One afternoon my husband and I were walking in the park. We were enjoying the shade of a beautiful oak tree when we saw something that disturbed us. There was an elderly gentleman in strange clothes weeping on the park bench. We weren’t sure whether to bother him or not, but we chose to check on him. We asked him if everything was alright.
He kept saying, “It can’t be. It just can’t be.” He seemed very hot, so we gave him a drink and sat beside him.
“Sir, can we be of service? You seem distressed. Can we get someone for you?”
The gentleman looked at us tearfully and said, “You don’t understand. There is no one to get. I am in great distress over this land.”
My husband, Thurman, looked thoughtfully at him and said, “Sir, I don’t believe we have met. Do you mind telling us your name?”
“Certainly, I am Alexis de Tocqueville.”
Thurman looked at me concerned. I did not know why because the name was not familiar to me. I later learned that Alexis de Tocqueville was a French historian and political thinker who died in 1859. Either this gentleman was a descendant or he was out of his mind. We engaged him in conversation and learned he really was the Alexis de Tocqueville who died over one hundred and fifty years ago. He had come to America for a visit. He had made a request to travel ahead in time so he could see what this grand country of America would be in the future. Mr. Tocqueville had traveled previously to America in the 1830s to find out why America was so successful. Why was she such a great nation? Finally, he felt he had discovered the answer. This is a summary quote from one of his books:
“I sought for the key to the greatness and genius of America in her harbors…; in her fertile fields and boundless forests; in her rich mines and vast world commerce; in her public school system and institutions of learning. I sought for it in her democratic Congress and in her matchless Constitution. Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits flame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because America is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great. The safeguard of morality is religion, and morality is the best security of law as well as the surest pledge of freedom. The Americans combine the notions of Christianity and of liberty so intimately in their minds, that it is impossible to make them conceive the one without the other.”
Mr. Tocqueville had made the observation in the 1830s that Americans lived their faith. When they heard God’s Word on Sundays, they brought it into the fields, businesses, and schools on Mondays. America was a Christian nation. We decided to ask him why he had been saying, “It can’t be.”
He replied, “I have seven days to tour this great land before my time runs out. It is much larger than it was when I came in 1830. It has more people, and it obviously has many inventions that I have never seen. After traveling about America, my heart is very burdened. It is no longer the great country it once was.
The countryside is filled with litter. It is hard to believe why anyone would throw trash on the ground and not feel responsible to keep America clean. Every item I find, from a toy to a piece of clothing, is made in another country. But worse than that, I have learned that the Bible has been taken out of the public schools. The Ten Commandments cannot be posted on the walls. The Constitution has been compromised by men and women who obviously have not read it. I have learned that America slaughters babies in the womb by the thousands. I began to weep and thought surely this cannot be. I must be mistaken. The people of the America I visited before would not have allowed this to happen.
I decided I must visit as many churches as possible. I could not find many open. Churches were unlocked when I visited before for people to pray and seek guidance. I wanted to talk to some pastors and see if they could tell me what has happened. How could the citizens of America allow this immorality to invade its borders?
I found something called the Internet. It had lots of sermons on something called YouTube. I watched so many messages. A few were very good, and I could see some ministers were trying very hard to spread God’s Word. However, many messages were just feel-good sermons from speakers trying to get your money. But I knew I had to visit a real church to get some answers. I was able to visit a few this week. I learned the biggest difference in the churches today and when I came in the 1830s. There is no passion any more. No one seems to take God seriously. I tried to talk to several of the church members. They were business owners, teachers, factory workers, and others from all walks of life. When I visited their workplaces, I could not see God there.
I am sure some Christians take their faith seriously, but I could not find any. I have no time left. I will be leaving in a matter of minutes. Can you give me any hope?”
Our visitor from another time made a lot of sense. He was obviously upset about the condition of America. Thurman answered the gentleman, “Sir, I do believe there is hope for America, but all Christians will have to pull together. We will have to start taking our faith to work with us and spread the Gospel to all people. We will have to cry out against atrocities like abortion. The men in the pulpits must not compromise God’s Word. This country was built on the foundation of God’s Word, and we can bring it back. Furthermore, we still have our Constitution in place, ignored though it is. Our leaders still have the framework to rebuild our great nation and restore the principles of our free republic.”
The gentleman looked up and smiled at us. He said, “Thank you for the encouragement. I only hope that you are right. I would like nothing better than to see America great once more. I must leave now. Be blessed!”
The gentleman disappeared before our eyes. My husband and I looked at each other in disbelief. What just happened here?
Well…no…we didn’t meet Mr. Tocqueville, but we had a great history lesson as well as a challenge. What do you think? Can we bring America back to her original splendor? Is she too far gone? Our ancestors fought hard for the future of their children and grandchildren. They endured sacrifices for the freedoms of America. Are we willing to do the same?
Christians need to wake up and stand for Christian values. We must be willing to sacrifice our comforts to make a difference. We have lost so many freedoms on the couch of comfort. We don’t want to make a rift. The beer drinkers of America took a stand against Bud Lite, and it cost the company billions of dollars. Why are they more willing to stand than the Christians? If we would stand with a united front against the issues in our country, whether they are immoral or anti-freedom, we could make a difference. There are some lone rangers standing, but we must join their fight.
May we be willing to stand, so America won’t fall! God bless you all! God Bless America!
Mrs. Worthington has five children and twelve grandchildren. She serves as Principal of Pathway Christian Academy in Goldsboro.