Turning the Tide by Charles Stanley

Turning the Tide: Chapter Reviews and Summaries "the Rising Tide" In Chapter 1 of Turning the Tide, author Charles Stanley writes about what he considers the main problems of America, namely a lack of civic engagement and religious family values. The first subtitle of the chapter is "The Story of Our Storm." Stanley makes an explicit analogy between the swelling of the ocean from an unexpected storm and the various crises that are occurring in America.

Unlike the natural ebbs and flows of the ocean, Stanley states that the difficulties America is currently facing are man-made. Stanley identifies a wide variety of troubles currently afflicting America, only some of which are explicitly religious in nature. These include the rising bankruptcy and mortgage default rate; the escalating divorce rate; challenges to traditional values; even the rise of actual storms and extreme weather. Stanley also fingers more explicitly religious problems, such as the increase in abortion and the decline in respect for Judeo-Christian values.

All of these, he believes, have the same root causes in selfishness and self-obsession in some way, shape or form. Like individual waves have the same root cause, so do these common problems. Stanley explicitly addresses his reader as a Christian, but also acknowledges the dual roles that all Christians have living in the United States of America.

Christians must live in the here and now -- within a society that has a secular government that can affect their lives -- as well as have their focus upon the life to come. He says he does not ask Christians to become part of a specific political movement, but does believe they need to speak out when necessary. Christians need to act, even though they have been encouraged in recent years to keep silent.

This book is a clarion call to Christians to lift their voices and make those voices heard. It is also a call for Christians to cultivate a deeper appreciation of the Bible and its values. Chapter 2: "Real Hope" Stanley's discussion of politics grows more explicit in his chapter entitled "Real Hope." Stanley defines God as the one being ultimately in control over the nation's fate, no matter how few people may acknowledge this in public life.

No single person, no politician can turn around the country, according to Stanley -- that is God's provenance alone. This may seem to run counter to the teaching "So give back to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's" (Matthew 22:22). But Stanley's analysis seems to suggest that although the heavenly world may be separate from the earthly world and different types of tributes are owed to each, this is not a reason we can turn our eyes away from the needs and demands of the world.

Sometimes Christians must take collective political action. Stanley does not lionize a single political figure as superior. He cautions that whenever we ask a politician to do only what God can do, "we are asking for trouble." We can honor some of the good that politicians have done and will hopefully do for our country in the future, but we should not confuse political values with spiritual values.

Politics is almost invariably concerned with materialism, which is why so many messages of hope and change are grounded in hope about changes in the economy or personal gain, rather than spirituality. We should pray for our leaders, but not confuse those prayers with praying to our leaders. Our leaders are part of the same struggle as ourselves on this earth, and often need just as much spiritual guidance as ourselves.

Our leaders may cloak themselves in spiritual words, but we must not confuse this with true spirituality, which is shown through deeds as well as words. Chapter 3: "Where we have failed" Chapter 3 is a chronicle of where Stanley believes we have failed a nation, and how we may wrest ourselves out of this state of failure. A person who does not know why he or she failed in the past, counsels Stanley, is apt to repeat his or her past mistakes.

Both governments and individuals must know where they have 'been' to understand how they can move forward. Stanley states that the history of the United States has been a godly one, founded upon religious principles we should not forget. Stanley is angry at a series of U.S. Supreme Court decisions which he believes has contributed to the perception of the United States as a 'secular' society, rather than one founded upon Judeo-Christian principles, like a 1948 ban on student religious groups using school property to hold meetings.

The Founding Fathers' original intention was to create a land where people could worship wherever and whenever they pleased, not to have religion relegated to a rather arbitrarily-defined and narrow aspect of modern life. Stanley believes that the wall of separation between church and state was designed to protect the church from state interference, not to ensure that the state could have control over church affairs, in contrast to what he believes is transpiring at present.

Modern laws encourage people to view freedom not as an opportunity to do good things, but to do ill. He quotes Paul: "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery" (Galatians 5:1). The 'slavery' we are falling into is the slavery of being held hostage by our own desires, which is not freedom at all.

Rather than using the positive environment provided by the United States to engage in a true spiritual quest, people are using the freedoms operated by society to yoke themselves to sexual excess and drugs. People are misunderstanding what is truly meant by Christian freedom to choose God and salvation. Chapter 4: "The Economic Tsunami" Initially, the title of Chapter 4: "The Economic Tsunami" may take the reader aback.

