What's Eating America?

Ash: You still don't understand what you're dealing with, do you? Perfect organism. Its structural perfection is matched only by its hostility.

Lambert: You admire it.

Ash: I admire its purity. A survivor... unclouded by conscience, remorse, or delusions of morality.

Parker: Look, I am, I've heard enough of this, and I'm asking you to pull the plug.

Ash: [Ripley goes to disconnect Ash, who interrupts] Last word.

Ripley: What?

Ash: I can't lie to you about your chances, but... you have my sympathies.

                                                                                        —Scene from the film Alien

The survival of everything we cherish depends on the survival of the culture of liberty; and that this hangs on our willingness to defend this extraordinary country of ours, so awfully mixed up, so much of the time; so schizophrenic in its understanding of itself and its purposes; so crazily indulgent of its legion of wildly ungovernable miscreants—to defend at all costs. With it all, this idealistic republic is the finest bloom of nationhood in all recorded time, and save only that God may decide that the land of the free and the home of the brave has outrun its license on history, we Americans must contend, struggle and if necessary fight for America’s survival.

                                                                                   —William F. Buckley Jr. 1925-2008

During the charismatic outpouring of the 1970s-1980s, our spiritual father and mentor Derek Prince pioneered an awakening of Christians to pray and fast for their nations. It is not unbiblical or unspiritual to be patriotic to one’s nation, especially in light of that nation’s Christian heritage. An intercessor must identify passionately and personally with the one or ones he is standing in the gap for. Necessarily then, this includes involvement in the political concerns the nation and its governors face. Realizing the mission of the Holy Spirit unfolding in the history of America—from the journals of Christopher Columbus to the Mayflower Compact, from the writing and signing of the declaration of Independence through the fight to abolish slavery, from the global impact of Azusa to the elimination of despots like Hitler and Saddam and on to the present travail to bring the Iraqi people into their own democracy, God has America in mind as a city set on a hill for the sake of righteousness and liberty among nations. We do not believe America has outrun her license, but can she survive the forces eating away at her from the inside? The answer lies with us. Our nation stands at a moment in history akin to the movie Alien.

The sci-fi supernemesis that chilled our hearts and made hair stand on end was patterned after the ichneumon wasp. Ichneumons live freely as adults, but their larva develop as parasites feeding on the bodies of other members of their own phylum. Most commonly the ichneumon victimizes caterpillars and moths before they reach that stage of metamorphosis that changes them into creatures of flight. The ichneumon injects its eggs directly into the body of the host and so converts the host into a food factory. This is called endoparasitism, being eaten from within. Initially the host is not inconvenienced but once the eggs hatch the ichneumon larvae begin their grim work of interior excavation. Often the victim is simultaneously injected with a paralyzing toxin. Thus the host remains alive but immobile with the agent of its future destruction incubating within. Once the larvae hatch, proceeding in a manner similar to the old English penalty for treason of being drawn and quartered, they eat fat bodies and digestive organs while keeping the host alive by preserving its essential heart and central nervous system until the last. Finally, the ichneumon kills its victim, leaving behind the host’s empty shell.

William F. Buckley was sitting at the desk in his study wielding the mighty sword of his pen when he went to his reward early this year. Mr. Buckley’s book, God and Man at Yale, crystallized conservative political thought in America and earned him the title “father” of the conservative movement. God and Man planted a standard against the ideological ‘isms’ that by the 1950’s were already eroding the culture of liberty. Shocked at the preponderance of communism, socialism, anti-capitalism, anti-Semitism and anti-Christian values being instilled in college students, Buckley wrote the book that started a revolution in his day. Just fourteen years prior to God and Man, Yale’s president Charles Seymour said in his inaugural address, “I call on all members of the faculty as members of a thinking body, freely to recognize the tremendous validity and power of the teachings of Christ in our life-and-death struggle against the powers of selfish materialism. If we lose that struggle, judging from present events abroad religion as well as scholarship will disappear.” The date was October 16, 1937. The "present events abroad" was Nazi Germany’s determination to bring the world into submission. America sent its greatest generation to stand in the gates against that enemy.

