As we are approaching the 2020 election and I reflect upon the last year in America, I believe we truly are a nation that is in turmoil.  A year ago, I would not have expected that we would see riots, looting, statues being torn down, an economy being shut down or that there would be a movement to defund police departments.  This has challenged me to think deeply about what I have seen in recent decades in America, and as I do, I realize that much of this should have been expected.   For decades, our public schools and higher education has indoctrinated students in secularism and Marxist ideologies.  An anti-Christian vision of society has been forced upon us through law, media and entertainment.  The dream of liberty being defined as freedom from sin has been replaced with a vision that freedom is to do whatever we want, in other words, a freedom to sin.  We have embraced a worldview that man is nothing more than the highest evolved animal and that there is no purpose or significance to human life. We have gotten to a place in our culture where many people cannot see the self-evident truth that God designed men and women to raise families in the covenant of marriage or that humans in the womb must be protected.  The issues that we are facing are both serious and dangerous.  They are so entrenched in our culture that they will not be fixed through an election, or even many elections.  We have been in the midst of a culture war for the faith and character of our nation for many decades and the only way we can win this war is by raising up a generation who will restore the fear of the Lord to America.

We all need to wrestle with our own convictions in order to pass faith in Christ and hope for the future on to our children.  I have heard many people express that they have no hope for the future of America, that it is impossible to win the culture war.  To some, the issues we are facing seem insurmountable.  Yet, because of a deep faith in Jesus, a knowledge of scripture, an understanding of history and what I see at Fortis Academy, I have hope that everything can be turned around.

When I ponder the birth of America, I see a people who caught a dream of liberty due to the first great awakening.  They dared to believe that God champions the cause of freedom and they boldly went to war with the most powerful empire of the day.  In many ways it was an impossible war to win.  After suffering terrible defeats during the war, many patriots questioned whether they could win.  One of the key elements of success in war is morale, and with morale hanging in the balance, people needed a word of hope.  John Adams gave such a strengthening word when confronted with that very question; he boldly proclaimed that they could win if they would fear God and repent of their sins.  The point is that great victories can be won against tyranny and sin through faith in Christ and obedience to Him.  We can do the same today.

We need to raise up a generation that loves the Lord and has the courage and skills to change culture.  I see that happening at Fortis Academy.  I have great hope because of the commitment of our families, our faculty and staff, but most importantly, because of our students.  They are being given the type of education that every child should receive.  It is an education in faith and virtue that develops the skills of persuasion.  As Christians, we know that no matter what happens in the world, Jesus Christ is Lord.  He wins!  Yet, I am deeply convinced that it is our Christian duty to champion love, liberty and truth in culture because that is pleasing to God.   In our students, I can see the hope for the future of America.