Collaborative
America is facing many serious problems in the early part of the twenty-first century. Some of the most obvious problems are occurring in the political, economic, and cultural sectors of America’s society. Politically, it was evident from their victories in the 2008 General Elections that the Democratic Party was determined to use legislation, taxation, and regulation to force their will on the very people who voted them into their offices. Unfortunately, they, along with President Obama, have decided to take the United States down a road that leads to socialism. Of course, this road leads to government takeover of many parts of the private sector, too. A prime example would be the federal government’s control of General Motors. In fact, until recently, the federal government controlled sixty percent of the corporation. Also, many banks and other corporations could possibly come under the umbrella of government control, too. However, with a new Republican-controlled House of Representatives and with a larger number of Republican senators, the socialism “train” of the current administration could be stopped or at least slowed down tremendously. Prayerfully, the Democrats agenda to “change” America through socialism will be defeated or Americans will lose even more of their constitutional and god-given rights and privileges.
Economically, astronomical government spending at a time when approximately ten percent of America’s labor force is unemployed has created a financial crisis in the United States, which includes a national debt of over 12 trillion dollars. However, the government still passed a health care reform law that could possibly “break the bank” in the very near future. Therefore, as a result of the federal government borrowing money from the Social Security Fund and the Medicare/Medicaid Fund, these entitlement programs are on the verge of bankruptcy. In fact, the federal government will be paying out more Social Security money than it takes into its coffers in 2016, despite the fact that Americans have paid into the program for years. Unfortunately, Americans will soon have to pay increased taxes to shore up these two entitlement programs. Also, since the current administration has attempted to bail out everyone except the American taxpayer and since the current administration has increased the national debt more than any other administration in the history of the United States, Americans will have to pay even more taxes in 2011 to correct out of control government spending. Of course, it is ludicrous to think that the people who are responsible for the debt actually established a Debt Commission to figure out how to get out of debt.
Culturally, postmodern America has initiated the rebirth of the spirit of the “Roaring Twenties,” which desecrates the Judeo-Christian values of morality, honesty, integrity, and fair play. Also, just like the early 1920s, America has placed man’s ideologies and man’s self-gratifications above the teachings and dictates of the Bible, God’s Holy Word and God’s spiritual roadmap to eternal life in Heaven. As a result, the “anything goes” philosophy has become the guiding light for the actions and deeds of many Americans. Some of these cultural examples that are contrary to the morals and values taught or inferred in the Holy Scriptures, and expressly in the Ten Commandments, are:
1. Abortion
2. Homosexuality
3. Drug Abuse
4. Sex Trafficking
5. Gang Violence
6. Teen Premarital Sex
7. Divorce
8. Domestic Abuse
9. Child Abuse
10. Disrespect to Adults
Therefore, as is indicative of these cultural mores and others accepted and lived by many Americans today, America’s culture has become a prime example of what could be called the “Humpty Dumpty Effect.” In other words, America’s culture has fallen off of the Wall of Morality and Sensibility and shattered on the ground below. As a result, all the kings’ horses and all the kings’ men, which represent the United States government, cannot put Humpty Dumpty, America’s culture, back together again. But, God can!
However, despite the apparent reasons for America’s political, economic, and cultural problems, who is the main person or main group that is responsible for all the mess that exists in the United States? Surprising to probably most people, the main reason for all the mess in America today is the new paradigm shift of the Christian Church. Sadly, many of the Christian denominations and or individual Christian churches in the United States have shifted from the preaching of the true gospel of Jesus Christ to the preaching of a false social and or political gospel.
What is a social gospel? Basically, a social gospel brings the sins of society into the church. Of course, as Jesus stated in Luke 14:23, He wants social outcasts in His Church. He said, “Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.” But, Jesus’ purpose for those who come into His Church was to accept His Plan of Salvation. However, those who preach a social gospel attempt to get their church to accept the sins of the society at large. A prime example in postmodern America would be homosexuality. Too many American churches are arguing over whether or not homosexuality is a sin. But, why should any born-again Christian see the need to discuss this topic in church. The Bible explicitly states that it is a sin in the eyes of God. As stated in Romans 1: 26-27, “For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: or even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.” This scripture should be enough proof for any Christian or Christian church in the United States that homosexuality is contrary to God’s Plan of Salvation.
