Does It Sound Familiar?

From My Perspective - - -

The adage states: “Those who fail to remember History are doomed to repeat it!” It seems as though our nation is willing to forget and/or re-write History. A good illustration of this is the monumental perspective and writing of: The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire written by English historian Edward Gibbon and published in six volumes. Volume I was published in 1776. It is striking that Volume I was first published at the time when this nation was being born and The Declaration of Independence was written and circulated throughout the colonies.

Gibbon gives certain factors that brought about the lessening influence of Rome and the ultimate decline of an empire that lasted from 27 BC to 476 AD. Gibbon cites as “The Major Causes for the Fall of the Roman Empire” the following:

• Decline in Morals
• Decline in Ethics and Values
  
• Antagonism between the Senate and the Emperor
  
• Political Corruption and the Praetorian Guard
  
• Fast expansion of the Empire
  
• Constant Wars and Heavy Military Spending
  
• Barbarian Knowledge of Roman Military Tactics
  
• Failing Economy
  
• Unemployment of the Working Classes (The Plebs)
  
• Slave Labor
  
• Natural Disasters
  
• Barbarian Invasion.
  

Do any of those things listed sound familiar and contemporary? This nation that has just celebrated the 234th Anniversary of its birth – are any of the above common to our nation and culture today? Should it give as pause for sober reflection in terms of where we are and where we are headed? Have we convinced ourselves that History will not repeat itself in terms of our nation and its loss of virtue and core values that cause commitment to foundational moral standards and ethical focus? Do we think we have become impervious to such a decline? Impervious is an adjective meaning: “not permitting penetration or passage; impenetrable: incapable of being injured or impaired; incapable of being influenced, persuaded, or affected.”

A reason for Rome’s Decline listed by Gibbon – Christianity - is omitted above. This brought about a charge against him that he had embraced paganism. That was never proven. However, Christianity did have an influence over the empire and its accepted practices. At the time of the Birth of Christ into the times of the Apostolic writings, Rome exerted considerable influence and fostered persecution. It was about The Roman Empire that the Apostle Paul referenced certain behavioral and moral declination. In Romans 1 and 2, Paul addresses the last step on the way down: (1) Humanity turning away from God, and (2) God giving them up and over to sexual immorality. In Romans 1:24-29 (NLT), when people refused to acknowledge God, this summary of behavior is given: “God let them go ahead and do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other's bodies. Instead of believing what they knew was the truth about God, they deliberately chose to believe lies…That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires. Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other. And the men, instead of having normal sexual relationships with women, burned with lust for each other. Men did shameful things with other men and, as a result, suffered within themselves the penalty they so richly deserved. When they refused to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their evil minds and let them do things that should never be done. Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness and sin…” Take a look at what we allow in this nation! Will God view us any differently than He did with Rome? History will repeat itself unless we quickly repent! Consider these things with me!