Month: July 2014

Sunday July 6, 2014

Several weeks ago, I began to ponder the way we glibly say “God bless America.” I suddenly came aware of the fact that we are more blessed than we deserve. Isn’t that the way God does. But my mind was led to the reality that there must be something else, something better that we should pray. I say it is time for America to bless God, rather than the selfish and continual request for Him to bless us.

America has asked God to stay away from our children in school. We have told children and teachers that it is inappropriate to bring their religion into the classroom or even the lunchroom before the noon meal. We have ignored Him in the history classroom. We have ignored Him in the Social Studies classroom. We have ignored Him in the Health classroom. We have ignored Him quite notably in the science classroom. In the principal’s office and on the sports field, we have asked God to leave. Then we have the nerve to pray for God to bless America. I say it is time for America to bless God.

America has asked God to step aside while we kill thousands of unborn babies each year. We speak humanitarian reasons; we speak health reasons; we speak comfort and convenience. We speak anything and everything other than Godliness and holiness. Then we have the nerve to pray for God to bless America. I say it is time for America to bless God.

America has asked God to keep out of our homes. We do not concern ourselves with His word when we are dating. We don’t bother praying as we decide when and whom to marry. We don’t listen when we are raising our children. We throw away Biblical truth because we are too lazy and indifferent to apply it in our very own homes when there isn’t even anyone else looking. Then our marriages fail and we wonder why. Our children grow so indifferent to God that they are not even aware that we have left God out of the picture. There is not so much as a prayer before a meal. There is no reference to God unless we use Him as a threat against our children to make them fear. If anything, God is a crutch that we sit in a corner until we stumble and hurt our feet. Then we have the nerve to pray for God to bless America. I say it is time for America to bless God.

In our courtrooms, we shake our fists in defiance of the law of God. The very fact that it is in God’s law seems to make it necessary for out civil laws to discount it and deem it inappropriate for consideration. Then we have the nerve to pray for God to bless America. I say it is time for America to bless God.

Our government seems to have forgotten that it is God who gave us this place where we live. Somewhere in the process of administering the necessities of the people, they have determined that they are the owners of the people rather than the God who created us. They do not care that God has commanded. They believe that it is theirs to make all the rules and it is ours to blindly follow. They claim that now famous misunderstanding of the establishment clause of the United Constitution (the first amendment) claiming the founding document requires that there be no involvement of faith and government, especially when the elected officials want something outside of the written revelation of God. Then we have the nerve to pray for God to bless America. I say it is time for America to bless God.

Our military chaplains are given instruction to speak softly about Christ. Our soldiers are given instruction to keep their faith to themselves. We send them to fight for those who spit in the face of the one true and living God while proclaiming diversity with the same tongue that we praise the satanic regimes that do not know Him and shun any mention of His name. Then we have the nerve to pray for God to bless America. I say it is time for America to bless God.

Even our churches have forgotten God. His name has become simply the password for admission into the club with a cross on the top of the building. Godly truth is meaningless. The study of the Bible has been changed to studying about the Bible. Ministers are now hired hands rather than men called of God to be His ministers and church leaders. Times which are meant to be moments of corporate worship have been made into show times with a house full of audience members. We have failed to focus the attention of the worship on the audience of one. We want to feel the music. We want to enjoy the music. We want to perform the music. Much of the music is about men rather than God, and we still call it worship.  The preaching of the Word of God has become a brief moment to make sinners comfortable in their sin rather than experiencing the conviction of the Holy Spirit. We work hard so that there is no chance that anyone can be offended by God’s standards, and treat offence at the identifying of sin as the greatest sin of all. Many times, the group with church, or fellowship, or some other religious sounding word on the sign ignores God altogether. Then we have the nerve to pray for God to bless America. I say it is time for America to bless God.

America, God will be blessed when we read to His word – all of it.

America, God will be blessed when we preach His word – all of it.

America, God will be blessed when we live His word – all of it.

God will be blessed by America when He again becomes the center of our lives.

When our army fights for His cause, He will be blessed.

When our schools promote His greatness, He will be blessed.

When we stand for His people, He will be blessed.

When we oppose sin, He will be blessed.

When we care about lostness more than social ills, He will be blessed.

America, God will be blessed when we return to Him; all of us, to all of Him, for all of time.

God will be blessed when His people, “who are called by His name humble themselves and pray and turn from their wicked way” (2 Chronicles 7:14).

And this preacher thinks that we should stop asking God to bless America. He has blessed us over and over again. We have turned on him. I say it is time for America to bless God.

See You SONday

Pastor Steve

(C) SF Gallagher 2014