History has a way of coming back around. As Harry S. Truman once said, “There is nothing new in the world except the history you do not know.” In plain words, if we refuse to learn from the past, we are likely to repeat its mistakes.
America has made serious mistakes before. We have seen racism, fear, division, cruelty, and lies dressed up as patriotism. But the hope of democracy is that, when people are given time, truth, and facts, they can correct course. The question before us is whether we will have the courage to do that again.
James chapter 3 gives us a powerful warning. It says there is a kind of “wisdom” that is earthly, selfish, and even demonic. That kind of wisdom is full of envy, selfish ambition, disorder, and every evil practice. But the wisdom from above is pure, peace-loving, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy, impartial, and sincere.
That means we cannot call ourselves a Christian nation while acting in ways that are unchristlike. We cannot praise God with our mouths and then use those same mouths to spread lies, mock people, stir up fear, or excuse cruelty. The Bible says God hates a lying tongue, a heart that plans evil, feet that run quickly toward wrongdoing, a false witness, and anyone who sows division among people.
There is something deeply wrong when people make up hateful stories about immigrants, neighbors, or whole communities just to win power or stir up anger. Lies like that do not come from the Spirit of God. They come from fear, pride, selfish ambition, and a willingness to hurt others for personal gain.
The battle for the soul of America is really a battle for the souls of people. It is a battle between truth and lies, love and hate, humility and pride, peace and violence, justice and cruelty. We have freedom, but freedom is not permission to feed the worst parts of ourselves. We should not use liberty as an excuse to support evil.
If we say we believe in God, then our politics should show mercy, fairness, honesty, and respect for every person made in God’s image. God’s love is not limited to one race, one party, one class, or one nation. “God so loved the world” means all of humanity matters to Him.
This election season is not just about candidates or parties. It is about what kind of nation we want to be. Will we be one nation under God in practice, or only in words? Will we honor the Constitution, truth, justice, and equality for all people, or will we cheer for division as long as it benefits our side?
David prayed, “Search my heart.” That is where we must begin. Not just with what is wrong in others, but with what needs correction in us. Are we choosing peaceable wisdom or demonic wisdom? Are we standing for truth, justice, and righteousness, or are we making excuses for lies and cruelty?
What makes a nation great in God’s eyes is not loudness, wealth, power, or slogans. It is righteousness. It is truth. It is justice. It is mercy. It is love for neighbor. It is leaders and citizens who refuse to run toward evil and instead choose the hard work of peace.
It is time to turn the page—not by forgetting the past, but by learning from it. History may repeat itself, but people can repent, repair, and choose better. The correction begins when we reject lies, refuse hate, and walk in the wisdom that comes from above.
Minister A Francine Green I July 2026