“Remember ever, and always, that your country was founded by the stern old Puritans whose first act on touching the soil of the new world was to offer on bended knees thanksgiving to Almighty God” (paraphrase of Henry Wilson; 18TH U.S. Vice President).
Unlike today, many early political leaders were not ashamed to admit the true source of America’s strength—they were biblically correct, rather than politically correct. They were statesmen, not politicians. A politician thinks of the next election; a statesman thinks of the next generation.
You may say, “Times change.” And you are correct, but God’s standards do not. The sin that once amazed us now amuses us; just look at what is considered “entertainment” today. When sin begins to amuse us, we are dangerously close to the edge—“Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil” (Isaiah 5:20).
Darwin is praised and curriculum that removes God is applauded. Boys can be girls, and girls boys. Men can marry men – women marry women. Chaplains can no longer look to the true source of truth and comfort. Up is down and down is up. America, wake up – we are a nation void of understanding…void of truth.
No matter how many laws are passed in favor of same-sex marriage or how many Facebook® users update their profiles to self-identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (800,000 in the last year), it will not change God’s mind. “I am the Lord thy God—I change not” (Malachi 3:6).
We must extend compassion but without compromise. Warning, confronting, challenging, advising, and admonishing are all characteristic of speaking the truth in love, not hate. Parents warn, confront, challenge, and admonish daily. Truly misled or self-serving individuals would wrongly attribute these traits to “hate-speech.”
The culture around us simply reflects who and what we value. As things stand, the future of America will be an atmosphere of even greater intolerance toward those committed to God’s ways, absolute truth, and traditional values. Ironically, groups that promote “tolerance” often lack tolerance for those who hold opposing views.
With a culture saturated by political correctness and relativism, we are inclined to ask if there is any hope for America. If we continue down this slippery slope, there is little hope. Apart from a national spiritual awakening, it will be difficult to turn the Titanic around—the vessel has been struck; what’s inside is spilling out. But if God brings revival…if we once again set our hearts and minds on Him…there is tremendous hope.
In churches across America, crowd appeal and pleasing the masses tends to be the goal rather than calling out destructive lifestyles, which can result in revival and renewal. If Judgment will start in the house of God, so must revival.
A deathlike, deep slumber, has overtaken the church: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead” (Revelation 3:1). The beacon of light has faded, the salt has lost its savor, and the message of the cross has been edited out of most sermons. We have lost our fervor for the truth. Have we considered that we may have offended God?
Let us not forget: America did not produce the blessings of liberty and freedom—God produced the blessings of America. Nearly 400 years ago, many sacrificed their lives and their families to promote religious freedom, and America was born. Many of those early Americans understood God’s design for a prosperous life—they were not found in government, but in God alone—it was on this foundation that America was built. Some may be offended by America’s Christian heritage, but that does not give them the right to remove God from America’s history.
Fortunately, God will continue to call from each generation those who will support His principles. I believe that many today are called to support these truths. John Chalfant, a member of the Council for National Policy, said, “If we participate in dragging down our country by refusing to become involved when we are commanded to be virtuous and to let our convictions be known, do we deserve to be free?” The price of freedom is never free. The moral state of our nation cannot be left to chance. We must keep the roots alive. I vote for God!
I make no apologies for the controversial content of this article. When we fail to confront, we confirm. When we fail to confront destructive ideas and philosophies, we are, in essence, confirming them. To state the obvious, we become part of the problem…we cannot change what we will not confront.
A large majority of the churches in America have been desensitized one generation at a time, one court decision at a time, one compromise at a time, and we are drowning in a cesspool of relativism. “The wicked freely parade and prance about while evil is praised throughout the land” (Psalm 12:8). I vote for God – He is our only hope. “Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?” (Psalm 85:6).
Video: WARNING: This Sermon Many Offend: https://vimeo.com/82531955
Shane Idleman is the founder and lead pastor of Westside Christian Fellowship in Lancaster, California, just North of Los Angeles. Shane’s sermons, articles, books, and radio program can all be found at shaneidleman.com or wcfav.org. Follow him on Facebook at: facebook.com/confusedchurch.
