The United Snakes Of America

When the godly are in authority, the people rejoice. But when the wicked are in power, they groan. (Prov. 29:2)

I hear it first.

Amidst the noise and commotion, I hear the faintest rattle. I’ve heard it enough to know its source.

Memories of its sting jerk my senses alert. My heart starts to race and my stomach to lurch.

I pray and see.

It’s disguised well, but I recognize its slither.

Some may say it’s imagination or ignore it, and it’ll go away.

But I know better.

Once you’ve known the serpent’s sting—it’s something you never forget. 

In a forest of words, I watch him weave through phrases like, Separation of Church and state.

His tail swings words like a hypnotist’s pendulum. Establishment Clause, Equality and Climate Change back and forth, across the page, they flow like a sleepy lullaby.  

And then there are many, as one the whole earth churns and squirms and slithers.

His hissing tongue tickles ears while fangs inject venom disguised as wisdom.

In and out with grace and charm, he traverses the ground, until all traces of that which had gone before…is no more.

He who has ears to hear let him hear.

And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying,

      “Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night. “And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death. “For this reason, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time.” (Revelation 12 NASB)

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