6-10-24<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This week I attended a Clay Clark \u201cReawaken America\u201d conference, one of its extensive tour of American cities. These gatherings of Christian patriots brings together an array of speakers, great numbers of attendees \u2013 activists and concerned citizens \u2013 and a menu of topics, viewpoints, and proposed solutions. And prayers, a lot of prayer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not just at this conference, but I think across America among different and differing communities, there is an inchoate sense that our nation has deep problems; and those problems can be called different names but are essentially spiritual problems. That could include different peoples\u2019 different definitions of the word \u201cspiritual.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To the extent that this consensus is joined, we can only begin to solve our crisis by agreeing, even unto its terms. That must include the following proposition: A spiritual problem can only be resolved by a spiritual solution<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I did not advance that thought at the conference \u2013 I was there to cover it for the New York Post<\/em> \u2013 and neither did I share the perspective, developed after I returned home, by which I titled this essay. But I came away with the strong conviction I want to share:<\/p>\n\n\n\n God does not love America any more.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Stick with me (as I frequently ask readers). I am not referring to the things \u2013 the sins, frankly \u2013 that we know displease God. The apostasy of established churches that deny the Divinity of Christ; the acceptance of sins like killing babies and legalizing sexual deviance; widespread abuse, prejudice, and divorce; the collusion of courts, the \u201ceducational\u201d establishment, and media to silence and pervert Christian values; drugs, drinking, promiscuity; and\u2026 so forth. To explain what I mean by God not loving us any more: I mean that literally. The Lord has never taken joy in meting out justice or punishment. We have been told that with individuals, He \u201cchastises those whom He loves.\u201d My point is that He loves us, He loves America\u2026 a lot. He gave His only begotten, incarnate Son for us. And, \u201cwhile we were yet sinners.\u201d Can God love us any MORE than that?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n No, He does not love us any more. He cannot. The Lord God loves us to the max.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Will He regret our straying, our sins? Yes. Does He grieve over our unrighteousness as a nation? Yes. Can He \u201clift His hand\u201d and bring chastisement, punishment\u2026 even destruction? Yes, He loves us that much. A Holy God cannot abide sin and rebellion. To believe that we can be in the presence of God when sin is willful, wanton, even joyfully exercised in His face, is self-swindling, suicidal folly on our part.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This must be a reminder, and an inspiration, to \u201cclean up our act.\u201d The nation is falling apart, failing everywhere we look. We waste our spiritual inheritance; we defy God; we dare God to act like God. But, through it all\u2026 He cannot love us any more than He does. If that is not hopeful enough as a rallying-cry of revival, let me turn my aphorism around:<\/p>\n\n\n\n He cannot love us any LESS, either.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n God keeps to His word. He \u201cchangeth not.\u201d As Christians, we may still repent: He proves Himself as a God of second chances; He offers forgiveness. The message of Jesus was about Redemption. Amazing Grace \u2013 even angels cannot know it or sing it; but we can, if we \u201cturn from our wicked ways,\u201d as His people and \u2013 once upon a time, maybe again \u2013 as His nation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n + + +<\/p>\n\n\n\n
No, those are not the factors I am talking about, despite being crises indeed. We know from the sweep of Biblical and secular history that the promotion or even toleration of such things led to the collapse of societies and entire civilizations… as historians note, not from invasions or conquest, but \u201cfrom within.\u201d
History has many examples of mighty civilizations that (as Santayana warned) did not learn from history, but rather over-reached as empires, and under-performed, ultimately, as moral entities; their doom was repeated, and assured.<\/p>\n\n\n\n