( Ed. note: This is Part 2 of a two-part chapter written by Brian Walter in his ongoing series regarding the No Budget No Pay Act. Part 1 appeared on Page 5 of the Sunday, March 2, edition.)

No Budget No Pay (NBNP) takes the problem of greed for money and uses it as the ultimate weapon to motivate both sides to work hard and sacrifice to get their pay.

It is a beautiful solution. It is a solution based on God’s word.

It will significantly lessen our division by incentivizing political opponents to come together in order to receive their pay.

It will end dysfunction by requiring passage of all appropriation bills and a budget to be passed by Oct. 1, the first day of the federal fiscal year.

To trust that once NBNP is passed it will lead to reduced spending and a virtuous outcome is indeed an act of trust.

It is an act of trusting in God’s power to believe that reducing spending to match our income is a virtuous thing.

It is recognizing that some of our own desires will have to be forfeited to achieve compromise.

It is trusting that God will make sure that once the rules are set and that honest engagement occurs, moral arguments will overcome selfish immoral arguments.

We must lean into God’s Word.

We must trust the outcome to God. We must lead with a self-sacrificial spirit.

To lean into God’s Word is our only hope.

Once we have first humbled ourselves and convinced ourselves to trust God that if we limit ourselves to simple and fair, but also powerful and effective, rules by God’s grace and righteousness, a balanced spending plan will result.

NBNP gives the righteous the ultimate tool to overcome un-righteous desires.

And that tool is self-sacrifi ce.

Only those who believe in a noble cause will truly embrace sacrifice to achieve their goal.

If one is not convinced of the first two points that the problem must have a gradual solution and that God will raise up those who are willing to deny themselves and lead through humble admission of their own sins and self-sacrifice, then there is no reason to go to the third point.

But for those who are convinced, let’s continue to the third and final point.

It is important to focus one’s mind on each step of the progression thoroughly.

One must not drift back to blaming one’s political opponent.

If one slips back, one will once again become embroiled in the lesser and ever-changing arguments common in Washington.

The debates are driven by the always approaching next election and the never-ending news cycle, inflamed by the sensationalism that is the current state of journalism in America.

I don’t use the word sensationalism lightly.

Sensationalism is a huge part of our national problem.

For those who have not ever taken a deep look at what that means in our society, let’s pause to reflect on its definition.

Sensationalism: (especially in journalism) the use of exciting or shocking stories or language at the expense of accuracy in order to provoke public interest or excitement.

We must truly get our minds around these truths: 1. America is going to fail financially if we do not embrace major change.

2. The only way to change our course is to amend our constitution. Nothing short of this will have the power needed to sustain the long and difficult path we must travel down due to the size of the problem.

3. One cannot amend the Constitution with a partisanorevenaperceived partisan argument. It must be a moral argument. Once one is convinced of this, and only after, will one be prepared for a deep and productive conversation on why NBNP is the best and perhaps the only way to change our course.

Lastly, we have to start with the end in mind.

So, let’s remind ourselves: What is our end game?

Our end game is to heal our nation. Our nation is barreling towards financial collapse.

We have decided that Tom Coburn was right. The only way to change our nation’s course is through constitutional amendment.

Well if we are engaged in a battle to amend the constitution, what are the rules?

Article 5 of our constitution says that regardless of whether an amendment originates in Congress or is brought by the States, it must be ratified by 75% of the states.

Furthermore to even propose an amendment originated in the states, two-thirds of the states have to come together to request a convention.

Well it is quite clear that the partisan division that is so strong and is threatening to rip our nation apart is dividing us very evenly.

The partisan divide is 50%, plus or minus a point or two.

Therefore, if we are wise and consider the end from the beginning, we know that we must purge any hint of partisanship before we begin.

We must lead on as humble and sacrificial Christian examples believing that provided we push for a moral solution we can still achieve the incredibly high 75% agreement among our states.

Our congress reflects our population. Achieving agreement of even a simple majority has become incredibly difficult.

Seventy-five percent approval will be incredibly tough. We need to start with the end in mind.

Many conservatives believe that the proposed amendment needs to have real teeth. That is to say the proposed amendment must guarantee a fiscally conservative outcome or a balanced budget.

Let’s be clear, a fiscally conservative outcome is the only thing that is going to save us in the end. But we have to get 75% ratification among the states to pass an amendment.

If you could poll the U.S. population by a show of hands and asked the question, how many everyday Americans are willing to endure a personal sacrifi ce to adopt a fiscally conservative Constitutional Amendment because they desire a balanced Federal budget, I believe we would be lucky to get 50%.

We have multiple problems. People don’t like pain. Our people have become very soft. Our people are short sighted.

And, perhaps most imp ortantly, the political left have become very suspect of the political right and vice versa. This means if you propose an amendment that you think is only common sense, such as enforcing a balanced budget, it has now become politically divisive.

We all know the political Right has for a long time sought to identify itself as the fiscally conservative party.

The problem is that the political Right has time and time again shown that this is primarily a ploy to appear virtuous rather than a true commitment to do what is necessary.

Tom Coburn wrote clearly that the Republicans were just as guilty as the Democrats in leading us to where we are.

Now back to the challenge of passing an amendment. The amendment cannot succeed simply by appealing only to the people who identify as fiscally conservative.

So, is the cause hopeless?

Well, many well-educated people have convinced themselves it is.

With God, all things are possible. Remember Jesus said these three remain: Faith, Hope and Love. And the greatest of these is Love.

My fellow Americans this is where we are at.

We are at a point fiscally where one is inclined to give up all hope except for one’s faith in God. We need to turn to God.

Tom Coburn said spiritual renewal would be required.

He was right. Spiritual renewal means turning to God’s word.

Does God’s word say we need to limit our deficits, for instance?

This parameter makes perfect sense to a fiscal conservative. Because fiscally conservative statements have become political, such a statement is doomed to fail.

God’s word never made such a statement.

Does God’s word say we are to do our work? The answer is straightforward.

It does. The Bible tells us in 2 Thessalonians 3:10 that he who does not work shall not eat.

What is the primary job of Congress? Their primary job is to pass the budget and all 12 appropriation bills by Oct. 1 of each year, which is exactly what NBNP requires.

Will NBNP end our division?

Working together to solve big problems is what has always brought Americans together.

Will NBNP end our dysfunction?

Passing a budget and all 12 federal appropriation bills by Oct. 1 is by definition an end to dysfunction.

Now the big question: Will NBNP lead toward a balanced budget?

Yes it will. Martin Luther King, Jr., said it well when he said “the Arc of the Moral Universe is long. But it bends towards justice.”

We must realize it will be a long trip back to fiscal sanity.

We must embrace Jesus’ command to deny ourselves and take up our cross to preserve our freedom.

It is what America has always done in times of trial. And history requires the same of our generation.

We must trust that by embracing the long battle ahead and embracing self-sacrifice good results will surely follow.

Can we do it? Will we do it?

Yes, I believe we can and I pray we will!

Winston Churchill said it well when he said, “Americans will always do the right thing when there is no other choice.”

There is no other choice. The time is now. Self-sacrifice is the ultimate tool and the ultimate example of love for others.

The Bible tells us love never fails. The Bible says Jesus is watching.

When we the people come together in America around a righteous cause there is nothing we cannot do.

We are incredibly blessed because the generations that came before us sacrifi ced greatly to win and preserve freedom for us.

Our generation has a moral obligation to make the sacrifices necessary to preserve freedom for our grandchildren.

NBNP is based on God’s word.

It is the right answer at the needed time.

NBNP has the necessary power to meet this great challenge.