Katrina. But Mitt Romney is now the official Republican candidate and will no doubt continue to run on his record as a super successful businessman at a time when the sagging economy could well make him very appealing

The convention proceeded as expected, with the possible exception of a brief and somewhat bizarre appearance of actor Clint Eastwood who spoke to an imaginary President Obama using an empty chair. The bit was quite clever and effective, however the famous actor used some rather crude and inappropriate comments during his few minutes on the GOP stage. Romney's closing speech again keyed on his plans to motivate and rescue the economy and assured voters of his conservative stance on the current hot moral issues.

Following the Republican gathering, it was the turn of the DNC. Mr. Obama, along with others in his party, tried to convince the nation that he is still the best alternative, despite a very difficult economy that shows no major signs of turning the corner. This may well be his biggest hurdle as revealed in the now famous and somewhat accurate statement, "It's the economy, stupid."

But there was something that occurred of rather large significance although perhaps still unknown to many who even watched one or both conventions. Apparently there was a prior decision by some of the DNC brass to do something that may not have been really well thought out. Or maybe it was? The party decided to remove any references to God in their official 2012 platform. When brought to the attention of the delegates a firestorm soon soon erupted. In stark contrast, the 2012 GOP platform mentions God 12 times.

But again, upon revealing what amounted to a god-less DNC document, there was a significant protest by some of their own - even in the party that has been far more liberal concerning the major moral and biblical issues in recent times. The objection to removing God resulted in multiple verbal votes in attempts by pro-God democrats to return the Creator - at least on some level. At first, a clear-cut decision could not be reached. Then eventually, after additional efforts, God was allowed back into party print. When the decision was announced it was literally booed on the floor by those who were still adamant about of wanting to leave God as a mere political memory. Either way, He was forced back into the platform after being invited to leave the nation's affairs alone.

Regardless of what any politician or party enacts, God is very outspoken about His mandatory involvement in this sphere. There is no question about His desire and ability to influence the lives and fate of any people. There are three verses in particular that reveal just how crucial He really is to the success of a nation and also his ability to rescue any people even after they have rejected Him and fallen on hard times.

Proverbs 14 clearly reveals what leads to true and lasting national prosperity. Verse 34 states, "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people." And as just mentioned, even when that biblical admonition has been bypassed, Scripture still offers hope when God is again given His rightful place of prominence. 2 Chronicles 7:13-14 declares the primary condition for this aspect of healing, "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 will forgive their sin and heal their land." Finally, when any nation invites God back into their personal lives and national leadership, then the promise found in Psalm 144:15 becomes the inevitable result. "Happy are the people whose God is the LORD."

If the leadership in America excludes God, either in print or in practice, then no real healing or former greatness will likely be in her future. But if the nation's leaders, and those who pull the levers in November, can somehow see that all lasting solutions begin with a serious spiritual revival, then true hope and healing will remain. Only when that ensues will this "nation under God" again become a beacon of hope, prosper as before, and shine as a light for the spread of the good news of Jesus Christ.

God still can again bless America, but not until American begins to again bless God!

Pray "fervently" (James 5:16) for America and for her potential leadership. And pray "without ceasing" (I Thessalonians 5:17) for the electorate to fully recognize that it is, first and foremost, godliness and biblical righteousness exalts a nation!

Bill Breckenridge