A Call to the Church in America

     For several decades now, it seems to me that the Church as a body in America has been mightily silent. We seem to have forgotten that this is supposed to be “one nation under God.” Every position of leadership within this country—president, court, congress, executive, ordinary citizen—is supposed to be subordinate to our Creator. Sadly, it appears that we as a people are traversing down a very slippery slope where being “politically correct” or perhaps just being silent as a united body is actually supporting our nation’s decline…yet we sit by, perhaps praying, but not DOING anything to make a change or reverse the course. So now we are faced with what are moral abominations occurring as day-to-day circumstances. We go to the ballot box blind to what various leaders have done in the past and say they will do in the future. Then, inexplicably, we are “surprised” and “shocked” when the inevitable occurs. There was a time when I held up my right hand and swore to defend our Constitution against all enemies “foreign and domestic.” Well, I believe we have a domestic challenge, and we must gird ourselves to fight for what we know to be true and right.

     Our situation is not unlike churches of old. Review what the Bible states in Revelation 2 concerning the evil environment in Pergamos: “I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith…so hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate” (Rev. 2:13, 15, KJV). Hate. That’s a mighty strong word. In his commentary, “The Revelation of Jesus Christ,” John Walvoord reminds us: “The faithfulness of the church at Pergamos is a challenge to Christians today to stand true when engulfed by the evil of this present world” (p. 67). Moreover, Walvoord declares, “The word of Christ to this church…constitutes a stern warning to modern Christians to examine their morality and faith and to demand freedom to follow the Word of God with the guidance of the Holy Spirit where this conflicts with the standards of men” (p. 69). There are so many areas where this is being put to the test today, but our voices seem to be shrinking instead of getting louder! This situation is almost reminiscent of another ancient church, the church of Laodicea.

     Ancient Laodicea had an economy sufficient to “lull the church to sleep spiritually,” as Walvoord interprets the words in Revelation. Let’s see what those biblical words state about Laodicea: “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked” (Rev. 3:15-17, KJV). Interestingly, because of Laodicea’s location, water was “piped in” from long distances, making it neither hot or cold, but rather tepid. This was also the situation of its people. “It is apparent that there is something about the intermediate state of being lukewarm that is utterly obnoxious to God. Far more hopeful is the state of one who has been untouched by the gospel and makes no pretense of putting his trust in Christ than the one who makes some profession but by his life illustrates that he has not really honored the Christ whose gospel he has heard and professed. There is no one farther from the truth in Christ than the one who makes an idle profession without real faith” (Walvoord, p. 93). Could this be where we find ourselves? Thinking we are comfortable (we are a rich nation if we dare to look around our globe), neither hot nor cold, and indeed wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked?

     So where do we go? What is the “action plan?” First, we should go to our Lord, remembering, “ If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (2Chron7:14, KJV). My mind wanders back to the days after the horrendous actions of September 11, 2001 when I had to drive back from Texas to my military job in Virginia. Not only were flags dotting our nation’s landscape, but there was A LOT of prayer going on. But it didn’t take very long for that need to seek our Creator to wane. It is high time to go back to the Source. Second, we must forgo the politically correct and lukewarm activities and become HOT to examine our morality and faith and to demand freedom to follow the Word of God with the guidance of the Holy Spirit where this conflicts with the standards of men. Third, we must pay attention to those we are electing and do EVERYTHING we can to ensure they too are not lukewarm to ensuring we remain one nation under God.