History shows that a multitude of nations have collapsed since the beginning of civilization. While climate, disease, and catastrophic weather may have caused some civilizations to disappear, the more modern ones tend to collapse because of human compromise, collusion, corruption, and cowardice—the Four Cs that are now leading to America’s collapse.

In the last column we discussed how compromise is at the root of almost every problem in America – from the highest levels of government, industry, banking and even pulpits to individual citizens – but the discussion on this topic is not over. Compromise goes much deeper than just our core belief systems, both individual and corporate. But first, I feel compelled to touch upon the similarities between ancient Rome and America. As the Bible says, “That which has been is that which will be [again]; And that which has been done is that which will be done again. So, there is nothing new under the sun.” (Ecc. 1:9 AMP)

Rome suffered from political corruption, internal power struggles, ineffective leadership, economic problems, and basic internal decay/rot. Sound familiar? Furthermore, “Barbarians, which is a term that covers a varied and changing group of outsiders (including Islamists), were embraced by Rome, who used them as suppliers of tax revenue and bodies for the military, even promoting them to positions of power,” according to ThoughtCo.com. (emphasis mine) This passage seems to describe what today we call illegal immigrants and “indentured servants/slaves.” How many times have political leaders from all sides talked of needing illegal immigrants in our country to do all the jobs Americans will not do, such as cleaning the toilets of the rich and famous, or even of our own elected representatives/barons? No, it does not sound nice, but it is time to keep it real.

Concerning the citizens, the Roman masses were kept fed and entertained with “bread and circuses” so that the “ruling class” could operate without any interference from them. Likewise, our citizens are well-fed and entertained. There is welfare that mandates truly little work requirements in most states for people who somehow manage to have Internet, smart phones, and cable on their big-screen televisions to keep them occupied/entertained instead of looking for or working at jobs. I have heard people say they do not want to “rock the boat” by complaining about various issues to the government for fear of losing their “entitlements.” Cowardice, mixed in with laziness? What happens to those entitlements when the government runs out of money because nobody has the intestinal fortitude to stand up and hold the government accountable? Like now with the government shutdown?

All of the above problems led to the fall of the Roman Empire that had lasted over a millennium! Frankly, the original pillars of America’s foundation have been torn down and rebuilt with stinky, rotten materials, and on “sinking sand,” and we will be fortunate to celebrate our 250th birthday. The Bible warned us there are two different foundations on which to build—rock and sand. (Matt. 7:24-27)

While we discussed compromise at length in the last article, we need to understand even more about where compromise takes us as individuals, and as a nation.

First of all, compromise seeps into every decision we make. After we have compromised on a principle we once believed in, it becomes easier to compromise on the next principle. For instance, it has been said that a “little white lie” is not really a lie. But we all know this is not true. A lie is a lie. Period.

While I am not a psychologist, I have observed human behavior for many decades, and understand that once a person tells one lie, it is easier to tell the next lie, and the next, and the next, and on and on… Case in point: Politicians who somehow get re-elected unto death. Logic tells us that someone who has been in government and has repeatedly voted a certain way for 30 or 40+ years, (and is therefore part of the problem, not the solution) is lying when he promises to change things. He is simply a snake oil representative telling you seductive lies or promising some “perk” (a.k.a. “pork”) so we will re-elect him yet again. When we know he is lying, yet vote for him anyway, we compromise.

I have known people that lied so much, that after a while the line between truth and lies became so blurred they could no longer differentiate between the two. (Like the perpetual politician above.) Those who were telling lies about people became paranoid of being around other people because they could not remember to whom they told what lies. I learned long ago from watching such behavior that if one always tells the truth, there is no fear of the words you may have spoken.

Lying is just one action involved in compromise, which is a lowering of standards individually and collectively. Lies affect everyone else. Even just a little white lie to a friend will weaken that friendship. The late Zig Ziglar once said that after someone lied to him, he put a question mark after everything they told him because he no longer trusted them. I agree with Him...how about you? Folks, this whole study is about integrity, character, and morals. When we abandon our original principles/beliefs, the latest belief system dictates our path—for better or worse. Considering the state of our nation, which way do you believe we are headed?

In my study of the decline of the Roman Empire, sources mentioned that one of the problems associated with the moral decay was the theory of “moral relativism.” I remember discussing this topic with a friend almost 40 years ago. She was explaining how her son’s Catholic school was teaching that it is sometimes okay to lie, cheat, and steal. (Situational Ethics—being taught in a Catholic school no less!) I argued that it is always wrong, but she was in favor of the premise. And here we are in 2025, where the three behaviors are accepted and sometimes celebrated! Again, compromise. And for those parents who did not go to the school board meetings to protest and change the policy of this and many other assaults on our children, it was cowardice.

For clarification, situational ethics is not moral relativism; However, it is associated. A summary of multiple sources on Search Assistant explains: “Moral relativism suggests that moral principles are not universal and depend on culture, historical, and personal contexts, meaning there is no absolute truth in morality. In contrast, situational ethics focuses on the specific context of a situation to determine the right action, emphasizing love as the only absolute moral principle. Morality is not universal, and there is no absolute truth, except love.”

