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When The Foundations Are Being Destroyed

             “When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?”

The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord is on his heavenly throne. He observes everyone on earth; his eyes examine them. The Lord examines the righteous, but the wicked, those who love violence, he hates with a passion. On the wicked he will rain fiery coals and burning sulfur; a scorching wind will be their lot. For the Lord is righteous, he loves justice; the upright will see his face. (Psalm 11:3-7)

We live in a world in which the question of the first paragraph is being asked. The truth is that we always live in a world where it’s asked. Every generation, every society, more often than not asks that question. What does your answer look like? Two automatic and ineffective reactions are war and withdraw, also known as fight or flight.

Someone asked this on Facebook this morning. I said that I tend to withdraw. I argue (on line or in my mind) but I withdraw. I’ve joked that when others get angry, their vocabulary reduces to four-letter words. Mine tends to extend to four syllables, but at the same time, I’m raising the drawbridge. Part of homesteading/prepping is the notion of being ready for when “it” hits the fan. Being ready to withdraw. Those who do this want nothing to do with “them.”

On the other side, there are those who attack. When the foundations are being destroyed, go to war. Get in people’s faces. Take it to the courts. Get the government to move in and “do something.” These are the folks who blame, shame, name (label), and game.

This isn’t what Scripture suggests. The clearest thing today’s passage tells us is to remember. Remember that God is in control. Remember also the fate that awaits those who stand against God. The other side of that is to remind. Remind those who are doing evil that they will be judged, not by us, but by God. The question that comes to mind is to ask them “What if you’re wrong?”

When the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do? We can lean into God and we can engage others and encourage them to do the same.

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