What are the issues facing our communities, nation, and world in 2011. I have identified five areas that shall be at the forefront in 2011. The overarching theme for these five issues is the continuing assault on Western culture, values, and democracy. I welcome your comments.
The Assault on the Foundational Values of the American Nation. The values of the American Nation are threefold: "Liberty," "E Pluribus Unum," and "In God We Trust." If these sound familiar, they are printed on our coins. These values are under assault. Liberty, or equality of opportunity, is being replaced as a primary value by Equality, or the guaranteed equal outcome. E Pluribus Unum (out of many, one), is being replaced by political correctness and divisive diversity. In God We Trust, or faith in God, is being replaced by trust in government and an anything-goes I-can-co-what-I-want approach to morality. Issues within this general area will be family, abortion, protection of children, education, marriage, drug-abuse, and religion in society.
The Conflict with Middle Eastern Fascism and Asian Communism. Western Democracy has always opposed and been in conflict with systems that enslave and diminish human beings. Western Democracy has defeated European Imperialism, European Fascism, European Communism, and Middle Eastern Imperialism in the Twentieth Century. The conflicts for 2011 and for the Twenty-First Century are Middle Eastern Fascism (e.g., Iran), Asian Fascism (North Korea), and Asian Communism (China).
Border Security and Related Issues. Illegal immigration, the smuggling of drugs and human beings across the border, protection against terrorists, cyber-terrorism, nuclear proliferation, and the current administrations lethargic and clumbsy response to these problems are a major area of concern for 2011. One of the primary tasks of the federal government is protection of its citizens.
Economic Strains in the US and Western Europe. This area includes the collapse of Western European socialism. In the US there are the continuing conflicts over health care, taxation, national and individual debt, unemployment, and bailouts of large companies and state and local governments. The uncertainties of the housing and financial markets are adding to the problems. No longer will we be able to assume (or hope) that governments will be able to take care of every problem.
Transformation of the Christian Church. I list this area of interest not because it is the least. Indeed, it is the most significant, but will occur over a long period of time. I list it last because it is something we can see God at work and join Him. It is the NewReformation. Mainline denominations (including Roman Catholicism) are collapsing under the weight of their bureaucracies. Those organizations who focus on survival of the institution instead of continuation of the mission are fading. Just as the Reformation of the 1500s and 1600s brought new life and new understanding of the Church and was fueled by new technology (the printing press); so too will this New Reformation bring new life and new understanding fueled by the Internet. Denominational "brand names" will become less important. The focus will shift from social issues to witnessing. Organizations and ministry will become decentralized and local. Mid-sized churches will disappear. Small fellowships, para-church organizations, and mega-churches with satellites (mini-denominations) will flourish.
