Democracy.

So, in reading D.A. Carson's "The Gagging of God," I've come to realize a few things I find pretty profound and a bit scary about our current circumstance living in a democracy.

1) A democracy can only function as the current, dominant social ethic allows.

2) The American people are growing more and more diverse in their ethics as formerly accepted ethical standards are deemed "intolerant" in the name of religious and intellectual freedom.

3) The American people are therefore less controlled by their own common ethic, driving specific, like-minded groups to press for the passing of more laws to control others and defend themselves, leaving our currently enlisted government officials scrambling to find the "middle ground."

4) Scripture allows no such (and therefore there does not actually exist) "middle ground." The stark reality is that man is driven by autonomy until his eyes are opened to God's glory and He (God) is made King of the heart and mind.  All of man's striving for civil peace and freedom is a "striving after the wind" or exercise in futility when led by that autonomy.

5) This leaves us floundering about in a sea of religious and intellectual plurality, causing vast internal conflict, which will eventually make America it's own worse enemy; immeasurably weak compared to its previously glorious strenth, due to it's inability to be the United States (or people) of America.