Remember when Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez told America that the looters in California needed to feed their families, making it okay for them to steal? (Odd that people can now eat things like big screen TVs, cell phones, and designer jewelry and handbags.) Is it okay to steal because this theft was done for love!?! By the way, AOC wants to run for the presidency! May Americans fall to their knees and cry for mercy from God.

On moral relativism, if there is no absolute truth, then we are all animals living in the jungle where the code is survival of the fittest. Everyone is for themselves. Regarding situational ethics, know that our attitude should be to do the right thing EVERY time! We know how to distinguish between right and wrong from the Bible. (Read the passage from Romans chapter one from the previous article.) Truth is written on our hearts and consciences.

Another problem that plagued the Roman Empire was moral inversion, which Bible Hub describes as the “distortion of God’s established order and principles, where actions considered immoral are justified by individuals influenced by societal ideologies.”

Said another way, it is “calling good evil and evil good; substituting darkness for light, and light for darkness, and substituting bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.” (Isa. 5:20 AMP) The passage also calls out “woes” to all who do these things. Folks, when God says WOE to our behavior, it is not a good thing.

Before we close, we need to understand that compromise is the cause of the other three Cs—Collusion, corruption, and cowardice.

Webster’s 1913 Dictionary defines collusion:

N. 1. A secret agreement and cooperation for a fraudulent

or deceitful purpose; a playing into each other’s hands; deceit; fraud; cunning.

2. (Law) An agreement between two or more people

to defraud a person of his rights, by the forms of law,

or to obtain an object forbidden by law.

Where do we see most collusion? In our government, particularly at the federal level, but also in corporations. But people run governments and corporations—people who are compromised. The people running corporations, many of which operate in foreign countries, seek only to get the most reward for themselves and their shareholders, or the deep pockets of the entities bankrolling them. They collude with one another, take bribes, whatever it takes to get even more money and power. And who suffers, the citizens of our country? But then, when we continue to buy their products, we compromise our beliefs if we know they are in the wrong. When our children are in the wrong, do we reward them? And yes, even individual citizens collude/conspire to get ahead and “beat the system.” Jails are filled with such people.

Part two of the above definition includes things like “lawfare” that has been waged on so many conservative government officials, lawyers, and yes, even President Donald Trump. Scores of people colluded and manufactured information in bringing charges and false accusations against individuals who just wanted to serve their country. Again, compromise was first involved to make people willing to pervert the law and cause a desired result to be accomplished. Dear reader, if it happened to all those people in high places, do not think it cannot happen to all of us! It can. The powers-that-be now know they can get by with almost anything. Who thinks they will not silence, punish, and destroy ANYONE who stands against them?

The biggest colluders have been in the highest positions of our government for decades. Having long ago compromised, the collusion allows them to personally benefit, at the cost of the people they are supposed to serve.

Next is corruption, which we do not need to define. The Bible says, “the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.” (1 Jn. 5:19 AMP) Since we have strayed so far from God the Father and His Holy Word (see the first part of this series), America and the entire world is corrupt. Like a cancer, corruption has seeped into every area of our lives and systems because first we compromised on our beliefs. Remember that God has indeed made himself known to us. (Again, see Romans Chapter one from first part of this article.) What was once common sense we have discarded in mass, choosing instead “new” ideas with which the enemy of our souls has tempted us. Remember Adam and Eve? But again, there is nothing new under the sun. Satan repeatedly uses the same tools/tactics because they work. When he finds a person’s weakness, he gets that person to compromise, then he can use it to further compromise the individual and utterly destroy him. This happens to nations as well.

The last of the four Cs that still affects our society, and even those who once believed in God and His Holy Word, is cowardice. Anyone can see society is not improving, so just when is it time to stop being afraid and boldly standing up to the darkness? Anyone who has read to the end of the Bible knows that one day in the future there will be a day of reckoning when everyone will have to make a choice about taking or rejecting a mark called the Mark of the Beast, and declaring or rejecting allegiance to a man called the antichrist. (Daniel chapter 7, Revelation chapter 13) Logic tells me that we must learn to uncompromisingly stand for righteousness and Truth in simpler situations—like before we tell a lie, or cheat on our taxes. Remember, compromise affects everything we do and takes us further from Truth.

If we are believers in the Lord Jesus Christ and walking uprightly according to His instructions which are in the Holy Bible, then we have nothing to fear. Our purpose here is to be “imitators of God” (Eph. 5:1) and to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15 NKJV) We are also called to pray, and yes, even for corrupt people in government, scoundrels, and our enemies.

Is our government going to suddenly turn righteous? Not unless the people in government become righteous. Even after Christianity became the official religion in Rome, the empire still fell. As discussed in part one of this series, there a scores and scores of people serving in high positions throughout our nation who are soft, mushy, and smelly like bunches of plants rotting away. Good fruit is not being produced, and the Bible tells us “The axe [of God’s judgment] is swinging toward the root of the trees; therefore, every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” (Matt. 3:10 AMP)

The only hope for America to be saved from that swinging axe is for God’s people to return to Him and stop compromising with the world, which currently belongs to Satan, the destroyer. God would have saved Sodom and Gomorrah for just ten righteous people. Does America have that proverbial ten righteous? Are you one of the ten? It is not too late to surrender to the Lord and then follow, pray, and obey His Word. To anyone willing to hear….