By Pastor --------
Spiritual renewal (revival) will save America spiritually, socially and economically. According to Jesus’ teaching and example this can only happen when the church grows a spine and takes up its responsibility to convict the culture. This will require laying aside the feel-good, market-driven, consumer-based preaching model in favor of biblical sermons that provoke us toward repentance.
Jesus preached, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near!” [Matthew 4:17]
America needs a wave of spiritual renewal to save us socially.
I take notice of comments this past year by Patrick J. Buchanan who, among many other things, worked in the White House with presidents Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan and was himself twice a credible presidential candidate. Note the following, poignant quotes:
“If we no longer agree on what is right and wrong, we can never be one people again.” “Cultures spring from religion … the decay of a religion involves the decay of the culture corresponding to it.” “Every nation, every culture, has to be inspired by a body of morals.” He believes the West is literally dying off, based on our birth rate, because, “The child-centered society has been succeeded by the self. The purpose of life is the pursuit of pleasure, not the sacrifices required in the raising of children.”
America also needs a wave of spiritual renewal to save us economically.
Consider the effects of abortion as one example. It’s estimated by various sources that as many as 55 million babies have been aborted since 1973. This is not only a spiritual issue. It has huge national security and economic impacts as well.
News reports constantly remind us that Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid are heading for bankruptcy. This is in large part due to government mismanagement. It is also because current workers pay into the system and support current retirees. While our population ages the number of younger workers paying into the system can’t keep pace with the number of retirees.
Had these millions of babies not been aborted many of them would already be adults today and paying into the system. Imagine the difference with 20 million, 30 million or 40 million more Americans paying taxes into the system.
Imagine the purchasing power of these millions of Americans. How many consumer goods were never manufactured or purchased? Think about how many plumbers, carpenters, truck drivers, doctors, lawyers, scientists, soldiers, entrepreneurs were never born and never had a chance to contribute to our society of their God-given talents and tax dollars.
There is little need for me to comment on the effects of the decay of traditional marriage.
Where has the church been the past 25 years?
As I have noted in other posts, the success metric for the American church, generally speaking, is not the spiritual level of its members – whether or not it is producing true disciples who live out Christianity and can lead others to Christ. It’s reported that 95 percent of Christians NEVER share their faith in Jesus.
Success is measured by the crowd size, the grandeur of the facilities and the media footprint of the pastor. Just attend a meeting of ministers with your pastor and see how long it takes for someone to ask, “So how many are you running?”
Today’s popular sermons focus on self-esteem, positive thinking and dealing with critics. I am not saying we should never encourage our church members or be positive and uplifting but we are more often than not avoiding our real calling to convict our culture. All the while America slips into moral darkness while pastors are more worried about attendance bragging rights.
I received mailers at my house at Easter that state things like “Jesus came to deliver us from the STUFF that weighs us down” and others that announce sermon series based on movies that contain vulgarity. I saw a televangelist the other morning selling “Miracle spring water.”
Consider how one of the leading pastors of America, Joel Osteen, cannot decide if Jesus is the only way to heavenand Creflo Dollar thinks it proper to dance on money (Note: I do not know or endorse the presenter). These things are not biblical and do not convict. Therefore they do not lead to repentance and thus we have spiritual decay.
I state those examples and the verses that follow not to be hateful or condemning. But we must be willing to accept the truth. I don’t expect the Congress, the Lions Club, the Rotary, the Chamber of Commerce, the National Restaurant Association, the Marines or any other group to do what is the church’s unique job in society – to bring conviction and repentance.
Yes God will bless us for obedience, but have we forgotten the plain teaching of Paul in [1 Timothy 6:3-10] where he says such over-the-cliff teachings on money come from men of “corrupt minds” who are “conceited” and “robbed of the truth?”
Have we forgotten that serving God requires faith that not only leads to grand victories but at times to terrible persecution for righteousness such as “torture … flogging … jeering … prison … cut in half … destitution … and dwelling in caves and holes in the ground” [Hebrews 11:35-38]?
If we are going to see revival that will save America the church must give up this American version, market-driven, profit-focused gospel and return to its biblical role.
Paul wrote to Pastor Timothy, “In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage – with great patience and careful instruction.”
We don’t have to be mean or condescending. But we must be honest. Jesus was full of grace AND truth [John 1:14].
If His people, called by His name, will not bring conviction that leads to repentance that opens the door for the kingdom, who will?
