America is in a free fall spiritually. On our three month trip across much of these United States, we saw this to be the case. We visited people in the streets, stores, churches, homes, parks, famous historical and geographical sites, and all along the way in many different venues. It was the same whevever we went. People are in a spiritual stupor. Many appear as if their eyes are glazed over when it comes to seeing life through spiritual eyes.
The picture above is showing the World Trade Center (can you see it to the right through the fog). This is how most of American Christians are seeing life now – through a fog.
They see the truth, they know Jesus Christ is the way, they believe in following God in their life. But their life is not a clear reflection of the truths that Christ taught while here on earth and the truths God teaches throughout all of scripture; and the truths that the Church practiced for centuries before now.
This country is experiencing apostasy – a falling away. The term apostasy comes from the Greek word apostasia (“ἀποστασία”) meaning defection, departure, revolt or rebellion. It has been described as “a willful falling away from, or rebellion against, Christianity.”
This is the state of affairs of the church of America when it comes to our Christianity. This is clearly evidenced by the beliefs that the vast majority of Christians hold and practice today, which is in great contradiction to the practice of our forefathers only 100 – 150 years ago. What once were considered foundational biblical practices to Christians in this country are now a distant thought in the past. We can go down a list and if you are regular reader of this website, you know what we are talking about.
- Love of money evidenced by debt, over spending, over consuming, retirement funds, life insurance policies, early retirement, etc.
- Immorality – evidenced by divorce and remarriage, pornography, movies, television, entertainment venues, alcohol drinking, dancing, etc.
- Worldy pleasures, – evidenced by wrong music (rock, country, contemporary Christian, etc.), gluttony, slothfulness, dishonoring the Lord’s Day, and so on.
- Immodesty – evidenced by lack of dress, cross dressing, casual dress, expensive dress, and all other forms of drawing attention to the human body.
- Love of self – evidenced by birth control, sending children to public and private schools, and allowing children to participate with adults in their pursuit of worldy pleasures.
- Iniquity – This is the worst problem in our nation. Iniquity is man wanting to do his will versus the will of the Heavenly Father, the Creator, the God of all the universe. This is evidenced by our ignoring what God teaches in the Holy Scriptures and justifying our actions to others.
On our trip we had the opportunity to visit many different churches. We were in the oldest Black Church in America that was started in 1733. We also visited the third oldest Jewish synagogue in the nation. We were in denominational churches, non denominational churches, home churches, large churches, small churches, old churches, young churches. It was mostly all the same. Some of the churches would have worshipped and lived differently than us, some much more similar. But the reality is that most churches are the same – in a spiritual stupor and a fog.
Many church leaders try to combat this problem with wrong music, video productions, “special music,” entertaining sermons, fast paced programs, multiple church activities, special meetings – the list goes on. But these efforts do nothing to bring people to spiritual life. That only comes with a vibrant, living, relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. And when you have such a true relationship with Christ, you do not need these meagor, man centered, man created efforts to inspire you, motivate you, touch you, and move you to Godly living.
Let me give you an example of how far we have fallen in our day from godly living and godly examples in our churches. One church we visited would be considered a family centered church, focusing on hymn singing, modest dress, and Christ centered preaching. After the service the Pastor spoke with me and found out we were from Oklahoma. He asked where we attended church. I told him we were not currently involved with a local church.
He preceded to tell me about three different pastors in our state that he knew and that he could recommend their church to us. As he spoke about each church, I told him I had visited each one and knew what their church taught and practiced. One of the churches was led by a divorced and remarried pastor. One of the churches was led by a man who believes that birth control is good and appropriate and should be used by Christians. One of the churches believe that Contemporary Christian music (a term for music in the church with a rock beat) is good and acceptable. This well known pastor knew what I was telling him was true, yet he was still willing to recommend these churches to us.
This is typical of our present day pastors and churches. Now a few churches we attended (like the one i just referred to) take a clear stand on one or two of the previously mentioned topics. But then they go way off on the other areas of Christianity that are just as scriptural. This is where iniquity comes into play. The leaders of these churches have decided they want to take a stand on certain Biblical issues, but not others. We have too many examples in Scripture of leaders who tried this path, but without God’s blessing.
Take heart good Christian reader. All is not lost. There are still those in America (few and far between it seems) who want to follow God with their whole heart, soul, mind, and strength, Mark 12:30. We met a few and it was a refreshment to our soul and spirit.
Our nation is in desperate need of an awakening. It must begin in the churches. When and if it comes, we will not need to post on a sign there is a revival happening, it will be evident to all around. The land is full of darkness, all the better for a light to shine forth. Those who are living godly in Christ Jesus need not be discouraged, the day is coming and sooner rather than later, we will see the light shine forth out of the darkness.
