Graceline: Honor our King, and don’t bury Common Sense

I made a big mistake the other night. I watched the evening news for an hour. I cannot believe how stupid people have become. I know that’s not politically correct, but I’m sick and tired of being politically correct and completely stupid.

We have gone stark raving mad as a culture, and it seems to me the inmates are running the asylum. Next thing you know, preachers will have to start referring to sinners as “morally challenged.”

George Barna’s Research Group reported a statistic explaining our growing insanity. Barna found 9 percent of Americans have a Biblical worldview, or God created all things.

Man fell from grace when he sinned by disobeying God. Man needs a savior to save him from his lost condition and separation from God. Jesus Christ, God’s son, came to earth as a human and died for sinful men, women, boys and girls. His atoning death and shed blood washes away the sin that separates mankind from God. His literal, physical resurrection restores life to man who died and was separated from the life of God because of his sin. Jesus will physically return to earth and re-establish His kingdom one day.

This worldview impacts and directs the thoughts, actions and lives of only 9 percent of all Americans.

But that is not the most amazing statistic. Barna also found of every American who claimed to be a “born again” Christian, only 8 percent had a Biblical worldview. Are you kidding me? These Christian do not believe in the basic teachings of the Bible?

It’s obvious most Americans do not understand what it means to be a follower. This survey haunts me.

The Bible talks about the day in which we live in the following verses:

“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight.” - Isaiah 5:20-21 NIV

“In those days Israel had no king, so the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes.” – Judges 17:6 NLT.

America has no King. Jesus is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. We have basically told God we don’t need Him anymore. The courts have ruled it unconstitutional to display the Ten Commandments in public buildings.

God has politely granted our request. How else can you explain the most technologically advanced nation in the world can allow people to steal our commercial airliners and crash them?

The Bible says in Psalm 127:1 NLT: “Unless the Lord protects a city, guarding it with sentries will do no good.”

The following story would be funny if not so true:

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as knowing when to come in out of the rain, why the early bird gets the worm, life isn’t always fair, and maybe it was my fault.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don’t spend more than you earn) and reliable parenting strategies (adults, not children are in charge). His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year- old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate, teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student only worsened his condition. Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job they themselves failed to do in disciplining their unruly children.

Common Sense lost the will to live as the Ten Commandments became contraband, churches became businesses and criminals received better treatment than their victims.

Common Sense took a beating when you couldn’t defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar can sue you for assault.

Common Sense finally gave up the will to live after a woman failed to realize a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.

Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust; his wife, Discretion; his daughter, Responsibility; and his son, Reason.

He is survived by three stepbrothers, I Know my Rights, Someone Else is to Blame, and I’m a Victim.

If you can keep the mind of Christ while all those who are not following Him are losing theirs, maybe Common Sense can find his way back to the land of the living. Remember, we serve at the pleasure of the King of kings, and Lord of lords! There is no King but Jesus. Live loud, large and loved today.

This story was originally published July 5, 2016 at 12:20 PM with the headline "Graceline: Honor our King, and don’t bury Common Sense."