The primary season is over (finally!) and the stage is set for our November presidential election – unless, of course something happens that would change the present set of circumstances. So, in retrospect, let’s give some consideration to the past several months of debates, debacles, and deliberations.

The debate season was a series of circus events. There was name calling and trash talking as the candidates went after each other with total abandon. Very little respect was given as brash interruptions were made as one candidate bullied his/her way into the discussion. The debate moderators seemed to be at a loss when trying to gain control of the unruly and disrespectful candidates. Some accused others of being “un-presidential”  in the way they conducted themselves in the debates. They were rude, and even crude, in the way they treated one another on this national platform.

What are we to make of this? How are we supposed to decipher, through all the confusion left in the wake of such vicious personal attacks against one another, what to believe from any of them? I do not claim to be one who has greater insight or understanding than anyone else, so the following observations are simply one individual’s attempt at striving to make sense out of the non-sense.

My first observation is this: what we have witnessed over the past several months is what happens when a nation removes God from the political process (or any other process, for that matter). Several candidates running for the Republican nomination made attempts to focus on their personal faith, and how important that was for one running for the highest office in the land, but they were quickly reminded that faith had no place in the political arena. The candidates running for the Democratic nomination had nothing at all to say about faith’s role in the process. This all seems rather strange when we consider how important the Christian faith was to our founders, as well as those who followed through the years as leaders of this nation.

Somewhere along the way, we seem to have misplaced God. From our founding fathers focus on the providence of God in leading to the establishment of this nation, to the present day lot of politicians who have the mindset that religion and politics cannot mix, we have completely lost our way. In what appears to be an attempt by modern day politicians to become all things to all men, we seem to have pushed God to the side and are now striving to tolerate everyone except Christians. Whatever happened to the old idea that if anyone wanted to make this nation their home, they were more than welcome to come, but they were expected to embrace American culture instead of expecting America to bend over backwards to accommodate theirs? And yet, it appears that is exactly what our present day lot of politicians demand. This is the very reason that Christianity is being systematically removed from the political scene, and the public square.

My second observation is closely tied to the first: when a nation turns its back on its religious and spiritual foundation, it opens itself up for all sort of confusion and misunderstanding. I am certainly not suggesting that those who come to this country from other parts of the world in which they practiced the disciplines of another religion must reject their religion and become Christian, but I am suggesting that they accept the fact that this is a Christian nation which operates by principles gleaned from the Bible. And yet, we see the demand that Americans embrace their religious beliefs and practices while giving no regard for those that guided this nation from its founding.

My final observation: if this nation continues on the present course, then I see nothing but trouble ahead. I realize that there are many who would disagree with me, and I respect your right to your opinion as I hope you respect my right to mine. The Bible makes clear what a nation might expect if it once embraced the teachings of the Bible and then reject it for some other religion. God’s hand of judgment will not be long in coming. This pattern is clearly established in God’s Word.

My prayer is that we will come to our spiritual senses and return to our spiritual foundation so clearly set forth in the documents of our founders. I long for the day when we are once again one nation, under God, with liberty and justice for all.