For me to make the statement that “America is under God’s judgment” may not be particularly impactful, considering the source. For Paul Washer and John MacArthur (and no doubt many others) to make this assertion takes the discussion to a more serious level. They do so here: America Is Under God’s Judgment – (about 7 minutes). This statement raises three questions: 1) is it true? 2) what are the implications? and 3) what should we do about it?
Is it true?
Son of man, when a land sins against Me by persistent unfaithfulness, I will stretch out My hand against it; I will cut off its supply of bread, send famine on it, and cut off man and beast from it.
Ezekiel 14:13 NKJV
How does the United States measure up? A rhetorical question, one might think. God sets this expectation for any land that manifests persistent unfaithfulness. In 1962 the U.S. Supreme Court kicked God out of the public schools. We were, of course, free to defy the Court, but we by-and-large went along with this obscene decision – the first of many – and as we can see, it’s been downhill for the U.S. ever since. We have been unfaithful to God and our unfaithfulness has been persistent. We have earned God’s judgment.
What are the implications?
We can properly infer that God will send famine. He says that He will cut off man and beast. In Ezekiel, he lists His four severe judgments, and we can see all four on the near horizon:
For thus says the Lord GOD: “How much more it shall be when I send My four severe judgments on Jerusalem—the sword and famine and wild beasts and pestilence—to cut off man and beast from it?
Ezekiel 14:21 NKJV
The country is now being run by women, children, sexual perverts, transvestites, and thugs. Clearly, we have been “given over.” National recovery is now impossible. We should expect escalating harassment and persecution, directly proportional to the level at which our Christianity is manifested in the world.
What should we do about it?
What can we do about it? I’m not persuaded that our divine “marching orders” have changed all that much, though this should clarify our expectations. We are still called to be salt and light, we are still to be prepared to give an answer to those who ask us the reason for the hope that is within us, we should certainly have clarity on what that hope IS, and we should all continue to strive to grow up in all things in Christ, to abide in Him and grow in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness and the other characteristics of the fruit of God’s Spirit. We should continue in our role as ambassadors for Christ, telling all who will listen that in Christ, complete reconciliation with God is still available.
We should NOT expect that we can change the direction of the country by voting for the “right guys.” That is simply expecting a “political messiah” to fix what’s wrong, and it’s probably idolatry. False christs and false messiahs will continue to offer peace, security, and all the other stuff they always promise but cannot produce. Our problems are not political or economic – they are spiritual. We are living in an overt Christ-rejecting country. “We have forgotten God; that’s why all this has happened.” This was Stalin’s legacy, and it will be our epitaph.
Sadly, we should also not expect appropriate leadership from most professional church leaders. Seminaries and Bible colleges were targeted a long time ago because they are centers of influence. We are seeing more and more formerly trusted pastors and Christian authors who are abandoning the historic Christian faith and accepting wickedness. “Those who hold the doctrine of Balaam” (Rev. 2:14) and “that women Jezebel” (Rev. 2:20) have been very busy in the American churches. We were warned. All cowards will have their part in the Lake of Fire (Rev. 21:8). There is a lot of cowardice in American pulpits.
Finally, we should rejoice and be thankful. This world is not our home; we’re still strangers and pilgrims here, with a heavenly hope and an expectation based on our Divine Sonship and our status as the Bride of Christ.
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Thess. 5:16-18 NKJV (emphasis added)
Jesus has given us a conditional promise: that if we keep His command to persevere, He also will keep us from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world. That hour is almost here.
Persevere.
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