Alas, Sinful Nation!

November 12
Alas, sinful nation, people weighed down with iniquity, offspring of evildoers, sons who act corruptly! They have despised the Holy One of Israel, they have turned away from Him. (Is. 1:4)

I listened to a song by Diamond Rio today that suggests we in America still trust in God. As a matter of fact, it’s titled “In God We Still Trust.” As evidence for it they related in the song how the word “God” is still on our money, it’s still in the pledge of allegiance, we still use the Bible to swear people in for testimony in court, and His name’s on our greatest monuments. Interestingly enough, when Israel was at its absolute lowest point morally they worshiped God quite regularly. Evidence of their apparent love for Him was everywhere. Unfortunately, so was the evidence for their worship of dozens of other gods. How I wish it were true that we did indeed trust in the God of creation, but what I see daily as I walk and drive through town, as I watch television programs, as I listen to the news, and as I hear preachers preach some kind of perverted gospel they certainly didn’t get from scripture, I can’t help but believe America’s god isn’t the God of creation.

Our younger generation is driving big, fancy cars and pickups, nine year olds are walking the halls of schools talking on their cell phones and/or playing with their $300 Game Boy, wearing $200 tennis shoes, $50 levis torn nearly to shreds, many young teenage girls attending public schools are dressed like hookers, a rapist gets released back into the streets because a judge thinks he’s been rehabilitated, a murderer is set free because some cop forgot to read him his Miranda warnings, and preachers are making headlines in slut magazines for committing adultery.


When Senators of both parties brag that corruption is the way things operate in congress, our President bows to kings and despots of other countries, and one running for office has to defend having once been part of a witch’s coven, I think it’s time to admit we have a serious problem. Freedom is its own worst enemy when it means we must tolerate, and even promote, homosexuality as an acceptable alternative lifestyle, that radical Muslims have the right to incite riotous behavior, and that preachers who commit adultery can continue in the pulpit as long as they have repented of their sin. Certainly, God forgives men and women even for the sin of adultery, but to suggest that means one who has done it should still be allowed to remain the leader of a church or any Christian movement is worse than lunacy.


Of course, Isaiah was speaking to Israel in chapter 1 and verse 4 of his prophecies, but it isn’t an accident that the words are so descriptive for America today. We are a sinful nation, our leaders are corrupt, our citizens (even or especially the church) is weighed down with iniquity. "The whole head is sick and the whole heart is faint. From the sole of the foot even to the head there is nothing sound in it, only bruises, welts and raw wounds, not pressed out or bandaged, nor softened with oil." (5b-6a)


I fear for America. I fear he day is soon coming when God will say He has had enough. I fear it may have already come.