America the (Once) Great

In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus told believers, “You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.” (Matthew 5:13-14)

In a very real sense, America largely filled the description of “light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.” America was founded by dedicated Christians seeking freedom to worship God according to the counsels of their souls. And that “light of the world” which was founded on solid biblical principles attracted countless millions to its shores. But the “salt” therein has been losing its flavor, dramatically of late!

Believers are responsible for the great moral and economic decline in America today! Need proof? “Then if my people (believers) who are called by my name (Christians) will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)

Perhaps you’ve seen “forwards” in your email quoting that verse from “serious” Christians. Are there “unserious” Christians? They could be called CYNICs, which is short for “Christians, Yet, Not In Christ.” CYNICs far outnumber the serious ones. They don’t tend to the needs of the Lord. They find it too easy to surrender principles, going along to get along. Their loyalties are divided between God and the world. They are unstable and unreliable. (James 1:18)

We are well aware of Paul’s advice to Roman Christians on submitting to authorities. “Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God.” ( Romans 13:1)

This is good and proper advice, clarified by Christ’s earlier statement: “Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s.” However the apostles, led by Peter, were confronted with the high priest who commanded them never to speak or teach in the name of Jesus. The apostles knew they had a higher authority than the high priest or the Sadducees, so continued to teach about Jesus.

Once again the apostles were hauled before the high priest, this time with the high council convened, to explain their speaking in the name of Jesus following the first warning. Their reply, “We must obey God rather than any human authority.” (Acts 5:29)

Here’s another principle which is too frequently overlooked: “Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them.” (Ephesians 5:11)

If Christian believers were more vigilant about what God wanted of them, there would have been no national decline! God has said it through His Word. Here from the Word, spoken by the Lord, is what God wants from believers: “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:35-40)

But “believers” with divided loyalties find it more convenient to passively entertain themselves with highly tainted media than to actively search out the will of God for themselves. Solomon wrote: Those who love money never have enough. Our experiences tell us those who live for selfish pleasures never have enough either.

As a nation, America has officially approved the murder of unborn infants and has initiated the process of deliberately perverting the sanctity of marriage, while publicly voicing lies about these abominations. They describe the murders as “a woman’s choice” and the intolerable perversion of God’s institution of marriage as something that is “gay”.

Lies and abominations abound. The people elect leaders to represent the people’s interests, but the leaders instead serve themselves with frequent raises, exclusive health benefits, and handsome retirement incomes at the expense of those whom they are elected to serve.

The elected look upon themselves as elite rulers, lavishly financed by the slaves of the system, the taxpayers. An ancient warning is renewed: “Your leaders are like wolves who tear apart their victims. They actually destroy people’s lives for money!” (Ezekiel 22:27)

America’s slide into oblivion is accelerating. Unbelievers, unhampered by CYNICs, are gaining successes in removing references to God and prayer to God from public life. Schools have been dramatically affected, thereby radically changing the attitudes and values of the students. Colleges and universities are largely filters of morality and centers of ideological indoctrination. Government, education, healthcare, entertainment, industry, the military, and especially religion are mostly inhabited by CYNICs who allow nonbelievers to rule the roost.

The government’s administration is adamant about stifling public Christian witness, constantly seeking out new ways to force Christian businesses and churches to act against their spiritual and moral principles. Christian military chaplains are ordered to refrain from using the name “Jesus” in public prayer or displaying the cross on chapels. They are even threatened with severe punishment if they proselytize.

Public art exhibits invent vile ways to depict Christian icons. The Constitution is denigrated, eroded and side-stepped. Christianity and Judaism are routinely disrespected while religions that openly oppose Christians and Jews are often given preferential recognition. It’s as if the nation has an intentional case of dementia regarding its history and purpose.