When we stand up and salute the #American flag by reciting the #PledgeOfAllegiance, we say the term, “Under God”. Surprising to some, this phrase was not added to the pledge until 1954. Some people keep that phrase in while others are offended by it and think that the word “#God” shouldn’t be anywhere in government by siting “Separation of church and state”. I contend that whoever blurts out this argument doesn’t really understand what that statement was meant for. This issue that we Americans have in this ever-growing #AgeOfPhonyOutrage is just a part of a bigger question which asks:
“Is this a nation under God?”
We know that this is what the #FoundingFathers intended and not just any god but the very God of Christianity (i.e. Scripture). A little-known fact that most people don’t realize is that #Nations are obligated to worship God. (Ezekiel 20:40) If a nation fails to worship the One true God, there are dire circumstances that will come to their doorstep.
I remember praying in school as a little child, but by the time I got to high school, teachers and coaches were not allowed to lead, encourage or be present during prayer or worship on the school grounds or at the ballpark. By the time I got to my Senior year, a handful of us would get the entire football team together to pray before and after practice and games. This was controversial to the administration and this was back in 1997! I believe most of our administrators at my high school were #Christians but couldn’t encourage us for risk of losing their positions. But why is having faith, particularly faith in the #JudeoChristian God such an issue? I believe it has more to do with spiritual warfare than any kind of #SocialJustice or a hardness of a “P.C. Culture”.
If you look at the tattered reminisce of the American #PublicSchool system, you’ll see #SocialJustice virtue signaling draped along the hallways and walls of the classrooms. I recently saw a classroom that had a #Pride flag and a #BLM flag taped on the wall next to student’s desks. Some people make an argument that #GayPride and #BLM is a #CivilRights movement and not a religious one, therefore, have license to advertise or encourage. Though this argument seems to hold merit, true #FollowersOfJesusChrist can see through the façade.
The very first #Commandment that God gave His people was they should not have any Gods before Him. There is only ONE God, and His name is YAWEH. But that does not mean that we don’t make other things our God. It can be as simple as "living for the weekend" or as bad as worshiping #Lucifer himself. Whatever consumes your heart and mind on an everyday basis is the very thing you are worshipping. Back when #Moses brought God’s people out of #Egypt, God made some miraculous events take place. First, God brought the ten plagues to the Pharaoh and all of Egypt. These plagues consisted of:
-The Nile turned to blood
-Plague of frogs
-Plague of lice
-Plague of flies
-The Murrain (pestilence that killed cows and sheep)
-Plague of boils and blains
-Plague of hail
-Plague of locusts
-Plague of darkness
-Death of the first born of every child and beast (Exodus 7-12)
When the Pharaoh finally relented and let the #Israelites go and make their way to their “Promised land”, God really stepped up the #Miracles. From traveling by day under clouded sun and night by a leading fire to splitting the #RedSea to escape the pursuing Egyptian #Army. Even after seeing God’s miraculous power, when Moses went up to mount #Zion, the Israelites panicked and made idols for them to worship. They put themselves back in bondage because they didn’t trust the very God who brought them out of that very same bondage (Exodus 32)
In many ways, we Americans are exactly like this. It couldn’t be more evident than what we are seeing today out on the streets, online and in politics. #Homosexuals today wrap their whole identity in being attracted to the same sex. If you sit down and try and talk to them, a great majority of them, when asked what they stand for or who they are, they will usually mention their sexual orientation in the first sentence. They may not be aware of that, but they are wrapping their identity in their sexual preference and not on the love and glory of Almighty God. This isn’t exclusive to the Homosexual community. There are also many #Heterosexuals who only care about their next conquest. Both are equally making sexuality their God.
If we look at the #BlackLivesMatter movement, there is a shadowy underbelly that is creating hate, division and eternal damnation under the guise of #SocialJustice. Anyone (a great majority of people) who hears the phrase “Black lives matter” completely agree and support that phrase, but this “movement” has morphed into a #Marxist, #AntiAmerican, #AntiReligion and #AntiWhite (among others) powder keg. Its no longer about #Equality of even #Justice but merely taking over America and usurping the #USConstitution. There are people out on the streets where looting, rioting and physical assaults are masquerading as “Peaceful Protests”. You would be hard-pressed to see any true followers of #JesusChrist participating in such “protests”. Sure, there are people attending who SAY they are Christians, but there is a clear difference between the two in this day of age. They have made BLM their God. I speak to people online who’s only purpose is to “teach” me and others about #WhitePrivilege and the importance of this deceitful organization. For the record, I would put the percentage of people who think black lives matter in the high 90s in the percentile realm (98%). But it is not enough to support your everyday darker-skinned brother and sister, you must kneel and apologize for your “whiteness” and be #AntiRacist. It is a sad reality that the newest #Idol (or “god”) in this nation is the BLM organization.
False god’s come in many shapes and forms. For the longest time, I made sport my god. Whether playing or coaching, it consumed me. I wouldn’t be able to sleep because I was working offensive schemes through my head all night or thinking of what lineup would be the best for winning the championship. None of us are immune to a false god. Unfortunately, there are so many things going in every different direction all the time. If we aren’t anchored to our Lord and Savior #Jesus Christ, we are sure to fall victim to the evil one’s playbook.
My dad used to always say to me,
“You gotta stand for something or you’ll fall for anything.”
Those were some wise words from a man who’s been around and learned from many mistakes in his life. I think of that phrase often during this time in history. People are lost. They have no where to turn and not hope left in their lives. People are frantically grasping for anything they can get their hands on because of the state of, not just the #Union but of the #World.
We have the opportunity to share the good news of #Christ and Him #Crucified! On the surface, this nation looks as though it’ll fall into the depths of #Hell and will never be redeemed, but there’s so much more that I see today. In the state of #California, the #Governor is attacking the church and putting so many rules and fines for those who decide to meet and/or congregate for Sunday services. Even with this #Persecution of the church in Cali, there are more people committing their lives to Christ than ever before! This nation is primed for a #Revival like we have never seen before. The line between the Almighty God and the man-made gods is becoming clearer and clearer. This is not the time to shrink back into your house and throw up your finger to the world. The people on the streets protesting, the homosexuals who knows nothing apart from their sexual identity and the person kneeling before a group of people who think they should get an apology for what some ancestors did are ALL our #Mission field! There is a longing for #Truth and #Meaning in our society. People are beginning to wake up to the fact that everything they have pursued in the past has gotten them no greater feeling that an emptiness inside. There is a reason why #Transexuals are committing #Suicide at an alarming rate. They need truth and stability that can only be found in our #Lord and #Savior, Jesus Christ.
I’ll close with a verse out of the book of #Mathtew. Jesus was arrested, beaten and crucified. His #Disciples were downtrodden and had a feeling of hopelessness now that their Lord was dead. I couldn’t imagine the emptiness they were feeling during that time. Three days after Jesus was crucified, He rose from the #Grave! When the disciples heard of this, they ran as fast as they could to see Him. From Hopelessness to joviality! When they got to the mountain where Jesus told them to go, Jesus said to them:
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)
We are called to GO. We are not called to think or rest or even plan (although these are still particularly important). Jesus called them to GO. There are people out there who NEED Jesus. There are people who are going to go to Hell, apart from our #Creator. They NEED a life raft. They NEED the love of our #Father. They need stability, and identity and meaning. It’s our job to GO. We need to put away these childish things called “politics” “race” “sexuality” and “Narcissism”. Get rid of this childish reasoning we are living in and let us become men/women of Christ! (1 Corinthians 13:11) We are needed now more than ever! Don’t sit back and wait for the opportune time. That time is NOW!
Amen
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