America was once seen as a city on a hill—a land of opportunity rooted in Christian values and a shared moral code. But today, many Americans feel something has gone terribly wrong. We’ve become politically divided, morally confused, and culturally fragmented. Families are struggling. Communities are disconnected. And our national identity is fraying.
If you ask me where America went wrong, I’d point back to the Industrial Revolution. That’s when the engine of economic progress began to outrun our spiritual compass. It was the moment our collective priorities shifted—from people to profits, from purpose to production. From faith to efficiency.
The result? A slow but steady decline in our moral foundation—one that has accelerated with each generation.
The Hierarchy We Abandoned
I believe the heart of the problem is that we flipped the natural order God intended. Here’s the biblical hierarchy I think once anchored our nation:
- God
- Family
- Neighbors
- Self
- Country
Today, we’ve reversed this. National identity and political ideology now rank higher than faith, higher than family, and certainly higher than community. We’re more likely to argue with strangers online than break bread with neighbors. And we’re more loyal to political tribes than to biblical truth.
Let’s take a closer look at each level of this hierarchy—along with the Scriptures that support it:
GOD – The ultimate authority and source of truth. All other relationships flow from this foundation.
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.” —Mark 12:30
FAMILY – The first earthly institution God created. The bedrock of society and moral teaching.
“But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith…” —1 Timothy 5:8
NEIGHBORS – Community, charity, responsibility to others.
“Love your neighbor as yourself.” —Mark 12:31
SELF – Not unimportant, but properly ordered beneath others. The self is to be disciplined, not idolized.
“Deny yourself, take up your cross daily, and follow Me.” —Luke 9:23
COUNTRY – Still worthy of respect and service (Romans 13), but never to be worshiped or prioritized over God’s order.
“We must obey God rather than men.” —Acts 5:29
The Deification of Politicians
One symptom of this upside-down order is what I’d call the deification of politicians. Both the right and the left are guilty. Some hailed Barack Obama as a moral savior. Others treat Donald Trump as a divinely appointed deliverer. But Scripture warns clearly: “Do not put your trust in princes” (Psalm 146:3).
We were never meant to worship our leaders. They’re meant to serve under God—not replace Him.
This is nothing new. When ancient Israel demanded a king to be “like the other nations” (1 Samuel 8), God warned them: the king would take their sons, daughters, land, and freedoms. They got what they asked for—and regretted it.
We’re in a similar place. Our rulers reflect our priorities. If we idolize power, we’ll get powerful rulers—just, not righteous ones.
How the Industrial Revolution Changed America
The Industrial Revolution brought tremendous material progress. But with it came a spiritual recession. Our economy exploded, but our values imploded. Family farms gave way to factories. The Sabbath became another workday. Children were raised more by schedules and machines than by Scripture and parents.
Greed. Pride. Avarice. These sins—rooted in self-interest—replaced humility, generosity, and faith.
It’s not that industry itself is evil. But unchecked materialism has a way of making us forget our dependence on God. As Paul wrote, “The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil” (1 Timothy 6:10). Not money itself—but the worship of it.
And in many ways, we now worship efficiency, power, and self-fulfillment at the expense of spiritual discipline, community, and moral responsibility.
Good and Bad Rulers: What the Bible Says
The Bible consistently contrasts righteous leadership with wicked rule. Proverbs 29:2 says, “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when the wicked rule, the people groan.”
Isaiah 5:20 warns, “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil.” Today, we not only tolerate evil—we justify it. We mock virtue as outdated and glorify rebellion as courage.
If we’re groaning under unjust leadership, maybe the problem isn’t just our leaders. Maybe we’ve stopped being good citizens—citizens grounded in truth, humility, and fear of the Lord.
Restoring America’s Greatness Starts With Goodness
In 1835, English ministers Andrew Reed and James Matheson visited America and wrote:
“America will be great if America is good. If not, her greatness will vanish away like a morning cloud.”
That cloud is already fading. The light is dimming. But it’s not too late.
We won’t fix America through elections alone. The solution isn’t in Washington—it’s in our homes, our churches, and our daily lives. If we return to the biblical foundation that made America good in the first place, we might yet see a rebirth.
Revival begins with realignment. We need to restore that original order:
- God first.
- Family before politics.
- Neighbor above self.
- Country as a blessing—not a god.
When we live that way, we won’t need to chant “Make America Great Again.” We’ll just be living it—quietly, faithfully, and powerfully.
Conclusion
The question isn’t whether America can be saved. The question is whether we’re willing to turn back—back to faith, back to truth, and back to goodness.
We’ve gone wrong, yes. But with God, there’s always a way home.
