The Heart of a Nation

Though presently facing many challenges, on many fronts, I am utterly convinced that America’s most critical issues are spiritual and moral first, and these issues have lead us to great social, political and economic upheaval and distress. It seems the Divine favor and blessings once abundantly showered on America have been squandered and by actively removing God from the public forum and societal conscience; along with all semblance of anything Holy, Pure or True from our midst, we have collectively bitten the Hand that feeds us. The very heart of this nation is desperately sick; suffering in the center of a global plague that has infected its very soul, eternally affected its people and is slowly effecting its demise.

The face of America has become overtly malevolent. Leaving nothing to the imagination, our senses are continually assaulted by unbridled (and previously unthinkable) depravity. Even our children are fair game to the wicked. Isaiah prophesied then (which is also applicable now) “The shew of their countenance (faces) doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves.” I can hardly think that the people of ancient Jerusalem were any more insolent in transgression than what we see paraded and celebrated all around us, every day. Common morality that once differentiated what was generally considered acceptable norms and what was unacceptable under any circumstance is gone. The perverse is not only lauded but legally mandated and the vile and abhorrent has become commonplace…. and it is called progress.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t stop there. The total corruption of power, the all consuming lust for money and the true depths of man’s greed and selfishness has lead this nation down the road to economic ruin, while our next year’s supply of food for this country burns in the processing plants. The greed of the few will result in the starvation of many. This nation’s leaders believe that the ends justify any and all means, regardless of legality much less morality. There are no moral lines to cross; nothing is out of bounds. They lie, they cheat, they steal and kill and call it progress…. all to the glory of Satan and to the pride of man. Micah wrote “Woe to them that devise iniquity and work evil upon their beds! when the morning is light (as in broad daylight) they practice it, for it is in the power of their hand.” That’s right, they have done this to our nation, because they can. As a nation, we are so blinded and insensitive to the subtle and insidious nature and origins of the plague that threatens us. This pandemic of sin is greater in scope and more lethal than any we have faced. I believe that unless this nation’s heart is cured…. America will surely die.

Thank GOD, until that threshold is crossed, there is hope and it relies on believers doing their part. The apostle Peter said “The end of all things is at hand; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer.”

~2 Chronicles 6:40

As followers of Christ, we must reach for heaven from our knees, with diligence, persistence and thanksgiving. “Now, my God, let, I beseech thee, thine eyes be open and thine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place. ”

We must never surrender the heart of this nation to the sworn enemy of Almighty God. Kneel down and speak up! God is listening, the world is watching and all glory, power and praise be to the Lamb of God. And all God’s people said Amen.

Internal decay of the church…

“Compromised Church Leadership & Preaching Is Contributing To Our Cultural Rot…….”

I look at the world around me, contemplating the state of global spiritual and physical affairs, and never has the old adage “what is the world coming to?” had more relevance than right now. It appears that the entire world has lost its collective mind and its’ moral compass.

It has been said that in 1873, Charles Finney, a Presbyterian revivalist minister, preached that “If the public press lacks moral discrimination… If the church is degenerate and worldly… If the world loses its interest in religion… If Satan rules in our halls of legislation… If our politics become so corrupt that the very foundations of our government are ready to fall away, the pulpit is responsible for it.”

Decision magazine recently reported: “A new study from the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University (ACU) has found that just 37% of Christian pastors in the United States have a Biblical worldview.” 37%, that’s barely over a mere third of ALL pastors in the US…. let that sink in a minute.

Perhaps this is why very few pastors will preach and teach the ancient prophesies, inspired by God, that are so relevant to the questions and needs of the times we find ourselves in right now. But biblical sermons on those subjects force folks to come to the realization that time is coming when the sands in the hourglass run out and that isn’t a happy thought for a lot of people out there. So,  just as prophesied,  the congregations are being fed what they want to hear,  but not what God wants to say. Quite to the contrary actually.

Sadly and to their shame, many Christian leaders have expended more effort and emphasis on discovering what’s trending in society (in order to draw more people through the doors) than prayerful study of the Bible in order to learn and then convey to their congregations what’s on God’s heart and in his Word. Indeed, many pastors are performing regurgitated, pre-fab, ear tickling, popular sermon series.
In their prideful quest to become relevant on the world stage,
(ie bigger buildings,  more campuses,  bigger contributing congregations, more books and videos and merchandise in the lobby ….using bigger TV screens and louder speakers and smoke machine effects,  for pop culture raided Christian worship)
……they have become irrelevant on God’s.”

We, as the church, need to stand against those that would preach a watered-down version of scripture in order to avoid ruffling someone’s “sensibilities”. Imagine how ruffled some will be at judgement when they protest that they never did anything that wasn’t condoned by ‘the church’, and yet they are denied entry into heaven. I am reminded of James 3:1 that says; “Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.” And later, Jesus Himself says “But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.” ~ Matthew 18:6

PRAISE GOD, there is repentance. PRAISE GOD for His faithful and patient mercy. Let God’s judgment begin in the House of the Lord; let His perfect and true conviction bring us to our knees in humble confession, repentance and prayer. The answer now is for God’s people to confess and repent of our sins (both corporate and individual), and to turn back and seek His face and His forgiveness.