America used to be known as a Christian nation, but things have changed. Greed, sensuality, violence, deceit, along with other evils is on the increase. People have been gathering material things around them and going deeper in debt to do it, causing financial instability. America is still a great place to live, but at the rate we are giving up our freedom it won’t be long before life will become very difficult.
Is there a reason for this change in behavior? I would like to suggest a possible reason. I will begin by going to the book of Micah, located in the Old Testament of the Bible. “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness [loyalty], and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8, NASB)? Here we are given three foundational requirements for a good society. What happens if we turn away from these requirements?
Instead of walking humbly with God, a growing number of Americans have decided to turn away from God and live for themselves. When that choice is made it causes a reaction from God. Consider what Paul tells us in his writings to the Romans.
“And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, malice; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice, they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful” (Romans 1:28 – 31, NASB). (Also note Romans 1:18 – 27).
If we walk humbly with God and his love is active in us then the characteristics of his love should be evident in our behavior. Those characteristics are “joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22 – 23, NASB). As people walk humbly with God, they walk in his light and in that light they guard their behavior. But as one draws away from that light into increasing darkness, they begin to embrace the deeds of darkness and behavior listed above begins to appear in society.
Who is to blame for the growing mess in America? I am afraid the blame lies with those who call themselves Christians. Consider the following: “[If] my people who are called by My name [will] humble themselves and pray, and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14, NASB). Will America again be known as a Christian nation? Probably not; but if it was it would follow a revival of God’s people. If they are not walking humbly with God then the nation will be in darkness and the deeds of darkness will be evident.