With Hitler eliminated a new nemesis became apparent: communism that had lain unchecked to the East began hatching globally. It was against that nemesis that Buckley rallied America, consolidating and mobilizing the likes of President Ronald Reagan who led the charge to halt advance of the evil empire. As the world watched Reagan confronted Gorbachev and called for an end of the communist regime. Understanding that evil only understands power, he refused to go to the diplomatic table without a loaded weapon. Scenes of young and old toppling the Berlin Wall still inspire hope in the ideals penned by America’s forefathers. But Communism and its partners are reviving. This time radical Islamofacism is making its way to the head of the pack. The culture of liberty is under threat from Iran, North Korea, China, Venezuela… and the American university. It’s the tip of the iceberg of what’s eating America.

Western civilization was founded upon Judeo-Christian ethics. Yet the most casual observer sees a systematic banishing of the Bible, of the God of the Bible and of the power of His cross to save and transform. When William and Mary removes the cross from its chapel, when the graduates of Finney’s Oberlin refuse to march through the memorial arch that bears the names of martyred Christians, when Harvard strokes a check from the Saudis for $20 million given in order to advance the study of Islam and bans men from the gym, when more than ninety percent of the professors paid by tax dollars to mold our young are ideological enemies of the American culture of liberty it’s our wake-up call. An Alien nemesis stalks our young.

The spread of the gospel and its residual effect on future civilization depends on our willingness to recognize and resist the intrinsic evil eating our society. If we lay paralyzed while this evil injects our young in order to reproduce its poison in another generation, America will be nothing more than an empty shell. Observing the ichneumon wasp, noted evolutionist Stephen Jay Gould argued that such an example of the existence of intrinsic evil in nature denied creation by a benevolent God. Gould’s conclusion neglects an essential point: creation has been corrupted by sin. The Bible calls this evil inherent in human nature sin. Sin is something beyond a violation of religious mores. The root of sin is rejection of God as He is revealed in the Bible. Sin is rebellion against the Creator. The imagination of man has been made subject to evolution of every kind of darkness, perversion, violence, terror and denial of humanness. It finds its way into false religions and ideologies that deny God in Christ. Sin retains a spiritual nature of its own, a resident evil that, left unchecked by a higher and firmer law, stalks the human race. America is being parasitized.

Our tradition holds that life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are God-given "inalienable rights" of every person. The founding of this nation was in God. The cornerstone of our law is on God. Empirical history cannot be denied. America leads the way in welcoming immigration by foreigners who presently make up the largest factor of our population growth. Why do they keep coming? Because among the nations, God has blessed America. In spite of assault by our enemies on 911 and while those painful memories still smolder at her feet, Lady Liberty extends open arms to the tired, the poor, the huddled masses looking for a future and a hope. The nations are coming to us. The church has a mission in America.

America still leads the way in sending missionaries around the world to proclaim the gospel to those who sit in darkness. America still leads the way in extending aid in the wake of great natural disasters even when that aid is toward those who hate us. America’s armed forces still maintain a record like no other military in human history. Liberation, nobility, service and sacrifice is our legacy. And what have we asked in return? “We have asked for nothing except enough ground to bury [our dead] in, and otherwise we have returned home to seek our own lives in peace. But there comes a time when soft power or talking with evil will not work where, unfortunately, hard power is the only thing that works."1

The present events abroad and in America’s election cycle at home indicate the time is now. The battle for the hearts and minds of America over the war in Iraq has been almost as difficult as the boots on the ground engagement thanks to a liberally educated and controlled public news service. Happily the tide on both ends of this campaign is beginning to turn in favor of real truth. The progress against chaos is undeniable and public opinion in favor of troop presence is rising in tandem with the earnest desire of Iraqis to wrest their future from the hands of terrorists.2 Martin Luther wryly pointed out that if Christians went about their business as if all the world were Christian, while they were busy turning the other cheek the wolves would devour the sheep.

Ripley: That's amazing. What is it?

Ash: Oh yes it is. I don't know yet. Did you want something?

Ripley: Yes, I, uh. Have a little talk. How's, uh, how's Kane? (Kane is the crewmember the alien has attacked and begun to parasitize)

Ash: Just holding, no changes.

Ripley: And, uh, our guest? (in reference to the alien)

Ash: Well, as I said, I'm still collating it, actually, but uh, I have confirmed that he's got an outer layer of protein polysaccharides. He has a funny habit of shedding his cells and replacing them with polarized silicon which gives him a prolonged resistance to adverse environmental conditions. Is that enough?

