If history has taught us anything, it is that nations don’t necessarily rise or fall by external enemy forces, but rather from power-hungry, egotistical, and self-gratifying politicians and heads of state. And in some cases, the religious establishments that allow it to happen.

The rich and powerful and cowardly oligarchy that operates in the darkness of secret orders and societies, finances the corruption until that nation implodes and self-destructs.

The Roman Empire, the world’s superpower at the time of Jesus’s birth and earthly ministry, displayed such raw arrogance and brute militaristic power. Rome’s agenda was to conquer every nation within its reach.

When Jesus came on the scene, his ministry of love, compassion, and deliverance for the needy threatened the religious order and the political establishment, such that they would nail him to a cross. Jesus was born homeless but did not allow his earthly status confine or define his spiritual and human agenda to redeem mankind back to God’s love and grace. His prayerful relationship with his heavenly father would sustain him in the toughest of times.

So it is today in America. There is a prophetic silence from the religious establishment, while the political arena runs amuck. American citizens are suffering because of national leaders’ corruption, fiscal mismanagement, outright greed and deception. Six hundred billion spent on wars and 750 billion spent on bailouts as a consequence of selfish leadership.

Where is the prophetic voice in the land? Christian pastors, where are you? Who is crying out for justice for the poor and the needy on the national stage?

America is called the “Bread Basket of the World,” yet we have hunger running rampant in America. American citizens can’t get affordable medicine and healthcare, yet drug companies are making billions on new drugs to increase your sex drive. What’s up with that?

It is a national sin and shame that America calls itself a Christian nation when every political, economic, and social agenda says the opposite. American Christians must become active in addressing these issues. The prophetic silence must cease!

In ancient Roman society there were sects of people, the Patricians and the Plebians. The Patricians owned the land and the Plebians worked on the land. Today, in America, it’s the politicians, corporations and the courts working against the best interests of the American workers. The agenda is profit-over-people rather than serving the people to gain profit. Hence, you have the beginning of the fall of a nation. America must change her course and return to the mercy of God’s grace.

America’s cross to bear is the shame of hypocrisy and arrogance. America’s cross to bear is its shame of the evangelical cry for more blood through continuous wars, while not crying out for social justice within U.S. borders. That’s why Dr. King was compelled to write the Letter from the Birmingham Jail and Paul’s Letter To American Christians (King Papers at Stanford University.edu). National leaders need to read these two fine pieces of literature to gain some wisdom.

America’s cross to bear is its refusal to look in the mirror and face the reality that our political and militaristic agendas are the foundation of our economic and social decline.

America’s cross to bear is not knowing “there’s no right way to do a wrong thing, and no wrong way to do a right thing.”

It’s time for America to turn back to prayer and Jesus’ mission of love, compassion, and deliverance of the needy. God wants to fix America and heal the land. But citizens must turn their hearts and ways back to God.

America, turn back to God and live for justice, fairness, and equality for all, for this is the easiest cross to bear.

Kevin J. Oliveira lives in McDonough.