Has America Lost Its Soul?

     A few days ago  during a drive  along the country roads in the county I notice there seems to be an emerging of signs that reads, “Pray For America,”  or “The Hope of America is Pray”.   This well intended message is eagerly received and acted upon through prayer by those who profess that the hope of the world is prayer.    At any given moment many will find themselves praying for peace in America and  the world, they will also pray for the  safety of their loved ones.   Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 5:2-3  For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 

     When I read or listen to the News I often find myself humming the words of an old song we use to sing back in the day. "Dark clouds are rising, sinner man stand a-trembling.  He is trying to hide his face from an angry God, We ain't got long to stay here.  

     Some years ago I observed a young minister in church expressing his views on family prayer and family values.  His wife and daughters sat nearby in drab clothing with their heads covered and in stoic silence.  He struggled to keep his son under control using threatening gestures  and weird facial expressions.    He extolled the virtues of pray in keeping families together.  The average Christian would often find themselves in embarrassing positions when visiting with the family. The family  would often excuse themselves to go into a family prayer session in their family prayer room.   There was a prayer session when the kids went outside to pray and  a prayer session before going to the grocery store .    1 Thessalonians 5:17  Pray without ceasing, was often used to defend his position and it was his belief and testimony that his family was truly blessed through his acts.

   When I see the outpouring of prayer for America and the family I am faced with a serious dilemma.  The condition of the world, America, the community, the church and the family are not getting better.  Maybe the answer lies in this statement made by Jesus in John 17:9  I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.  From a biblical prospective, there's no hope for this world, this world is slated for destruction because of its wickedness.   I do not see  prayer as a viable solution for the problems facing America.  The condition of man is waxing worst and worst, and the salt is loosing it saving power.  To many this is a very callous statement, but America, that nation that was formed under God,  once that oasis of hope has sold its birthright to the Devil in the name of political correctness.  She have defamed and profaned the God of our salvation, our family structure has been weakened and now America is leading the fight to profaned the sanctity of religious institutions.   She is following in the footsteps of the rise and fall of  other great empires.

    During his tenure as President,  George Bush, Jr  introduced a new concept call, faith base initiatives .  The purpose of these initiatives was to allow the church to receive financial assistance from the government for certain community based projects.  The church became federal contractors and thus the government  gained control of the message.  Two stinging examples of this was during the Roman and British rule when the church became instruments of the government.  God and the United States’s constitution  said there must be a separation of church and state.  This did not mean the state should not acknowledge God, but that the state should not meddle in the affairs of the church or attempt to control the message of the church.  First to come under attack was prayer in the schools, now it is prayer in the military.  Political correctness trumps Christianity.

     The church is loosing it leadership role, the vast number of churches has digressed into a sea of confusion. and is more focused on providing financial growth rather than spiritual maturity.  

      When The Rev. Jeremiah Wright made his stinging indictment of America  there was a public rush by many notables including his friend  the Obama’s to distance themselves from him.  During Lyndon Johnson and   Bill Clinton’s tenure as president, Rev Wright had enjoyed a position acceptable notability.  The President and General Minister of the United Church of Christ, John H. Thomas, stated: "It is critical that all of us express our gratitude and support to this remarkable congregation, to Jeremiah A. Wright for his leadership over 36 years.”  The indictments of America presented by  Rev. Wright in some of his sermons is now being seen in a different light and many will agree that, “America’s chickens are coming home to roost.  First the schools, then the family and now the churches.   Our food supply is contaminated.  New diseases are being brought to our attention.  Fires are burning out of control.  Nature has gone berserk and we are in denial of global warming, but didn’t the Bible speak of these things?  Matthew 24:7  For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.  Mark 13:8  For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.  Luke 21:11  And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.   

     1 John 2:15-17  Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.  Revelation 21:1  And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

     The young minister whom I spoke of earlier, his wife is serving time for selling drugs, one of his daughters has embraced the street life and openly confess to  an alternate lifestyle and his son is hanging out with gang members.   Many are praying for God to raise and educate our children and our younger generation is turning away from God.  We are praying for peace in a world that Jesus said was going to wax worst and worst.    Our prayer should be on the model that Jesus provided, Matthew 6:10  Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.