An email arrived in my inbox today that served to remind me of the world we are living in.A portion of the email referenced a military chaplain who was dismissed for refusing to cease praying in the name of Jesus Christ.Now, mind you, this is a Christian chaplain serving in the United States military who was being forced to choose between his role in serving his country and his citizenship in God’s Kingdom.Of course, this is nothing new as stories like this are now popping up regularly.The Washington Post (not a Christian-friendly periodical) shared a related story in May of this year concerning legislation that would serve to permit Christian chaplains to continue to invoke the name of Jesus Christ as they serve in the Armed Forces.Welcome to America where abortion is legal, prostitution is legal in some places, marijuana use is legal in some places, pornography, gambling, sodomy, adultery, and fornication are all tolerated. . . but the mention of the name of Jesus requires us to stop all activity and discern if this is tolerable.The sound you hear is the rumble of Heaven’s thunder.
Let me get a little hell-fire and brimstone on you for a minute.I’m going to address my words to people who profess to believe in Jesus Christ as Supreme Lord over all.Do we really think that God is turning a blind eye to the reality that the name of His only begotten Son is being treated like a disease?What do we really think the response of God is going to be to a nation that not only has forgotten Him but has virtually given Him the finger for the last 45 years (forgive the crudeness)?God immensely chastised Old Testament Israel, His covenant people, for their continual rejection of Him.The Almighty wore them out time and time again! I hate to be the bearer of bad news but God hasn’t made any covenants with America and we should probably throw on the brakes before we plunge headlong over the cliff of presumption into a bottomless pit of regret. He owes us nothing. I look to the mockery of Washington DC and hang my head when I realize that Americans were dumb enough to populate Congress with so many foolish people.The rampant humanism, pride and apostate godlessness mingled with the politics of socialism will certainly be the downfall of this once mighty nation if something doesn't change. Please don’t dismiss my words as empty Christian fanaticism – I’m speaking to believers – but I’m looking for one of two things to happen: Revival or Wrath.
Revival rescues us.Wrath finishes us.Do you know why America has been so abundantly blessed and protected during the last 234 years?God!We believed in God.We bowed before God.Jesus Christ was the passion of so many Americans and this provided a manifestation of the blessed presence of God upon the landscape of our nation.We preached His Gospel, sang His anthems, exalted His word, bowed before His throne, sought His face, depended upon His provision, obediently received His definition of morality, and blessed the mighty name of His Son without hesitation.Extract your head from the sand of deception, rub the grains from your blurry eyes and face the facts: we were a Christian nation.We no longer are and my heart is breaking.
My children will be among the first generation of Americans to live in a culture where Jesus Christ is viewed in hostility.He’s an intruder in the USA.As Ahab asked godly Elijah, ‘Are you the one who troubles Israel?’ we now gaze suspiciously upon Jesus Christ and refuse Him the opportunity to "mess with the new America".My words are not describing a political ideology; I’ve never looked to the government to provide anything more than some restraint to evil.Government can’t change hearts.Government can’t enlighten souls.Government can’t usher in paradise.When it comes to manifesting lasting spiritual power, human government is as effective as bullfrog teaching physics to graduate students.Christians should probably stop focusing so much on Washington DC and start looking in our own hearts.The problem began there and the solution still resides there.While we are blaming our elected officials for the erosion of our nation very few Christians are pausing to question how it ever got to this point.How did wholesale foolishness become the characteristic of our government?My opinion is that successive generations of believers in Christ held hands in the shadows while the wolf set up shop in the sunlight.We failed to season our country with salt.We dimmed our lights.We ran crying when someone shot a glaring look in our direction.We received hostile ideologies with handshakes instead of doubled up fists. We maximized kindness and tolerance until they fused into a gigantic altar upon which we sacrificed reason and truth. Behind closed doors, we prayed for Jesus to come back instead of walking through those doors to face the Goliaths defying God in the valley.We turned the other cheek to the extent that our cheeks (not the ones on your face) got blistered by forces that should have bowed to the One we represent.We quit on God’s plan. When we should have been marching we shuffled our feet. When we could have wielded the Sword of the Spirit we used our hands to wave the white flag of compromised surrender. The enemy didn't win - we conceded the fight.
Yes, I’m ticked off.I’m mad at me.I’m mad at you.I’m mad at US this morning.What in the world have we done?
Rather than giving a tidy wrap up to today’s blog I’m just going to let it hang in the air.You’ve read my sanctified rant today.Why don’t you take five minutes of your time and hit the comments button below and supplement my words with some of your own.Consider it your digital Amen if you agree with me today.
I think i smell sulfur. seriously, you're right but finding blame is the easier task. who has solutions?
Posted by roger v on 07/27/2010 06:43:40
AMEN and AMEN!! You just put in words what I think in my heart many days as the tears flow from my eyes in prayer because of mine and others' grandchildren. America, it seems to me, has lost her mind. No Christian should be surprised though because when you ask GOD to get out of your business, the consequences of that are dire, to say the least. "Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD..." "Righteousness exalteth a nation but sin is a reproach to any people." "The wicked shall be turned into hell and all the nations that forget God." I know my comment was long but I, too, am filled with righteous anger and pray for God's mercy on our land every day! Love you, MaMa
Posted by deborah samples on 07/27/2010 06:57:02
Preach on Brother Jeff. America has become a nation that is tolerant of everybody except Christians. God also said He would bless the nation that blesses His people and curse those who curse Israel. God blessed America as long as we harbored and stood with Israel. Since America voted in a Muslim who snubs Netanyahu, God has taken his hand of blessing away. Pray Maranatha, come soon Lord Jesus for your bride.
Posted by Janice on 07/27/2010 10:08:54
Though I am middle aged, I speak from a young age as a New Christian. I too am sad and very concerned as to the removal of "God" when we speak of these once wonderful, United States of America.In our Holy Bible, scripture tells us to uphold and to Honor our leaders, as He, Our Almighty God, has appointed them .Therefore I agree, we as Believers, have certainly not followed Our Lords commands, to stand up for our beliefs, and profess our faith and loyalty to Our Lord. We all need to pray, and ask Him for forgiveness and guidance to what we can do to bring this country once again under His blessings. I pray for us all.
Posted by Becky on 07/27/2010 13:08:52
Amen Brother, Preach on! I have long since stopped believing in "Freedom of Religion" in America. Our founders believed in freedom of religion because most of them were Christian, and believed that our nation would stay that way. President Washington was skeptical about giving our nation too much freedom because he believed that "If our nation ever turns from the God of the Bible, it will be doomed". Now, our very freedom to worship as we please could very well become the downfall of our country. If our country votes to make our national religion Muslim, we can see how Americans like sharia law, with no freedom but to become a Muslim. Our country had better wake up before it is too late!
Posted by Richard Tinker on 07/27/2010 16:16:30
You are sooooooo right. May God write the names of all our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren in His book of life. I pray God will save America unless this is His apointed time and His perfect will. I thank God for preachers who speak truth of which you are one.
Posted by Elsie Johnson on 07/28/2010 08:20:55
My son Jeff...a man after my own heart! Roger V. asks, "Who has the solutions?" The answer: we do. The solution is the reinstallation of Judeo-Christian values in the public arena. We need only look to our black brothers and sisters for the modality: an organized, persistent exposing of evil in the light of righteous indignation until evil bows to right. The question, of course, is this: are American Christians willing to sacrifice our daily comforts to achieve the redemption of our nation. Sadly, I don't believe we have the collective will.
