An Honest Look at America
It’s time for America to wake up and take a good honest look at ourselves. We love to brag, wave the flag and shout “God bless America!” But when God looks at America what does He see?
Some claim America is a Christian nation. Others say we are a nation that accepts all religions. If we truly were a Christian nation, there would be no separation of church and state. The government would make all its decisions based on the Word of God. Our leaders would publicly promote Christianity and would not claim that all “faiths” are valid means of worshiping God.
As it is, the nation continues its downward spiral into ever-increasing wickedness while denying our only Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Let us consider for a moment the American way of life.
American politics are corrupt, injustice runs rampant, and greed and dishonesty are commonplace. Lawsuits of every kind abound because of selfishness and an unwillingness to forgive.
The country is full of abortion clinics, homosexuality is fast becoming accepted, and divorce is casually viewed as normal.
Crime ravages our cities in domestic violence, gang violence, rape, murder, robbery, theft, drug trafficking, vandalism and organized crime.
Alcohol and drug addiction are at epidemic proportions.
Individuals and businesses alike deal dishonestly with lies, cons, embezzlement, fraud, money laundering, tax evasion, corporate takeovers, insider trading and the like.
Fully G-rated movies are unheard of. TV, the big screen, and even cartoons are full of violence, sex and crime. They endorse the acceptance of such inappropriate behavior as adultery, fornication and homosexuality. They glorify greed, selfishness, materialism, and living for entertainment.
There is also an obsession with the occult. Movies and TV shows with themes of witchcraft, violent murder, and the demonic are always a hit. The nation even still celebrates evil by continuing to recognize and observe Halloween.
The latest craze in television is reality shows where they flaunt all manner of ungodliness. And let’s not forget the ever-popular talk shows, sitcoms and soaps. All these depict humanity at our worst and Americans love to watch.
Gambling of all forms permeates our society from wagers on sports events to lotteries and casinos.
Our cities are full of bars, crack houses, strip clubs, pornography and prostitution.
Most parties and vacations involve some level of sex, alcohol or drugs. Whole cities are devoted to ungodly parties and entertainment. New Orleans and Las Vegas are good examples, but are not the only ones. Tourists from all over the country who just want to “have a good time” frequent these cities to indulge the sinful nature.
The nation is obsessed with luxury and entertainment. We spend most of our free time and billions of dollars on various forms of entertainment including sports, music, movies, vacations, clubs, resorts, recreational vehicles, etc. Yet, the land is full of poverty, prejudice, racism, oppression and injustice. We’ve relegated personal responsibility to the hands of government and charitable organizations so we are free to enjoy ourselves. We ease our conscience with paltry gifts to charity and laud our payment of taxes as justification.
Our elderly are virtually forsaken in nursing homes, assisted-living, and retirement villages. Our children are raised in day care or by sitters while we chase the wind pursuing careers, good times and the American dream.
Even American religion is full of sex scandals, materialism and an entertainment-driven mentality. Most churches no longer fulfill their God-given call and duty to preach repentance and turn God’s people from their sin. Rather, many have adopted the style and methods of the world and big business in order to draw a crowd and keep them happy. They use every form of entertainment and marketing to grow and maintain their so-called ministry.
Church leaders are supposed to be respected examples of godliness for others to follow. Instead, many have acquired a dishonest, dishonorable reputation that brings reproach on the name of Jesus Christ. Others disguise their wickedness with smooth talk and a slick appearance.
On the other hand, there are the religious zealots that self-righteously condemn certain sins they believe are more gross than their own. They love to attack homosexuals, abortionists, alcoholics, politicians and the like. But they overlook their own sins of greed, adultery, critical spirit, anger, slander and many others. And despite the warnings in 1Corinthians, lawsuits among Christians and churches are at an all time high.
Though many claim to fit the bill, it’s hard to find anyone who knows and stands for the truth, pursues righteousness, and conveys the genuine love of God.
Many Americans live relatively sheltered lives and do not seem to realize the serious condition of the nation and the church. With only a superficial glance, things don’t seem all that bad, especially in small towns. You go shopping and for the most part people seem to be decent, reasonably polite and minding their own business. You drive through an average neighborhood and all seems rather peaceful and safe. You attend a church service and meet seemingly friendly decent people. In most cases evil is not readily apparent in public. But behind most doors lurks untold evil.
Most families don’t have to look far to find such sins as greed, materialism, gossip, slander, grumbling and complaining, ingratitude, anger, hatred, selfishness, lawsuits, gluttony, laziness, lying, stealing, gambling, lust, pornography, incest, adultery, fornication, homosexuality, unwed pregnancy, violence, child abuse, spouse abuse, child and elderly neglect, divorce, alcoholism, drug abuse, murder and various other criminal activities. Some of these things make the news, but most go unnoticed.
I’m not talking about statistics; I’m talking about real individuals—our neighbors and our own families. If we are honest about it, we have all experienced many of these sins in our own families and personally committed some of them. Many of us own or work for the businesses or governments that are involved in the dishonest practices listed in preceding paragraphs.
We cannot point the finger at any single group or city. Nor can we point it at America as if the nation were some entity separate from ourselves. The nation is made up of individuals—and those individuals are the ones committing the sins.
Most people seem to turn a deaf ear and a blind eye to the reality of America’s true condition. We like to focus on the few good things for which we can praise ourselves. I’m not denying that there remains some good in America. That’s one reason there is still hope. I could make a list, but we have plenty of cheerleaders. Someone has to speak the truth. We are fooling ourselves if we think the good outweighs the bad.
We would do well to heed the Word of God that admonishes us to review the history of God’s people in the Old Testament to avoid repeating their mistakes.
Take 1Cor. 10:1-12 for example: “For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.
Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered over the desert.
“Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in pagan revelry.” We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. We should not test the Lord, as some of them did—and were killed by snakes. And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel.
“These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!”
By God’s very nature, He has never approved of sin. Just because we live in the age of grace doesn’t mean God overlooks sin. This is true even of born-again Christians and is therefore certainly true of those who do not belong to God.
We all love to hear about God’s love, mercy, grace and blessing. But we are fast becoming a people who will not tolerate biblical correction through preaching on sin and repentance. Paul warned of such times in 2Tim. 4:3-4 (ESV). “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.”
This same attitude brought great disaster on God’s people in times past. And the Old Testament records more than enough examples for us to be without excuse.
No, America is not a Christian nation, but there are Christians who live here. For those of you who remain faithful, I leave you with the words of our apostle Peter.
“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And,
“If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”
“So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.” (1Pet. 4:12-19)
For believers who are adrift in American culture and the rest of America, the words of the prophet Zephaniah call out to you.
“Gather together, gather together, O shameful nation, before the appointed time arrives and that day sweeps on like chaff, before the fierce anger of the Lord comes upon you, before the day of the Lord’s wrath comes upon you. Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land, you who do what he commands. Seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the Lord’s anger.” (Zeph. 2:1-3)