Hasn't Stanley just devoted the last few chapters to a discussion of the need for spiritual values, and dismissed a focus on secular values such as materialism? However, this chapter strives to directly connect the dots between some of the most severe problems affecting America today in terms of the mortgage crisis, high unemployment rate, and high rates of debt overall with a decline in spiritual values.

However, in the Bible it is made clear that to shackle one's self to debt is to leave one in spiritual danger: it means the soul is bound to another person, not to God. At present, the United States is borrowing money at an ever-escalating rate. Similarly, taxpayers are being shackled to ever-higher rates, supporting the dependency of others on the government.

There are also fewer and fewer people to tax, given the rising rate of unemployment, high rates of mortgage defaults, and a future that seems less and less promising by the day. Just as the United States is addicted to debt, so are average American households. People are constantly pursuing material objects as a way of fulfilling what is in reality a deep spiritual need.

Only when the country and its citizens realize what is truly important in life -- not chasing after bigger and better things -- will the addiction to debt cease and will people be able to have a truly free and unfettered relationship to God. Religion has always stressed the need for ascetic denial, and Stanley reminds us of this. He quotes: "Do not trust in extortion / or put vain hope in stolen goods; / though your riches increase, do not set your heart on them." (Psalm 62:10).

Ill-gotten gains or gains gotten through debt are 'stolen' or 'extorted' goods. Chapter 5: "The Downward Spiral of Socialism" As the title of Chapter 5: "The Downward Spiral of Socialism" indicates, Stanley is not a 'fan' of social welfare programs, although many progressive Christians have supported government assistance programs to take care of the nation's neediest populations. Stanley sees calls for wealth redistribution as directly linked to socialism, an ideology which has traditionally taken (in his view) a very negative view of religion, and particularly the Christian religion.

In socialism, the government authorities, not the people make choices, which Stanley sees as flagrantly in denial of the fundamental belief of Christianity in freedom -- human beings' freedom to choose to do good or ill. In socialist systems, Stanley states that this freedom is taken away from ordinary people and given to the government instead. Much of this chapter, however, is devoted to a relatively 'textbook' refutation of socialism on political, rather than spiritual grounds.

For example, Stanley criticizes socialism because it assumes all workers have equal ability and equal desire to progress, which he says is not the case. Souls may all be equal before God, but within a political system, he believes some degree of meritocracy is needed for the government to be functional. He says socialism denies human being's fundamental drive to possess things and to strive. One of the problems with this chapter is that Stanley is a theologian, not a political scientist.

Many forms of socialism exist, some of which are more progressive than others. Many Christians have explicitly identified themselves as socialists, and socialism and communism (which is officially 'atheist') is not the same thing. In taking a strong stand against socialism, Stanley's stress about the lack of equality between all human beings could be read to justify a lack of any forms of social welfare programs at all, and churches historically have played a very important role in caring for the indigent.

Chapter 6: "The Eroding Banks of Personal Freedom" Given his concerns about the relationship between religion and politics, Stanley is understandably focused upon First Amendment freedoms in his analysis of the modern political world in America. The First Amendment guarantees citizens' freedom of speech and freedom of religion. Having preached in Soviet Russia, Stanley is understandably sensitive to the fact that simply because something is codified in law does not mean that the authorities will actually support the right.

He recalls how in Russia when he preached the gospel in a church, although the doors were open and the sanctuary had been preserved as a historical monument, the translator refused to translate any of his spiritual words. Stanley fears that the same thing could happen within the United States, if people grow overly sanguine and careless about their personal freedoms. The freedom to worship and the freedom to express all kinds of political opinions are inextricably linked.

One of the reasons governments attempt to regulate religion is because the churches are viewed as institutions that are difficult to control and can give root to possibly seditious ideas. Also, religions teach citizens that all of their rights ultimately spring from God, not from government. The Founding Fathers themselves preached this doctrine, which was one reason why they were such zealous advocates of limited government.

However, controlling government institutions try to make the people believe that it is government that 'creates' rights rather than protects the rights which are ultimately given from God and God alone. Chapter 7: "Refuse to Tolerate the Flood of Immorality" In Chapter 7: "Refuse to Tolerate the Flood of Immorality," Stanley takes what may be his most controversial stance, namely his condemnation of what he sees as the sexualized values of contemporary American society.

Stanley compares America to a house that has trash scattered all over its yard, and calls America a 'moral mess,' given the prevalence of prostitution; abuse of drugs and alcohol; divorce, and the lack of respect that young people have for their elders. Much of the dominant media content is authored by non-believers, says Stanley, and the culture of disbelief and promiscuity has affected even the view of the Christians who consume this media.

