MAGA: Make America GODLY Again

While scanning the newscasts about the latest brouhaha between President Trump and those who wish him gone, I thought of his candidacy slogan – the one that’s become a household term: “Make America Great Again.” 

Over the last two years, entrepreneurs have created MAGA hats, MAGA T-shirts, MAGA coffee mugs, and a dozen other items for the Trump faithful.

As I mused about that slogan – which I think of as more a ‘goal’ than a simple slogan – another dropped into my mind, formed with the same letters. And the more I thought about THAT new slogan – that NEW goal – the more I realized it’s far better than the first:

MAGA. Make America Godly Again. 

If we could Make America Godly Again, all our current social and political dramas would melt away. 

All of them. 

So, how might Christians help bring such a thing to fruition? Here are some ideas off the top of my head. You can probably think of additional ones. And maybe if enough of us who are bought with the blood of Jesus do what we can do, God will send a spiritual revival to our great nation, the likes of which we haven’t seen in generations. 

1. You want a godly nation? Be godly yourself. Can your relationship with Jesus be better? More obedient? More devoted to His truth? Then make it a concentrated matter of daily prayer during which you seek – and determine to follow – His guidance toward becoming yourself more godly. 

2. Tell others the true story of Jesus as found in Scripture and proclaimed through historic Church teaching. The Jesus of Scripture said of Himself, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but by Me.” (John 14:6) A few chapters earlier Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die.” (John 11:25-26) 

Of course, there are many other examples in Scripture which demonstrate Jesus is humanity’s ONLY hope for peace, justice, and eternal life. And yes, I know, such a narrow and exclusionary declaration flies in the face of our pluralistic culture. 

So be it. 

Either Jesus is Almighty God-in-the-flesh or He was a madman. Those are our only two choices. And if He is God, then everyone who hopes for eternal life must fall only at His feet in obedience and worship. To Make America Godly Again, Christians must redevelop a laser-like focus on the life, death, resurrection and soon return of Christ. 

3. If we want to Make America Godly Again, then those who name Jesus as their LORD must implore Him for a holiness revival in our nation. Every spiritual renewal that has EVER occurred anywhere in all of history began when men and women went to their knees and begged God for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit across the length and breadth of their land. 

Christians often quote 2 Chronicles 7:14 – especially around an election cycle: "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”  

Look at that text again. The critical verbs within that promise are “humble themselves” and “pray’ and “turn from their wicked ways.” God’s promise to heal the land is contingent on what we as His people do to bring His healing. The ninth chapters of the Biblical books of Daniel, Ezra, and Nehemiah form a Biblical template for such a nation-wide prayer. 

4. If we want to Make America Godly Again, Christians must vote according to godly principles. We get what we vote for. 

There will always be problems that face Americans, problems such as immigration and healthcare reform – problems about which godly lawmakers can reach negotiated agreements based on God’s word. 

But in virtually every election cycle, candidates appear on the ballot who support and promote Biblically non-negotiable issues, as abortion and the redefining of marriage. 

“Thou shalt not murder” is one of the clearest of God’s commandments repeated throughout the length and breadth of God’s word. Any high school biology textbook will tell the reader that what is growing in the womb is a human being. The fetus is simply a person in an early stage of development, just as a neonate is in an early stage of development before becoming a toddler. A toddler is in an early stage of development before becoming an adolescent, and so forth. Another non-negotiable has to do with same-sex marriage. Both testaments warn against such sins that are a stench in God’s nostrils. 

If we are to Make America Godly Again, then those who call Jesus their Lord must vote against politicians who promote and support godless and evil practices. To vote for them is to tell God He is wrong, and our culture is right. 

President Trump and those who support him want to Make America Great Again. That’s a wonderful and worthwhile goal. But a greater goal, a higher goal, a goal that must again be the foundation of this great nation is to Make America Godly Again.

Nearly three millennia ago, the psalmist wrote words that ring as true today as when they were first penned: “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.” (Psalm 33:12) 

May God help us do a better job at being ourselves godly, to do a better job telling others about the only One who opens for us heaven’s door, to do a better job in turning from our own sins, and do a better job voting according to godly principles. 

In the matchless name of Jesus, Oh, Lord, hear our prayers. Amen.