Spiritual renewal (revival) will save America spiritually, socially and economically. According to Jesus’ teaching and example this can only happen when the church grows a spine and takes up its responsibility to convict the culture. This will require laying aside the feel-good, market-driven, consumer-based preaching model in favor of biblical sermons that provoke us toward repentance.
Jesus preached, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near!” [Matthew 4:17]
America needs a wave of spiritual renewal to save us socially.
I take notice of comments this past year by Patrick J. Buchanan who, among many other things, worked in the White House with presidents Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan and was himself twice a credible presidential candidate. Note the following, poignant quotes:
“If we no longer agree on what is right and wrong, we can never be one people again.” “Cultures spring from religion … the decay of a religion involves the decay of the culture corresponding to it.” “Every nation, every culture, has to be inspired by a body of morals.” He believes the West is literally dying off, based on our birth rate, because, “The child-centered society has been succeeded by the self. The purpose of life is the pursuit of pleasure, not the sacrifices required in the raising of children.”
America also needs a wave of spiritual renewal to save us economically.
Consider the effects of abortion as one example. It’s estimated by various sources that as many as 55 million babies have been aborted since 1973. This is not only a spiritual issue. It has huge national security and economic impacts as well.
News reports constantly remind us that Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid are heading for bankruptcy. This is in large part due to government mismanagement. It is also because current workers pay into the system and support current retirees. While our population ages the number of younger workers paying into the system can’t keep pace with the number of retirees.
Had these millions of babies not been aborted many of them would already be adults today and paying into the system. Imagine the difference with 20 million, 30 million or 40 million more Americans paying taxes into the system.
Imagine the purchasing power of these millions of Americans. How many consumer goods were never manufactured or purchased? Think about how many plumbers, carpenters, truck drivers, doctors, lawyers, scientists, soldiers, entrepreneurs were never born and never had a chance to contribute to our society of their God-given talents and tax dollars.
There is little need for me to comment on the effects of the decay of traditional marriage.
Where has the church been the past 25 years?
As I have noted in other posts, the success metric for the American church, generally speaking, is not the spiritual level of its members – whether or not it is producing true disciples who live out Christianity and can lead others to Christ. It’s reported that 95 percent of Christians NEVER share their faith in Jesus.
Success is measured by the crowd size, the grandeur of the facilities and the media footprint of the pastor. Just attend a meeting of ministers with your pastor and see how long it takes for someone to ask, “So how many are you running?”
Today’s popular sermons focus on self-esteem, positive thinking and dealing with critics. I am not saying we should never encourage our church members or be positive and uplifting but we are more often than not avoiding our real calling to convict our culture. All the while America slips into moral darkness while pastors are more worried about attendance bragging rights.
I received mailers at my house at Easter that state things like “Jesus came to deliver us from the STUFF that weighs us down” and others that announce sermon series based on movies that contain vulgarity. I saw a televangelist the other morning selling “Miracle spring water.”
Consider how one of the leading pastors of America, Joel Osteen, cannot decide if Jesus is the only way to heavenand Creflo Dollar thinks it proper to dance on money (Note: I do not know or endorse the presenter). These things are not biblical and do not convict. Therefore they do not lead to repentance and thus we have spiritual decay.
I state those examples and the verses that follow not to be hateful or condemning. But we must be willing to accept the truth. I don’t expect the Congress, the Lions Club, the Rotary, the Chamber of Commerce, the National Restaurant Association, the Marines or any other group to do what is the church’s unique job in society – to bring conviction and repentance.
Yes God will bless us for obedience, but have we forgotten the plain teaching of Paul in [1 Timothy 6:3-10] where he says such over-the-cliff teachings on money come from men of “corrupt minds” who are “conceited” and “robbed of the truth?”
Have we forgotten that serving God requires faith that not only leads to grand victories but at times to terrible persecution for righteousness such as “torture … flogging … jeering … prison … cut in half … destitution … and dwelling in caves and holes in the ground” [Hebrews 11:35-38]?
If we are going to see revival that will save America the church must give up this American version, market-driven, profit-focused gospel and return to its biblical role.
Paul wrote to Pastor Timothy, “In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage – with great patience and careful instruction.”
We don’t have to be mean or condescending. But we must be honest. Jesus was full of grace AND truth [John 1:14].
If His people, called by His name, will not bring conviction that leads to repentance that opens the door for the kingdom, who will?
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