Are Christians better lovers and patriots? You bet.

"The propitious smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right which Heaven itself has ordained." George Washington

"In the squares of the city - In the shadow of the steeple
Near the relief office - I see my people
And some are grumblin' and some are wonderin'
If this land's still made for you and me." Woody Guthrie

"Our culture is superior.Our culture is superior because our religion is Christianity and that is the truth that makes men free." Pat Buchanan

No doubt, as the United States elections start to heat up this Fall, the future of this country will once again be on the minds of men and women. The economy, the wars overseas, guns, same-sex marriage, (which by the way, should be legal in every state) will be the talk of the country. But, from the Christian perspective, is there any solution to the problems of this country, or have we gone too far away from the principles and beliefs that this country was founded on that today secular America has done such a good job of misrepresenting and sweeping under the mat?

The problems that have overtaken this country are central to the atheism movement that has, in parallel, taken over this country. As Christians, we should have little doubt about that.

The main problem for the remnant of Christians that are here today is this country will continue to deteriorate, as we have now cast aside our Creator in almost every way. Autonomy is the greatest and most historically persevered sin, since human beings emerged in this world with the imago dei. Now pluralism and humanism are the norm; Jesus Christ is part of a small and diminishing population of peoples in this country. Indeed, these are the end times the Bible so accurately predicted.

In my every day, I go to work with only a sparse number of Christians at my side (though I will say, the few that are there, are strong, robust and fruit-bearing Christians, which I am immeasurably blessed to be acquainted with here, and love from the bottom of my heart). When I go "home-home" (where I grew up), I am again surrounded by a very small minority of Christians (I only know of a handful of Christians in my family/friend-circle at home). When I turn on the TV, read the news online, or turn on talk radio, it is all the same. I think we would be optimistic if we thought more than 5% of Americans today were true Christians. (That should be frightening to those of us raising families).

While God has used this diversity surrounding me to strengthen my faith to a point of certainty that I thought to be unattainable, and to also improve my ability to relate and reach the dead for Christ, I cannot help but wonder, as we approach another presidential election season, when will God give up on our country that once so boldly proclaimed Christ, from even "the redwood forest to the gulf stream waters"?

I think the remaining Christians in this country need to do the two things only Christians, and not any other people, can do: love with genuine, God-given, humble love, and pray. Pray for the repentance of this country. We are the only ones that truly know what it means to be free -- when we pray for repentance we aren't simply praying for terrible disaster, but for eyes and hearts to be open to our God-given right to be free. From man, and from the supernatural chains that separate non-believers from their Creator.

I am convinced, this is our only hope for this country. Not Obama, Palin, Romney or a rebounding economy. Repentance towards Jesus Christ is this country's only hope. And, as the history of mankind will clearly reveal, prosperity leads away from God, while disaster, heartache-- and everything that goes along with the reminder that we are the helpless created -- bring people back to Christ. (A cursory survey of the current Christian population in this world is evidence of this as well).

And as Christians, we are the only ones that can ask the Creator, within the scope of His Will, to grant this repentance to this country. For those of us that are in very pedestrian positions and have limited ability to contribute to American patriotism, this may be our greatest opportunity to be patriots. And a pretty good opportunity to be Christians, as well.