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From the writings of the Rev. Billy Graham

Q: There seems to always be glimmers of hope when an election takes place in our country, but hopes seem dashed when things don’t go the way we believe it should. Is there really a chance that our country can be saved from tyranny and from the diabolic immorality that has permeated nearly every institution – even many churches? Can we really hope for the great society that is promised by every politician regardless of diverse persuasions? – G.S.

A: Historians speak of our time as the post-Christian era. Many of our Western leaders believe that Christ and the church are irrelevant to these times. Every year, there’s a wider gap between our national ideals and Christian morality. In talking of equality, we have forgotten the importance of quality, and no nation can rise higher than the average moral quality of its individual citizens.

A great society may have a noble objective, but could we even come close to living up to that name? We in America are racked with painful divisions, deep hatreds, gross misunderstandings, and great social injustices. Yet the idea of a great society is not new.

Plato formulated his “Republic,” Sir Thomas More his “Utopia,” Karl Marx devised his classless society, and there have been many other attempts to form the ideal society. But while the motivation may have been good, past attempts to create the “great society” have failed miserably. Human nature has always stood in the way.

When Jesus was upon the earth, He talked not of a “great society” but of the Kingdom – His kingdom. The kingdom of Christ will endure forever. It will endure because the Kingdom Society isn’t built on a false promise. God’s kingdom is built upon Christ Himself. “Of His kingdom there will be no end” (Luke 1:33, NKJV).

(This column is based on the words and writings of the late Rev. Billy Graham.)

©2026 Billy Graham Literary Trust. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

(c)2026 BILLY GRAHAM DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.