However, large numbers of people probably would not accept true salvation in a church that preaches an unscriptural social gospel. Also, even though these preachers and churches do many good things for people in society in the name of Jesus Christ, the works that they do might not be accepted by God. Jesus said in Matthew 7:21-23, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name and in thy name have cast out devils and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” However, Jesus does expect “And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” But, these works in themselves would have no saving value, unless the person performing the works first accepts Jesus and His Sinless Gospel by faith.
What is a political gospel? A political gospel brings the politics of the society at large into the church as a major topic of discussion. Therefore, those who preach a political gospel promote their views of America’s political affairs, instead of concentrating on God’s Plan of Salvation. A prime example would be the reported anti-American political messages that President Obama’s former pastor Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr. preached at the Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago. A church pulpit should never be used to preach anything contrary to God’s Love for sinners of all races, creeds, and colors. Also, the political views of a minister should never be given center stage in God’s Christian Church. God and His Only Begotten Son Jesus Christ should always be the major topic of discussion in Christian churches. The gospel that is preached from a church pulpit must line up with the Word of God. The preaching of any other gospel would be blasphemy to God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, since faith in Jesus Christ is the only path to Heaven. As stated in John 14:6, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” But, despite the fact that other religions denounce this scripture as a sign of the intolerance and self-centeredness of Christianity, this scripture from God’s Holy Word speaks for itself, since Jesus would not have said that there was only one way to Heaven if there were more ways. Of course, it is sad that based on a recent survey that over fifty percent of Christians in America accept the postmodern belief that there are many ways to get to Heaven.
Ultimately, the true Gospel of Jesus Christ must be preached in all churches in the United States. If America’s distorted Christian viewpoints are not replaced once again with the truth of the Gospel, American ministers and their churches will be held accountable for the spiritually dead nation that the United States is rapidly becoming, even though 80 to 90 percent of Americans claim to be born-again Christians. However, if all Christians return to their first love, the Lord Jesus Christ and His true Gospel, God would truly bless America as a nation once again. As Jesus stated in Matthew 6:33, while giving His great Sermon on the Mount, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things will be added unto you.” Therefore, God will never accept any distorted, manmade social and/or political gospel that would permit unrepentant sinners to go to Heaven. The true Gospel of Jesus Christ is based on the fact that sinners must ask forgiveness for their sins and that sinners must acknowledge that true salvation comes only through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Of course, any other route to Heaven would mean that Jesus died on the Cross of Calvary in vain, but He definitely did not.
However, America’s postmodern Christian Church acts as if Jesus Christ did die in vain. In fact, the postmodern Christian Church has indirectly provided propaganda fuel for the many anti-Christian forces in America. The sin of Christian individuals and Christian church organizations have made nonbelievers view Christianity as a joke. It began when high profile fundamentalist ministers were caught committing the sins that they preached against. When these men fell from God’s grace, many Americans lost interest in Christianity and its tenets. Then the sin of a few men spread to entire religious movement. Of course, as well-known church organizations abandoned their own Biblically-inspired doctrines, more and more people have abandoned their own Bible-based religious beliefs, too. Therefore, as a result of the new Christian paradigm shift, many Christians in America do not display the characteristics of a true believer in Jesus Christ. In fact, they spend more time meditating on their political, economic, and cultural problems in stead of meditating on the Word of God as stated in Psalms 1.
Also, postmodern Christians who do not meditate on the Word of God are more likely to become “Christian in name only.” Then, if they become “Christian in name only,” they fail to follow the directives contained in the Pledge to the Bible which states: “Thy Word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against God.” As a result, if Christians become “Christians in name only,” they lose the spiritual guidance needed to lead those that they come in contact with to Jesus Christ’s saving grace. Of course, as more and more people change from a Biblically-based lifestyle to a materialistic lifestyle, the peace of God leaves those people and their nation, too. Therefore, the main reason that America is in the mess that it is in today is the new Christian paradigm shift.
P.S. However, there is a way of escape from the mess that the United States finds itself in at present. Christians can return to their first love and then the peace of God will return to Christendom in America. As stated in II Chronicles 7:14, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” Then, when Christians get their own lives focused on their Lord and Savior, they will be able once again to help those who are in despair find a cure for the political, economic, and cultural mess in America, since the only true solution is a spiritual bailout.
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