Ramon Arias | August 20, 2013
Why do so many in the world hate us? This is the question that millions of Americans are asking themselves. The answers are many and varied depending on the religious, philosophical or ideological inclination of who is answering the question.
Among some of the most well-known and accepted answers are: “they hate us because we are a prosperous nation, democratic, free, tolerant, we promote values in the world and because we are the only world super power.” On the other hand, there are those who affirm that because we want to export American way of life to the world this is the reason others hate us. Even though these may sound like the correct answers, they are not. I have yet to hear the correct response to the question of why there is so much hatred toward America.
The hatred toward America is made very evident time after time at the General Assembly of the United Nations where invited presidents and heads of State use their allotted time to strongly criticize and humiliate the United States. Their orchestration is common knowledge to the world.
While he was alive, Hugo Chavez, to the delight of the majority of those in attendance, called President Bush “the devil.” It seemed obvious that Chavez was expressing the sentiment of most of the dignitaries of the world since they applauded and celebrated his ferocious and denigrating attacks against President Bush and the American people. Chavez declared to reporters that very soon the United States of America would lose its place as leader of the world, “The United States Empire is on its way down and it will be finished in the near future, Inshallah.” He finished with the Arabic phrase that means “God willing.”
Millions of Americans are still shocked by the reaction of the world leaders and the hatred the majority manifested. They find it difficult to understand why this is happening when the United States is the most generous nation of the world. It responds in a great and varied way to world natural disasters and catastrophes. It is always ready to help those in need and those that would require its help in many ways. The U.S. helps feed millions of destitute people around the world. The donation amounts are very large and in the millions and billions of dollars in foreign aid. However, all this generosity has not dissuaded the hatred toward us.
Millions upon millions come to this nation legal or illegal seeking to be a part of the American dream. Millions around the world imitate the American lifestyle, so, if it’s a lifestyle they want for themselves, why all the hatred?
Perhaps the answer I will pose will satisfy some as being the correct answer to the issue, but others may be very uncomfortable with it and judge me as crazy.
The answer to the level of hatred other nations have toward America has nothing to do with what the nation has in regards to its military might, materialism, economy, scientific advancement or technology, but rather on what it has ceased to be, a nation that sought to be under God. Let us remember, whether some want to admit it or not, the fact remains, that the United States of American was born as a Christian Republic; that is its true foundation. This is precisely what gave it its greatness and favorable admiration in the world. Because America has abandoned and ceased to build upon the foundation that God could bless it has caused not only the world’s indignation to come against it but the indignation of God as well.
Let us remember the most basic ingredient that makes a nation great and admired. It is found in something wise Solomon said, “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:34). We know only too well evil is predominant across this nation and this is something that dishonors us and provokes God’s indignation not only on the United States but the same goes for any nation.
We should not blame the source of this hatred toward us and our nation as coming from radical Islam, Socialist Europe, Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, Communist China, North Korea, Cuba and other beliefs and persuasions. It is time to face up to the truth which is the rebellion and hatred from the majority of the American society against God and His statutes which is reflecting back at us which displeases Him. To not acknowledge this truth and to want to blame other factors or to seek another explanation of this hatred denotes a dangerous denial, arrogance and ignorance of what history reveals about what destroyed past grandiose empires and nations. It would boil down to cheap demagoguery if God’s justice were ignored.
Solomon’s affirmation in Proverbs 16:7, “When a man’s ways please the LORD, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him” leaves no room for misinterpretation. Solomon himself experienced a national peace that his father David did not experience because of all the battles he had with neighboring nations. But God had promised David that in Solomon’s reign the nation of Israel would have peace and that is how it was until Solomon rebelled against God. The results ultimately revealed Solomon’s heir to the throne bringing division to the kingdom. When a nation’s ways are pleasing to God, historically it is proven that even its enemies will be at peace with it.
At present the United States has not been invaded or destroyed by another nation or nations, not because they can’t or won’t but because God has not allowed it yet. This does not mean it cannot happen. Let’s not be naïve or seek refuge in the idea that military might or a strong economy can save a nation from the sanctions of God. History denies that logic.
We would do well to learn from Nehemiah who does a historical overview of the behavior of Israel from their freedom from slavery in Egypt to a full circle where they find themselves in total national misfortune once again. Pay close attention to learn what was the real cause of their chaos.
