Secession: Not Just for the Civil War

Secessionist movements seem to be spreading throughout the land we call the United States. South Miami wants to create a South Florida because North Florida is preventing them from acting to decrease their climate footprint.

Rural groups in Colorado, Maryland, California, and Oregon want to secede to form the states of North Colorado, West Maryland, and Jefferson (northern California and southern Oregon) because the current state legislatures are out of touch with the rural communities. 

And there is always the counties in New York that want to secede and join Pennsylvania because of lax fracking regulations. 

So it would seem that there are many movements right now to restructure the way in which our political system is currently organized. How many of them will actually succeed is unknown. Indeed it seems highly unlikely that we will see a 51st state or drastic redrawing of state borders within the near future.

But I agree with Ron Paul that these secessionist movements are an indication that Americans are willing to put in the work to ensure that their voices are heard. When the state legislature (or even the federal government) is not being representative of the people, conservatives and liberals alike will do anything to let their voice be heard. Even secession is an option. 

Though I disagree with Ron Paul that this secession will take hold and lead to the collapse of the United States and am much more pessimistic about my outlook of what a US collapse would entail for the US and the world, I think Dr. Paul is correct that these new movements are a step towards better individual representations. 

You are Not Alone

There is a point of focus in the Christian community today that people are going to persecute you for your actions if you defend God. Due to a desire to remain ignorant of God's wisdom, rebukes tend to fall on deaf ears.

Many Christians have allowed this to discourage them -to convince them that no one cares for God anymore. This is not just a recent phenomena.

In the Bible, Elijah famously begins to follow this same course of discouragement. He feels as if he is all alone and simply requests that the Lord takes his life. His reasoning is explained in 1 Kings 19:10,

"And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away."

 Elijah becomes discouraged because he believes that all his service has been for naught. In his eyes, despite his best efforts to revive the spirit of the children of Israel to the Lord, all have now gone and served other gods.

But the Lord corrects him in I Kings 19:18,

"Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him."

Elijah is told that he is not alone. The simple fact is that although many may dispute and punish you for spreading God's wisdom, there is almost always someone looking for it without knowing where he could find it. So continue spreading God's wisdom and know that you are not alone, no matter how you may feel.