There are numerous ways for nations to die and most of them involve self-inflicted wounds.  Obviously, a nation can die if it is conquered and the occupied and annexed then assimilated or incorporated into the conquering nation.  In that case, the conquered becomes a State within the victor nation and loses its sovereignty.  Conquering and occupying are not uncommon, and it has been called colonization, territories, or subjugation.  To the victor goes the spoils, so to speak.  Germany attempted that, so did the former Soviet Union, England did it in the Colonial period and has been recorded in the annals of history in virtually every era of recorded history. 

But, with regard to ‘self-inflicted wounds’ that kill a nation among those are allowing the ruling class to become an oligarchy if not a hard, tyrannical dictatorship.  In America, we have a Constitution that offers safeguards against that eventuality. but we have allowed the slow erosion of our Constitutional Form of Government.  We have witnessed the elected oligarchs advance their own interpretation of the Constitution.  At other times, they have ignored the Constitutional prohibitions and forced the individual States into subjection to the whims of the federal government.  That is both unwise and unconstitutional, but with the mentality of the courts for decades the legislators have been allowed to rewrite or reinterpret our American Constitution.  They have thereby neutered the States and stripped from us the ownership and oversight of our government.  Again, unwise and unconstitutional, but a present reality.

The Death of a Nation results when those in power find a way to manipulate the populace via entitlements and other economic measures.  A nation’s survival depends on its economic health and when the expenditures exceed the revenue, economic health is jeopardized.  No nation can sustain extended periods negative economic policies and survive.  Taxation is required to fund the spending but there is only so much revenue from taxation that can be extracted from those who pay taxes.  There is a breaking point in which either people stop producing, they revolt, or they run out of money.  The next move is increased debt and debt is the albatross hung around the necks of Free People that, if continued long-term, bankrupts them.

The Death of a Nation occurs when that nation ceases to defend its borders and allows the influx of hordes of newcomers who have neither interest or intent of preserving its sovereignty or advancement.  We are not talking about the preservation of the cultural heritage of the immigrants.  Everyone should hold dear their cultural heritage but when the demand for particular cultural heritage recognition weakens the Republic it cannot be mandated by law.  If there is no price for or value of citizenship, then the foundational principles of the nation become weakened to the point they are inconsequential.  

The Death of a Nation occurs when that nation loses its moral compass and opens the door to such gross self-centeredness and self-aggrandizement and selfishness that there is no sense of moral wrong or civic obligation.  There are biblical principles that must be adhered to if a society is to survive without anarchy and chaos.  If human life is devalued in any sector, it becomes devalued in every sector.  The Bible refers to that as “a little leaven, leavens the entire lump.”  If a nation becomes devoid of a sense of nationalism or patriotism that “what’s in it for me?” becomes the rule and guide that nation is in danger of suicide.

There are visible symptoms of the Death of a Nation that the honest observer cannot miss.  Social Decay is one of the most glaring signs because from the ashes of that condition rises the political opportunists who desire power and control.  It may sound reasonable to demand that the youth be given an equal voice in society, but I argue that devoid of traditional guidelines those youth tend to grow wild and undisciplined and contribute to or open the door for societal destruction. 

In the French Revolution, Jose Ortega y Gasset noted that “Order is not pressure which is imposed upon society from without, but an equilibrium which is set up from within.”  Founding Father, John Adams, argued that “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people.  It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”  He was joined by numerous other Founders including, Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, Robert Winthrop, Noah Webster, James Wilson, John Jay, Fisher Ames, Gouverneur Morris, and Benjamin Rush to name a few. 

Our first president and the man known as the Father of the Nation, George Washington said in his first inaugural address declared, “…we ought to be no less persuaded that the propitious smiles of heaven, can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right, which heaven itself has ordained.”  He also said in a letter to James Madison, November 30, 1785, “We are either a United people, or we are not. If the former, let us, in all matters of general concern act as a nation, which have national objects to promote, and a national character to support. If we are not, let us no longer act a farce by pretending to it.”  A Nation cannot survive if it loses focus on its purpose and becomes a nation of individuals who are laws unto themselves.

In today’s America, we are witnessing the pitting of various cultures, ethnicities, classes, and ideologies against each other.  There are those, seeking power and control, attempting to manipulate the national conversation and cause fear and hate to boil over resulting in chaos and anarchy.  Those sinister would-be conquerors appear willing to do anything to secure their ascension to and solidification of a position of power.  A Free Republic dies when it loses sight of the vision, reason, and purpose for which it was established.  John F. Kennedy said it well when he said, “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.”  No, I am not suggesting that we make the Nation our god but that we recognize that “united we stand, and divided we fall.”

I see the signs and symptoms of a Nation diseased and racing toward death.  Yet, I also see signs of and hope for a cure that can restore this Republic to her original foundational purpose and principles.  There is a remedy and part of that remedy is found in 2 Chronicles 7:14. If we, as individuals and a people will humble ourselves, seek the face of God, turn from wickedness ceasing to call evil good and good evil and repent.  God has promised to heal our land.  Additionally, it is imperative that each of us, American citizens, invest ourselves in following honest, right, and moral principles in our daily dealings with others.  “Do unto others as we would have them do unto us.”  We must educate ourselves, become involved and strive to achieve the return of our Constitutional Government rather than allowing a continued Legislative or Judicial Oligarchy. 

We will watch our Nation Die or will we seek to find a cure and become part of the solution rather than contributing to the problem?  That is something that everyone must answer for themselves and in that answer comes the final outcome.

God bless you and God bless America!