Lessons From Egypt

As I sit here reading the news on Independence Day 2013, I must say I am feeling a bit of envy regarding my counterparts in Egypt. As we Americans get ready to celebrate the lost freedoms of 237 years ago, the Egyptian people have managed to do something — twice in little more than a year — that I could only dream of:

THEY HAVE TOPPLED THEIR GOVERNMENT.

For the purposes of this writing I am not concerned with what the Egyptian people are after in terms of how their government rules. Instead, I am interested in the fact that they realize the government only rules by their good pleasure and, as such, if that government rules contrary to the will of the people, it must go.

Meanwhile, we will celebrate our Independence with live music, good food and fireworks, all the while Barack Obama, Harry Reid, John Boehner, and John Roberts are cooking up new ways to rule against us.

We could learn some lessons from Egypt:

1. HOW THEY DID IT

The Egyptian government didn’t fall twice in 14 months with guns and bombs, though that isn’t always a bad idea. It fell at the feet of hundreds of thousands of protesters who took to the streets and declared, “We’re mad as hell and we’re not going to take it any more!” (That’s a reference to the 1976 film Network in case you didn’t know.)

The point is that there are always more of us than them. They, by which I mean the government, rule only by our good will and pleasure. There are approximately 286 million adults in this country, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, and a total federal workforce of about 21 million. Even if every federal worker stood in support of their employer, we still out number them nearly 14 to 1. We could topple the Washington elite in less than a week if even 50% of the American people took to the streets in protest every single day.

2. NOT ABOUT POLITICS

Last night I read Jonathan Edwards’ famous sermon, Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God. I must admit I sat in my chair literally trembling for about 20 minutes. Forty-five minutes later I was still unsettled as I thought about its implications, both for individuals and for our country as a whole.

Folks, our national feet are dangling over the open pit of hell and destruction; the Serpent awaits with mouth wide open, anticipating that moment when we are let go and allowed to fall. The only thing keeping us from going the way of Sodom and Gomorrah is the good pleasure and mercy of God. But if past history is any indication, his good pleasure and mercy will not last forever.

It’s time to wake up and understand this is not about politics. It is about right and wrong; it is about principled men living principled lives based on morality, integrity, and the fear of Almighty God. And while we dangle over the hellish pit of our own national destruction, we have allowed ourselves to be convinced this is nothing more than a sporting event we call politics.

We may disagree with the Egyptians over their belief system, but they aren’t taking to the streets because of politics; they are taking to the streets to preserve the principles and belief system by which they live. They are not content to allow politics to rule the day.  Neither should we.

3. NO LEADER ABOVE THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE

Last year the Egyptian people toppled the most respected and longest serving President in that country’s history, Hosni Mubarak. After nearly 30 years of rule, they decided Mubarak had to go. His replacement, Mohamed Morsi, was seen as a savior of sorts; much the same way Barack Obama was, and still is, revered by some people in this country. But the Egyptians learned something we Americans are too stupid or unwilling to grasp: no leader is above the will of the people.

It turns out that Mohamed Morsi was not the savior they thought he was. But guess what? The Egyptian people aren’t leaving him in office because of the historical nature of his election. They aren’t continuing to allow him to rule because of his skin color, his party affiliation, the failures of his opponents, or anything else for that matter. Mr. Morsi has defied the will of the people so he must go.

If we Americans really oppose Obamacare as the polls show, why are any of the fools that passed it still in office? If we oppose amnesty for illegals at a rate more than 70%, why have we not taken to the streets in recent weeks? Washington rules at our good pleasure. Are we pleased to continue to allow it?

I am very much conflicted this Independence Day. Why? Because I’m mad as hell and I’m not gonna take it anymore. My conflict comes by way of deciding what to do next. I can tell you this: I’m tired of talking. I’m tired of trying to explain things to people who just have no interest in learning the truth. But what can I do other than talk and write?

There are probably protests in my future. But will I be standing in front of the federal building alone? There are probably some speeches in my future. But will anyone bother to take the time to hear the truth. There may even be campaigning for public office in the future. But will anyone really want to go against the political structure to turn thing upside down? I don’t know.

And yet the voices of the Founding Fathers burn in my bones; the truth of Almighty God burns in my bones; I am compelled to do something — anything.

“But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.” (from the Declaration of Independence)

If I do nothing, Independence Day means nothing.

Tags: Egypt Independece Day protest