Today we have many conveniences that we did not have 40 or 50 years ago. However, I must ask whether we truly believe our country is better off than it was 40 or 50 years ago, especially considering the fact that we have more lawlessness than ever.

Rest assured that it is not my purpose to try to reform America through this column, or even to encourage you to reform America. The focus of every Christian should be to glorify God. Reformation may be a by-product of that focus, but the focus is still on God.

I believe that the Bible does, however, have something to say about the situation in which we find ourselves today in "the land of the free, and the home of the brave."

Many of the people we have elected to the Senate and House of Representatives, and most Bible-denying liberals, would have us to believe that the problem with crime in America is the accessibility of guns. They think tighter laws on handguns would make the crime problem go away. But the answer is not to put more restrictions on the ability of law-abiding people to own weapons. The problem is much deeper than that.

Let me begin with what I believe to be the most obvious underlying problem with regard to crime in America today; the departure of purity within our nation. The scriptures tell us that "Righteousness exalts a nation; but sin is a reproach to any people." It also states that "There is a way which seems right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death."

If you don't believe that we have lost our way as a nation, just look at the abortion rate. Some records show that American physicians are murdering 1.5 million babies each year in our country. That's absolutely appalling.

A second reason for much of this mess we are facing would be the large numbers of power-hungry politicians that we choose to "lead" us. The Bible says that "If a ruler hearkens to lies, all his servants are wicked."

Many of the people who rule over the nation did not get elected because of their faithful service or their values or their dedication to just causes. They got where they are because of where they distribute their money and by giving political favors.

A recent chain-type email speaks of how many felons and other assorted criminals are now sitting in Washington D.C. ruling over our nation. These leaders are apparently some of the most immoral people you would ever meet. And believe me, corruption and abuse of power are not just reserved for the national political arena.

As a third reason for our fall into the chaos of crime and moral decay would be the delay of punishment. Again, the scriptures tell us that "Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil."

In other words, punishment for a known crime should be swift and complete -- to the fullest extent of the law. The circumstances for committing a crime should be a greater deterrent than the rewards of that crime are attractive. People should be made to restore what they destroy or steal.

In addition, if a country is going to have prisons, the prisoners should work to pay for their room and board as well as their "debt to society." I don't believe a criminal has repaid his debt to society by being housed, fed and schooled at taxpayer expense while he has daily access to the most up-to-date libraries and fitness centers.

Capital punishment is prescribed in the Bible (for the people of Israel) for many crimes, including adultery, sodomy, bestiality, kidnapping, murder, and other crimes which destroy a society's moral fabric. God made no place in His commandments for jails and prisons. He prescribed punishment and/or restitution.

In many places, our school systems have gone steadily downhill. Not only are many public schools immoral places, and unsafe places, but they are designed to teach children to leave God out of their education.

It seems to me that this whole slide into being a nation of lawlessness has less to do with gun control and more to do with our rejection of what's right.

God's word has been rejected. God's work has been persecuted. God's wisdom has been ignored. Is it any wonder that we are under the judgment of God!