“You multiplied their children as the stars of heaven, and you brought them into the land that you had told their fathers to enter and possess. So the descendants went in and possessed the land, and you subdued before them the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, and gave them into their hand, with their kings and the peoples of the land, that they might do with them as they would. And they captured fortified cities and a rich land, and took possession of houses full of all good things, cisterns already hewn, vineyards, olive orchards and fruit trees in abundance. So they ate and were filled and became fat and delighted themselves in your great goodness. “Nevertheless, they were disobedient and rebelled against you and cast your law behind their back and killed your prophets, who had warned them in order to turn them back to you, and they committed great blasphemies. Therefore you gave them into the hand of their enemies, who made them suffer. And in the time of their suffering they cried out to you and you heard them from heaven, and according to your great mercies you gave them saviors who saved them from the hand of their enemies. But after they had rest they did evil again before you, and you abandoned them to the hand of their enemies, so that they had dominion over them. Yet when they turned and cried to you, you heard from heaven, and many times you delivered them according to your mercies. And you warned them in order to turn them back to your law. Yet they acted presumptuously and did not obey your commandments, but sinned against your rules, which if a person does them, he shall live by them, and turned a stubborn shoulder and stiffened their neck and would not obey. Many years you bore with them and warned them by your Spirit through your prophets. Yet they would not give ear. Therefore you gave them into the hand of the peoples of the lands. Nevertheless, in your great mercies you did not make an end of them or forsake them, for you are a gracious and merciful God….Yet you have been righteous in all that has come upon us, for you have dealt faithfully and we have acted wickedly. Our kings, our princes, our priests, and our fathers have not kept your law or paid attention to your commandments and your warnings that you gave them. Even in their own kingdom, enjoying your great goodness that you gave them, and in the large and rich land that you set before them, they did not serve you or turn from their wicked works. Behold, we are slaves this day; in the land that you gave to our fathers to enjoy its fruit and its good gifts, behold, we are slaves. And its rich yield goes to the kings whom you have set over us because of our sins. They rule over our bodies and over our livestock as they please, and we are in great distress. “Because of all this we make a firm covenant in writing; on the sealed document are the names of our princes, our Levites, and our priests.” (Nehemiah 9:23-31, 33-38).
Has God modified His morals and ethics to accommodate them to modern times? Has God changed His demands and moral requirements because we are not the ancient nation of Israel? Many mistakenly believe, because it goes along with their mere earthly interests that God has changed his moral and ethical demands. But what does the Bible say about this? Or, we must ask ourselves, who is our maximum authority man or God? The Psalmist speaks of the immutability of God in Psalm 102:27,“But you are the same, and your years have no end” (Psalms 102:27).
God, through the prophet Malachi spoke of His immutability, “For I the LORD do not change…” (3:6).
The writer of Hebrews declares that God and Jesus Christ are the same forever (1:12; 13.8). The apostle James in his letter reaffirms the nature of God, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change” (James 1:17).
Ancient Israel was a model of what a nation that reflects the values and moral/ethical character of God ought to be. The interest of God is that an individual, his family and a nation should show forth the benefits of being faithful to Him and His precepts. The manifestation of these benefits stimulate others to want to apply the same principles to obtain the same benefits. This has been the plan of God from the beginning. He communicated this to Israel and He is saying the same thing to the United States of America: “See, I have taught you statutes and rules, as the LORD my God commanded me that you should do them in the land that you are entering to take possession of it. 6Keep them and do them, for that will be your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’ 7For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the LORD our God is to us, whenever we call upon him? 8And what great nation is there, that has statutes and rules so righteous as all this law that I set before you today? (Deuteronomy 4:5-8)
The hatred we are now witnessing toward America will end only when America determines to be a nation under the government of God. No other plan will be effective, that is the way God has established it and He will not change it. Every person that professes his loyalty to the absolutes of God as revealed in His Word should renew his or her covenant in the same manner that the Israelite authorities did in the times of Nehemiah. “Because of all this we make a firm covenant in writing; on the sealed document are the names of our princes, our Levites, and our priests.” (Nehemiah 9:38).
This is what God expects of every believer and He will not settle for anything less. It is time to remind ourselves of that covenant with God and live it on a daily basis. This is the only action and position that will save this nation not only from the hatred of other nations but also from the judgment of God who is the only One that can reverse that judgment according to our actions.
These are not my words; the history of humanity is warning us.