What’s wrong with America? Has the reigning super power lost its edge? Unprecedented debt, rampant corruption, and an all-time high poverty level has led some to believe the country is going to hell in a hand basket. Most everyone knows that something is wrong in America, but cannot quite figure out what the problem is. The Republicans say it is the liberal’s fault. The Democrats say it is the conservatives who are to blame. The rich say it’s the poor and the poor say the rich aren’t paying their fair share. Everyone, including all levels of government, Hollywood, rappers, athletes, immigrants, the school system, and the little old lady who lives down the street, seems to have a finger pointed at them for this country’s current state of affairs. Some even say it started when they took prayer out of the schools. I am not sure I agree that removing prayer from schools is the culprit, but something has us descending for what appears to be a crash landing. Thus far, the solution being offered by our leaders is to throw money at the situation: Raise the debt ceiling; raise the minimum wage; create more programs. But those are not sufficient responses. Firstly, we cannot spend our way out of this. Secondly, we do not have the money in the first place. Printing more will only result in increased debt and burden with little or no return. This nation is in trouble. But I don’t think it is due to government corruption, corporate greed, an increasingly uncensored entertainment industry, or any of the usual targets. Although the reasons we are said to be hurrying to hell are quite compelling, I believe those reasons are the symptoms of something much bigger. I believe America is failing because of the church. “Now the word of the Lord came unto Jonah…., saying, Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me. But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. But the Lord sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken. Then the mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto his god, and cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten it of them. And they said every one to his fellow, Come, and let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this evil is upon us. So they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonah. Then said they unto him, Tell us, we pray thee, for whose cause this evil is upon us; What is thine occupation? and whence comest thou? what is thy country? and of what people art thou? And he said unto them, I am an Hebrew; and I fear the Lord, the God of heaven, which hath made the sea and the dry land. Then were the men exceedingly afraid, and said unto him. Why hast thou done this? For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the Lord, because he had told them. Then said they unto him, What shall we do unto thee, that the sea may be calm unto us? for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous. And he said unto them, Take me up, and cast me forth into the sea; so shall the sea be calm unto you: for I know that for my sake this great tempest is upon you. Nevertheless the men rowed hard to bring it to the land; but they could not: for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous against them.” Jon. 1:1-13 God gave Jonah well-defined instructions. Go to Nineveh and speak out against their riotous living. But after giving it some thought, Jonah purchased a boarding pass and headed for Tarshish. His decision to snub the Lord would not go unnoticed. Soon after they set sail the Lord sent a mighty wind into the sea, threatening Jonah’s life along with everyone in his company. The bible does not specify how many men were on the ship. But however many there were, the possibility of never seeing their loved ones again had become very real. Jonah’s decision to disobey the Lord nearly cost the men their lives and would have impacted their families forever. Although they lived to see another day, his actions resulted in major damages to their vessel and loss revenue. Here is where I think the church is today. It has cast aside the Lord’s instructions and is going in a completely different direction. The church is living in defiance to the word of God and this country is paying the price for it. “Son of man, when the land sinneth against me by trespassing grievously, then will I stretch out mine hand upon it, and will break the staff of the bread thereof, and will send famine upon it, and will cut off man and beast from it:” Ezek. 14:13 While the greater part of attention today is placed on the economy and how we can get it going again, we are facing a much larger issue than our $17 trillion dollar debt. America is fighting against the Lord in a battle it cannot possibly win. Immediate changes must be made if we are to avert a catastrophic end to this once great nation. As the sailors would discover on their voyage to Tarshish, carrying the wrong passenger can lead to devastating results. Therefore, believers need to take a long, hard look in the mirror and see how their lives measure up to God’s word. Any excess baggage (sinful ways) must be tossed overboard. We will not survive any other way.
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