Stanley says that he places strict limits on the types of media he consumes, reflecting a point-of-view that 'garbage goes in' will mean 'garbage will come out' in terms of what the viewer thinks. Christians should support legislation that promotes godliness and joy and positive values. Stanley counsels the reader to "trust and obey God's boundaries" rather than to test them. He believes that secular culture promotes callousness and a false sense of sexual freedom, when in truth sexual immorality only promotes heartache and shame for the participants.

Stanley believes that there is a reason that God placed specific restrictions on certain types of behaviors, and we must obey them to truly understand the beauty of the goodness of the world He created. If someone has sinned, they must ask for God's forgiveness and truly repent. Only God can lead someone to true repentance. When someone does repent, it is not an act of the minister or even the Church; it is God's intervention alone.

But only if we glorify God by treating our bodies with kindness and consideration can we be open to His mercy and grace. Chapter 8: "Boldly Hold Our Leaders Accountable" Rather than to 'boldly go where no man has gone before' into outer space, Stanley urges citizens to "Boldly Hold Our Leaders Accountable" to what they have promised and to the eternal truths they should uphold.

Although respecting good leaders should not be confused with the love we owe to God, they are indeed necessary for our nation to move forward and to 'turn back the tide' of spiritual immorality. "For lack of guidance a nation falls but victory is won through many advisers." (Proverbs 11:14). No nation, just like no person can 'go alone' and proper stewardship is required.

In a democracy, the awesome responsibility of choosing the leadership lies in the hands of the citizens, although Stanley believes it is ultimately God who chooses who leads a nation, through God's permissive or purposeful will. By this, Stanley means that sometimes God will allow certain leaders to come to power, even if they may not truly honor His values, while other times God will orchestrate who takes the helm of a nation in a purposeful and directive manner.

God's hand in the ruling of a nation's affairs can be seen on many occasions in the Bible, such as in His relationship with King David. God's intervention in worldly affairs is not limited to his involvement in the Biblical land of Israel, however, but also extends to his role in politics today. The U.S. Constitution specifically places checks, balances, and limits upon our leaders, but ultimately, says Stanley, it is God who allows human beings to rule and God can take away that authority as well.

No human leader has the ultimate authority of God in his ability to exercise rule over history. Stanley, however, believes that contemporary leaders have exceeded their boundaries in many instances, such as when leaders have passed laws telling parents how to raise their children; what people can eat and drink; and how all Americans can choose to work, pray, and live. Chapter 9: "Stand Against the Storm Clouds of Pride" Human pride is not a new emotion.

Stories of overly prideful people can be found as far back as the Bible, if not before that. Stanley critiques modern society as uniquely prideful and self-obsessed, however. All too often human beings fail to recognize that our "gifts, abilities, and talents" all derive from God, and what He can give, He can ultimately take away. This was seen in the story of Job, a man given many gifts whose fate was tested by God, when God gave Job much but then took it all away.

All Job was left with was his faith until God restored what Job had lost. Leaders are particularly susceptible to pride, given the powerful positions they hold. The Lord has said that He will remove and humble leaders who fail to acknowledge His role in bringing them to power. And America itself can be collectively 'prideful,' given that it often forgets that its many great accomplishments are in fact derived from God, rather than a massive act of self-will.

Sometimes it is easy to think that God has abandoned us in times of stress and turmoil, but it is important to remember the many times God has tested humanity, ever since the Biblical flood of Noah. Only by looking to God, not to political leadership, can we find salvation. God is "trying to get our attention, calling us to a deeper relationship with Him." But we should not assume during times of strife that we will inevitably survive because of the force of America's greatness.

Only God is eternal, not nations, and we must realize our collective dependence upon the divine to successfully persevere. When we engage in hurtful and prideful actions, it is not just ourselves who are hurt: everyone suffers. That is why humility is a responsibility we must shoulder. The choices we make every day affect other people and when we act in a prideful way, we create rifts within our community as well as between ourselves and God.

Chapter 10: "The Turning-Tide Power of Wisdom" As is his customary style, Stanley begins Chapter 10: "The Turning-Tide Power of Wisdom" with a metaphor: that of a driver going down the street, using the yellow line of the highway as a guide. This highway, says Stanley, is vitally necessary for safe and straight driving, and so is God's word. God's guidance is our 'straight line' down a moral path. Without the center line or map of scripture, life grows dangerous and chaotic.

God will recognize us in our times of need and will fulfill all of the awesome promises he makes to us, but we must keep our eye on His words. During times of extreme distress, scripture can heal our anxious hearts. In the Bible, kings are commanded to read.