Ripley: That's funny. What does it mean?

Ash: Well, it's an interesting combination of elements making him a tough little son-of-a-*. Ripley: And you let him in...

“An opinion is a position you hold with a varied degree of intensity that merely voices your preference. But a conviction is that which is rooted in your conscience. So that if you are to toy with your opinions you are going to be jostling with your preferences, if you are going to toy with a conviction you are going to have to deal with your conscience before you alter it.”3 In his last interview Buckley clarified the difference between a conservative and someone with conservative values. The difference, he said, is mission. Amidst the growing partnership between Communism, Islamofacism, anti-Americanism, and anti-Semitism around the world the future of civilization depends on watchmen who are able and willing to stand against the enemy at the gates now. Lenin once said said, “The capitalists will sell me the rope I will hang them with.” An important Muslim figure told Archbishop Bernardini, “Thanks to your democratic laws, we shall invade you; and thanks to our religious laws, we shall dominate you.”4 America is the last stop in preserving the culture of liberty in the context of Judeo-Christianity. But our survival depends on new dread champions whose convictions towards Christ and this country are more than opinions. We must anoint the watchmen of tomorrow and cultivate in them the conviction, courage, and discipline to meet the enemy in the gates of Washington, Hollywood, Harvard, and beyond. The future of mankind depends upon the revival and preservation of the foundations the apostolic fathers gave the church. The future of Western civilization depends upon the revival and preservation of the foundations the founders of America gave us.

While preparing for our youngest son’s college graduation this year we noted the announcement provides a space for a "special message." Our son chose words from Psalm 112: “Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who delights greatly in His commandments.” He told us of his three year struggle to find a community of Christian friends on his college campus. He remembers what it cost him and what it taught him to remain true to his Christian convictions and hold to conservative values. He still gets jabs from peers but stands firm in his convictions. Psalm 112 goes on: “His descendants will be mighty on earth; the generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches will be in his house, and his righteousness endures forever. Unto the upright there arises light in the darkness; he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous. A good man deals graciously and lends; he will guide his affairs with discretion. Surely he will never be shaken; the righteous will be in everlasting remembrance. He will not be afraid of evil tidings; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. His heart is established; he will not be afraid, until he sees his desire upon his enemies. He has dispersed abroad, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever; his horn will be exalted with honor. The wicked will see it and be grieved; they will gnash their teeth and melt away; the desire of the wicked shall perish.”

Before the liberal mindset of Hollywood had its way with the sequels to the movie, the alien was dealt with in no uncertain terms. In round one the alien was isolated and soundly ejected from the ship, but not without sacrifice and perseverance in the face of terror. In round two the defender of future generations dons an invincible suit of armor and confronts the enemy toe to toe. William F. Buckley led the charge against liberty’s number one enemy in his generation. He inspired and equipped the likes of Ronald Reagan in the battle against global communism. Hearing of the passing of Buckley we thought of the command given to Joshua upon the death of Moses: “Now therefore arise and cross this Jordan, you and all the people to the land I am giving them….” Joshua 1:2. A new, more sinister threat is taking league to suppress Christian expression and eliminate its influence from the world. It is an evil with many faces. But we discern the spirit behind it. We believe the Buckleys of the former generation are seeds for a massive harvest of dread champions.

From the Watch of the Lord we have called churches, prayer groups and individuals across this nation and around the world to put on the spiritual armor of prayer and fasting for America this year. Each Monday from now through the presidential elections we are standing for those values and foundations handed down by our forefathers.5 Join us and as you do, realize that we are preparing to anoint our next leader. We refuse to allow the convictions which birthed this great nation be reduced to nothing or seduced by evil ideology and liberal media bias. We reject ideologies that hate America, hate God, hate Israel and hate the culture of liberty we represent. We refuse to elect any person who is an enemy of our Judeo-Christian convictions. We are standing in the gap against the alien nemeses seeking to attack America from without or parasitize her from within. We are preparing a new generation to meet those enemies in the gates of influence and power at home and abroad. We are praying for anointing as never before to proclaim Christ to our world. Lord, hear our prayer!

Read a recent Word from the Watch of the Lord™ — Every plant that My Father has not planted will be Torn UP by the Roots!

“Now therefore arise and cross this Jordan, you and all the people to the land I am giving them.”