The brochure reads, “America Is In Trouble.” It just hit my desk today. You may recall the words of Billy Graham a number of years ago that if America did not repent, God would have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah. Regular “prophetic” voices urge a “return” to God. Statistics become the ally of these prohpetic voices. Crime is up, biblical literacy is down. Registered participants in this call to action will receive a book and a lapel pin. Who wears these today?
Let me say, I am all for prayer. I am for praying for our Country. Scripture however points to the people of God for the beginning place of judgment. We need to take a better look at ourselves and issue a call to put off a cultural faith and live out an authentic expression of following Jesus. America is in the trouble it is in large measure not for what has been done in the Supreme Court, The White House nor the Capitol Buildings. The troulbe stems from “gospel reductionism.”
In order to get the word out to as many people we have reduced the gospel to the least common denominators, encourage mental assent and declare converts by the thousands. How do you reduce, “If any man would come after me, he must first deny himself, take up his cross and follow me.” How easily can you define “deny” and “follow.” Does that mean that for a momentary emotional moment we deny ourselves some indulgent passion? Does it mean so long as we follow our parents to church and then cause our children to follow us to church we have understood following?
America may be in trouble. I suggest the church may be in trouble. When our goals become legislation rather than the pursuit of godliness we are in trouble. When we spend more time on the preservation of displays of the Ten Commandments and the presentation of creches at Christmas to the exclusion of authenticly following Jesus into the reality of the Kingdom where the physical interfaces with the spiritual in Jesus, the Christ, we are in trouble.
We love the Scripture, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord”, as though that ensures for us a special dispensation under the provision and plan of the Father.
God help me follow you with every ounce of my being. Father help me live my life the way Jesus would live my life were he me. God may you then be glorified in who you have made me to be and may the world be blessed.
The brochure reads, “America Is In Trouble.” It just hit my desk today. You may recall the words of Billy Graham a number of years ago that if America did not repent, God would have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah. Regular “prophetic” voices urge a “return” to God. Statistics become the ally of these prohpetic voices. Crime is up, biblical literacy is down. Registered participants in this call to action will receive a book and a lapel pin. Who wears these today?
Let me say, I am all for prayer. I am for praying for our Country. Scripture however points to the people of God for the beginning place of judgment. We need to take a better look at ourselves and issue a call to put off a cultural faith and live out an authentic expression of following Jesus. America is in the trouble it is in large measure not for what has been done in the Supreme Court, The White House nor the Capitol Buildings. The troulbe stems from “gospel reductionism.”
In order to get the word out to as many people we have reduced the gospel to the least common denominators, encourage mental assent and declare converts by the thousands. How do you reduce, “If any man would come after me, he must first deny himself, take up his cross and follow me.” How easily can you define “deny” and “follow.” Does that mean that for a momentary emotional moment we deny ourselves some indulgent passion? Does it mean so long as we follow our parents to church and then cause our children to follow us to church we have understood following?
America may be in trouble. I suggest the church may be in trouble. When our goals become legislation rather than the pursuit of godliness we are in trouble. When we spend more time on the preservation of displays of the Ten Commandments and the presentation of creches at Christmas to the exclusion of authenticly following Jesus into the reality of the Kingdom where the physical interfaces with the spiritual in Jesus, the Christ, we are in trouble.
We love the Scripture, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord”, as though that ensures for us a special dispensation under the provision and plan of the Father.
God help me follow you with every ounce of my being. Father help me live my life the way Jesus would live my life were he me. God may you then be glorified in who you have made me to be and may the world be blessed.
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Todd Littleton
About the Author
Husband to Patty. Daddy to Kimberly and Tommie. Grandpa Doc to Cohen, Max, Fox, and Marlee. Pastor to Snow Hill Baptist Church. Graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Reading. Photography. Golf. Colorado. Jeeping. Friend. The views and opinions expressed here are my own and should not be construed as representing the corporate views of the church I pastor.