This summer, my family had the opportunity to drive on a portion of “the mother road” – Route 66. For me, when planning our trip, it was not to be the highlight. We first went to South Dakota and Wyoming, and for whatever reason, I have always wanted to go to and live in Wyoming. However, I was caught off guard by the attraction of Route 66. I’ve been bit by the Route 66 bug!
What is it that draws us to Route 66? For one, I believe it is a point of national unity. The Route gives us a much needed cause around which to come together. The attraction also lies in the vitality of the small town way of life. The interstate bypasses the downtown businesses. You know something about this if you live in a small town with a vibrant Main Street, like I do. Our Main Street is a major tourist attraction. Many small towns on Route 66 have not fared so well. So in that sense, it is the battleground for the small business versus the corporate giants. More than this, though, it is a rallying point and a common cause to foster national unity, especially in a time of ideological and religious turmoil.
Yes, we supported some of the small businesses which are helping to draw new attention to Route 66. It seemed like the right thing to do!
Why does it matter, even though the original route has been decommissioned, that Route 66 remains a figure in American life?
Let’s turn this question around. How can we ensure this icon of our culture does not fade away into the dust bin of history?
The answer is something we don’t like: personal responsibility. If Route 66 is going to hold a place of prominence in our culture, then each person has to make an effort. It’s a deliberate choice, and some small business owners have been leading this charge. Then, it is up to individuals to patronize those businesses, which is a conscious decision.
Route 66 reminds me of the state of the church in our culture. In American culture, church was once a point of unity in our communities. It was a place where people could come together around a common cause. Why is it fading away? Well, the answer is easy: because we’re allowing it to fade away. Maybe we even want it to fade away or don’t care that it is fading away.
In the Old Testament of the Bible, especially in Deuteronomy, God makes it clear that there are three things which are essential to maintaining our standing before Him. First, obedience to His commands. We cannot know how to please God unless we are making a deliberate effort to read and understand the Bible. Second, attendance at corporate worship. The worship God expected revolved around the temple in the Old Testament, and for us today, it revolves around the church. Third, tithing; not because God or the church needs our money but because God expected us not to forget Him in our prosperity. Tithing represents our primary duty to acknowledge God’s active presence in our lives by giving back to Him a portion of the fruit of our labor. Tithing is our primary means after obedience and worship to acknowledge the role God actively plays in our lives.
It’s interesting that each of these essentials have been steadily falling by the wayside in American life, much like the decay of Route 66. Collectively, we can yawn and pass the buck by saying “it’s someone else’s responsibility … someone else will support the church.” But God holds us to account on an individual basis. What are you doing in this regard?
Like Route 66, our standing with God is not maintained by passing the buck. We save Route 66 and keep our standing before God through personal responsibility and intentional action.
Roe v Wade was overturned after I wrote this post, yet personal responsibility is at the heart of the abortion issue. Those who are turning to violence in response to the Supreme Court returning power to the states are ignoring a glaring problem. The need for abortion is avoidable with the exercise of personal responsibility and abstaining from the sexual intercourse that leads to pregnancy.
However, the cultural revolution bent on violence and demanding the unfettered liberty to destroy life cannot comprehend limiting personal actions on the basis of anything. Yes, you read that right. It is a pure form of evil when we get the point where there is no comprehension of limiting personal actions for any reason. Not morality. Not religion. Not political ideology. Not the basic human right to life. No limits whatsoever! They also want unfettered liberty to do whatever they want whenever they want uninhibited by any standards of morality. This lies at the heart of those reacting with violence. It is the grossest of sin because it is evidence of the full maturity of the purest form of evil.
No, we don’t like personal responsibility that much. Thus, there is decay.
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