(Originally published October 2020)
Written by Van Yandell
2 Timothy 3:2-5 “For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
Have you noticed how our society has changed over the last thirty or so years? Assuming one is old enough to remember from 1990 and before, this question may create a curiosity within us and cause us to ask why and how.
By Americans being systematically and intentionally introduced to new concepts, ideologies and beliefs in increments, we may not have noticed. By these thoughts being initiated subtly, we accept them, without question. We live in a totally different society from which many of us grew up and what we now view as massive change did not happen all at once.
Change is not always for better. Change, in this case, has been a degrading of our Christian culture into a culture of progressivism and permissiveness. Apparently, we have allowed this attitude to infiltrate into our youth and many adults without doing anything to prevent it, simply because we were too busy to notice it was happening.
Partly because of our negligence to proselytize, without God’s rules, our society continues to deteriorate. When we try to determine fault, we perhaps should look in a mirror.
Because of the newly introduced attitudes, Christians have often become a despised people. Our Jesus has become a source of jokes by comedians and other commentators. Christian persecution is at an all-time high worldwide.
God, in the scriptures, told us persecution would happen. Jesus said in Matthew 24: 9 “Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted and shall kill you, and ye shall be hated by all nations for My name’s sake.” We are most certainly living in an age of this condition. Christianity is on the firing line and we are standing like sheep being led to the slaughter. In reality, we are witnessing scriptural prophesy in action.
The greatness of America can be witnessed in many ways. Freedom is at the top of that list. However, the enemies of God and the United States are attacking Christianity and other freedoms through the rights provided by the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
Freedom of the press is often being used by some to produce false and misleading news. Many believe that the facts are being twisted and tangled to make it say what they want it to say by those with a specific political agenda.
Many also believe that small town newspapers and TV stations will see a resurgence because they seem to present a more factual representation of who, what, where, when and often why. That is what journalism is intended to be.
Freedom of religion has been incrementally adjusted to allow false teachings and lead people away from God, rather than to Him. America was founded for various reasons including freedom of religion, freedom from oppressive governments, and a general lack of freedoms. Of course we’re not a religious state, but we are a people that have a desire for truth.
I believe and preach the Bible proves itself from within itself. Prophesy and science in the Bible validate beyond any shadow of a doubt in the reasonable mind, the existence of an omnipotent and omniscient God.
A skeptic may argue you cannot prove any god actually exists. No one has ever seen him. Even Moses at the burning bush could not look upon the face of God. “How can you believe in such nonsense?” they ask.
There may not be definite “court of law” proof, but the evidence is overwhelming. I recently presented a sermon entitled “Green Slime.” I asked the congregation, “Do you prefer to believe you evolved from a lower form of life (green slime or ape) or that you were created by God?”
Of course, I answered the question for them. The answer was not spiritual, just logical. The evolution theory makes no sense. It could not have happened! Chaos cannot evolve into order and that is the second law of thermodynamics. Even Charles Darwin stated, “The belief that the human eye evolved by natural selection is absurd.”
The freedom of speech, in many instances, has been perverted by the movie makers. How many youth in America have been taught “sex on a notion” is acceptable behavior? But, consider the other repercussions: unwanted pregnancies, diseases, broken homes, lives ruined, just to name a few.
The film makers have also changed the spoken language. Incrementally, we have been conditioned to accept words into our language that were considered profanity by previous generations. Our usage of the English language would generate tears in the eyes of Shakespeare, Chaucer or Dickens. We have, indeed, degraded into chaos in our spoken language.
We can clearly see our freedoms are being gradually taken away. The rights to travel freely, speak freely and assemble without intimidation are on the firing line. If we do not endeavor to combat these attacks, we will one day suddenly find ourselves in a totalitarian state, under total control of an oppressive government.
You think this can’t happen; think again. It is happening right now. Gradually and incrementally we are being destroyed as a Christian nation. Recently we have seen acceleration of the process and without action on the part of the population, it will continue.
A previous article began, “Nothing good ever comes from it.” This current polarization of the political factions and media moguls is such a case. We are destroying ourselves in our attempts to destroy each other.
Some believe the U.S. is under a state of divine wrath. This year, 2022, has intensified that belief. In such a case, whatever happens will happen. God is in control. Based on the story of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19, our country is long overdue and deserving. This, of course, doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try to set things right; that may be God’s plan.
However, I also have the impression God has chosen the U.S. to evangelize the world. Just as Israel was chosen to provide a Savior (Genesis 12: 3b), perhaps we also have a divine purpose. With communication and transportation technology available to us, and the wealth generated by a free and capitalistic society, I see this as an obvious possibility.
The final question we must address is, “Are we on an assignment from God or on the path to destruction?” I do not have the answer but I must assume God has a purpose for us and we are not yet finished. The assignment by Jesus is: Acts 1: 8 “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
The Bible teaches salvation is only by a faith based belief that Christ Jesus was crucified for the remission of sin and resurrected. One can reject this, but what if it is right? Should one be argumentative on this subject and believe we evolved from a chaotic state? What if you’re wrong?