To look at the state of America today is to despair if you put your trust in man. The unrelenting assault on righteous foundations is breathtaking in its zeal. The blatant disregard for the law is matched by the malevolent use of the law to destroy those who disagree with the political-media elites. Goodness is declared evil and the vilest evil is declared good and all who demur are slandered into bankruptcy and silence.
We are in a civil war where one side is avowedly pagan in its outlook: it looks to Man, most particularly Collective Man in the form of the national government as its god. It gives this god many names: The People, Science, Social Justice, Socialism; but it is the old Moloch worship and Baalism.
The other side is effectively pagan as well. Its god is Tradition, Law & Order, Individualism, Conservatism; but it too is Man-centered and is thus just a different version of the same thing. It is, in fact, a weaker version of the first because its highest form is the power of the individual or family. And since the power of Collective Man in the form of the state is far greater than that of the individual or family, the proponents of Collective Man inexorably drive back their opponents. So-called conservatives, contrary to their view of themselves as principled, define themselves in relation to progressives. As such, conservatism is constantly changing to be the progressivism of a previous generation.
There is no hope in this war except for repentance and submission to Christ. This should be the prayer and proclamation of the Church, but far too many have buried their coins. In the parables, a servant buries the coin/talent he is given because he considers his master to be a jerk. He accuses his master of being a hard man–one who requires far too much of his servants and does nothing for them. He sees no point in engaging in the most minor work with what he is entrusted with because of his contempt for his lord. At the same time, you can easily imagine the boasting of this servant about how much his master had entrusted him with in the right company.
This servant exemplifies the church today. There is much work to be done with what has been given us. We are given so many things to do: teaching, convicting, correcting, training, worshipping, comforting, visiting, and much, much more. All of this to be done to glorify Christ and build in His kingdom. Yet we reduce our efforts to the absolute minimum, while loudly proclaiming the tasks we have been given. We give lip-service to evangelism, loudly, but only 2% every year will evangelize even one person. Even when evangelism is done, it is generally so twisted and watered down that it simply confirms people of their own self-righteousness. There is no call to repentance. There is no call to faith in Christ. There is no call to die to self. There is no call to sacrifice, much less obedience. We see churches filled for a time by man-centered methods and yet no change in lives, no change in families, no change in communities, and no change in the nation. And we wonder at it all.
I hesitate to even mention 2nd Chronicles 7:14, but it bears looking at again. God says, “If my people”, His people–the ones called by His Name–Christians. If they will humble themselves. If they will pray. Pray and do what? Seek His face. Why? So that they, the people of God–Christians, can turn from their wicked ways. Then, and only then, will He hear from heaven. Then, and only then, will He forgive us and heal our land. Until then our prayers condemn us just as the Pharisee who thanked God was condemned for his prayer.
We must fall on our faces before the Lord and confess our sin, as individuals, as families, as deacons, as teachers, as pastors, as churches. And we must forsake our sin, begging the Lord for forgiveness and cleansing. We must beg the Holy Spirit to examine us thoroughly and show us our sin in order that we may repent. We must have godly sorrow that leads to repentance. And we must cast it all upon Christ and then arise in newness of life. A life that is full of faith, hope, and love. One that is shown in steadfast love and devotion to Christ.
Then God will hear and heal our land. Maranatha!