America Is In Trouble Indeed
Among the political rhetoric of the day, you’ve likely heard this said, or will hear it as our upcoming national elections draw nearer. There is some measure of truth to this, regardless of which side of the political spectrum you stand. This is because there is a greater harm America faces than the ones that are the ‘talking points’ or the debate subjects our political heroes or villains embrace. Contrary to popular belief, the fate of our nation does not lie in the hands of its politicians. It lies in the minds of the people. Our democracy was founded on the great idea of being a government “of the people, by the people, and for the people”. However, when people, regardless of their nationality, gender, or political affiliation forsake God, they are in trouble. Such is the case in our country by many during our present time.
Some Corinthians had obeyed the gospel. In doing so, they became ‘children of God’. In 2Cor. 6:14-17, the Spirit had Paul warn the brethren in Corinth of the fallacy of ‘conforming to’ the world, and what kept them separate from the world and in favor with God. Paul penned: Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.Then in vss 17-18, we see the remedy and the way out of trouble. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. God did them a great favor in warning them of that which would cost them their soul if they didn’t change.
We can benefit greatly from the ‘foresight’ of those now gone on, as they perceived the track being taken even in their day as they gave the clarion call to return to a ‘thus sayeth the Lord’ and follow it always. One such man was my wife’s father, O.D. Wilson, a faithful preacher of the gospel. He foresaw the damage to America and its citizens as they forsook God, and also strove to bring this to our attention.
Below is an article he wrote fifty-six years ago. If the decay was evident that long ago, and is equally evident that the “rot” that defiles has not been ‘rooted out’. America is indeed in deep trouble!
Dennis Strickland – Mooresville church of Christ
AMERICA IS IN TROUBLE
I’m sure this comes in no way as an announcement because everybody knows by now that unless drastic changes are made SOON America will fall. This may be unbelievable to some. It was one of the hardest statements I have been forced to accept in years. Communism is considered the problem but it is really not the problem. It is but a symptom of the disease. The real trouble in America is UNGODLINESS (Rom. 1:28-32). Many of her citizens no longer believe there is a God, Jehovah. In living their lives, making important decisions, rearing their children, appealing for wisdom and strength they turn to the weak and beggarly elements, but not to God (Gal. 4:9). If America were GODLY Communism and all the other “isms” would have no place here at all. The “seed bed” has been well prepared to bear the fruits of sin and that is what she is doing in such a terrible mess.
Thinking people are agreed that the only answer to this dilemma is Almighty GOD. This means that we must again open the “old Book” (John 5:39) and read its sacred pages in prayer. It means that we must repent of our sins and “get right” with God. It means that God’s people, Christians, must get on their knees and ask God for forgiveness and look to His Word for guidance (Psa. 119:105). We have “played church” too long. It is past time to “get down to business with God.”
The sinfulness of America has had its impact upon the Lord’s church too. Doctrinal weakness, compromise, worldly members and “apologetic” preaching have greatly weakened her (II Tim. 4: 2-3). Think of how this must hurt the Heavenly Father. What a price was paid for the redemption of the body of Christ, His Bride. What more can one give than Jesus gave? Men have not only been vile enough to build their own churches in competition with Christ, but, even worse, they seem determined to destroy His church, FROM WITHIN, with unconverted members, gimmicks, apathy and the like. Yes, America, the church, each citizen is in grave trouble but that trouble is “in the heart”, SIN AND GODLINESS, and may God help us to know the difference in the DISEASE and the SYMPTOMS and to understand that if, and when, the disease is cured the symptoms will disappear. Jesus said: “Ye shall know the TRUTH and the TRUTH shall make you free” John 8:32. Whatever time we may have left, as God provides the means and opens the doors, let each Christian give his “all” in reaching the lost with the gospel, God’s power to save (Rom. 1:14-17). What will you do?????
O D Wilson, evangelist 1968 - - - deceased -1995
