Franklin Graham once preached in Halifax, at the church whose cemetery guards many of the Titanic’s sinking victims, “The choice is, do I get onto a life-boat or stay on the vessel that human Engineers described as “unsinkable”?
There is NOTHING that can be done about it. Nothing. America is not just failing, she has fallen. God has marked her for destruction.
"America, America, God shed His grace on thee."
He did. But He has removed His lamp stand and the Glory has departed. The sooner we acknowledge and accept this, the better we will be able to endure what is coming.
"If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land." Good then, good now.
I agree that no one man can deal with the problems facing today.
Could I add a few suggestions to “What to do about it”?
As you said, “The whole counsel of God” in Acts 20:27 is essential. The Great Commission in Matthew 28 includes “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.”
“All that Christ commanded” this is not just believing in Jesus and getting saved. This also means life for Christ after salvation. This includes dying to self; taking up the cross; walking in the straight and narrow way; humbling oneself beneath the word of God; not being anxious about tomorrow; forgiving our enemies; not even looking at a woman improperly; and many other things.
These are commands of Christ. They have to do with holiness and sanctification in the real world, not just as Bible verses.
This also includes belief in the God of the Bible, including the creation account in Genesis. Genesis 1-3 has much to do with our Christian faith, and someone who rejects this passage is headed for trouble if they are not in trouble already. Evolution needs to be condemned as an opposition of the world, and the word of God in Genesis should never be submitted to the editorial judgment of the unbelieving world. God created the world and all that is in it by his spoken word alone, an area over which science has no jurisdiction.
A little leaven leavens the whole life, and when biblical truth is subordinated to the wisdom of the world in Genesis 1-3, that attitude quickly spreads through all of Scripture. Noah and the flood; the biblical miracles; a man born of a virgin; resurrection from the dead? Scientifically impossible! But scientists without God are blind.
The commands of Christ also include – as we all know – his commands through the apostles. This includes the role of women in the home and in the church. Role reversal and unisex are a false and destructive lie of the world.
It includes our struggle with sin (Romans chapter 7) and our victory over sin (Romans 8). It includes striving diligently to make our calling and election sure, and the many exhortations in 2 Peter 1:5-9.
It includes Paul’s instructions for a proper worship service in I Corinthians.
It also includes the assaults of modern textual criticism. Back in the old days people used to believe that the Bible was the word of God, but now the critics and the “scholars” have fished some old badly made copies out of the rubbish of a monastery and tell us certain parts of the Bible are not really the word of God after all, but were included by mistake. This includes the second half of Romans 8:1, the ending of Mark, and even Christ’s words on the cross “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
Romans 8:1 NIV (1) Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, (2) because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit
Romans 8:1 KJV (1) There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (2) For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus
These many alterations insult God and grieve the Holy Spirit. Let's use modern English, fine, but modern textual criticism is a delusion, not a science at all but purely subjective guesswork.
And how does the most authentic text become buried and forgotten in a monastery in the Sinai? That whole imaginary scenario of Hort and Westcott is sheer deception.
Fantastic Jim. You inspired me to write an essay detailing the proper role of the president and the limitations of power as intended by our founding documents.
Sadly, there is an equally insidious disease infecting many churches today which gets little attention due to the pervasive number of coddling churches, and that is those churches once thought to be strong evangelical churches which either were always, or just shifted, to being heavy handed pulpit pounders who control their congregants. Oftentimes stealing Gods grace by burdening His children with little more than a bunch of thou shalt nots.
Amen to much of what you say, as always. But I think what is occurring in America now—especially the amount of disunity and promotion of materialist transgression as the new and only “tolerable” American religion—has much to do with what has happened since the Immigration Act of 1965 and the work of hidden hand controllers to destroy the American economy. Due to the immigration exclusion acts of the 1920s to the 1960s, and the gradual expansion of the American middle class from the mid-19th century on, large cohorts of Silent Gen and Baby Boomer European-Americans, had the opportunity opportunity to solidify a strong mythological Christian and secular Christian identity, always looking back to Europe (and Ancient Greece and Rome, and ancient Israel) for its origins. The biggest counterpoint to this identity would be contrasting America to these origin cultures. There were a few people here from East and South Asia and Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Slavic countries, parts of Africa and South America, but mostly concentrated in urban areas. Since the 1960s (but especially noticeable since 9-11), a floodgate has been opened, and places like California where I live, have turned into western Canada overnight, with bizarre non-Christian Asian majorities possessing mysteriously large amounts of money, everywhere. Moreover, demonic bank entities like Blackrock and Vanguard—or whatever they are, for I truly do not know—appear to own everything and flaunt a globo-homo vision as the new America as the normative one, everywhere. What are Americans like me—lower middle class, “white,” older, essentially trapped in my circumstances— to do? Yes, I pray for wisdom and forgiveness daily, and long for a better America. But I can hardly change the fact that my family’s hometown of a century has been completely altered by the two things I just mentioned, in only a couple of years. It’s highly disturbing, and I struggle to see any of the newly arrived non-European people around me, many of whom are from the weird pantheist Hindu-sphere religions and Confucianist money-worshipping idolators (most Chinese people talk about money and little else, 24/7), as turning to Christ for wisdom. But perhaps I am wrong.
I can believe that interpretation. But the decisions made to turn America into “Babylon” were certainly not made by anyone I know, for I have never been in the bourgeois class of hidden hand elites that move “America” into these dark places.
All part of the utopian materialist secular belief system that has been ascendant in the West since the “Enlightenment.” Many promoting it (not in positions of elite power) believe they are doing so for “Christian” reasons.
How can we make America great again when the Revelation 14:8 prophecy concerning her fall has ALREADY been fulfilled? If you say that the prophecy is not about America, then tell me, what do you make of this?.....
Yes, it pertains to the entire world, but WHO is it that is mandating it unto the entire world? Along with all the many U.S. entities. You surely see this, Jim, do you not? Yes, many nations do still resist, but they, too, one by one, fall like dominoes.
Just last week, the little tiny island nation of Sri Lanka--a very religious nation--fell. They consented to drink the wine. Even they for so long, resisted.
"For she has made ALL nations drink." All, not some.
No one can make America great but God, which a lot of Americans do not want. So we have what we have. And it will become worse. Therefore, those who are in Christ better draw nearer, those outside of Christ better rush to know Him, and those who are playing better get real.
Amen!! I see & hear many people worshipping Trump, "We need him to rescue us and our country. No one can save us but Trump." I've also heard people compare his persecution to what they did to Jesus Christ!! Are ya kidding me!!? There's absolutely no comparison!! Makes me sad to see so many worshipping him, Taylor Swift, pro athletes. You know all those great heroes!! We have big churches that are like a franchise; with coffee shops, loud music & big lit up stages like your at a concert! Churches with rainbow signs out that say Everyone is welcome here....Well I always thought everyone was welcome to come to church, we don't need rainbow signs to tell us that. But unfortunately they're bought and manipulated through the propaganda. They don't want to offend anyone now & it's fine to think you're a different gender than what God gave you and you can even come as a Furry! I pray for these people, please forgive them for they do not know what they do. (Some do yet some really don't because they follow along with the evil that lies within that whole mess of a situation! Thanks for your great post! Too many people are blinded by what's going on and not repenting or getting into the word of God. Jesus Christ is our Savior and he is the only one who can save us! His door is always open! Blessing you!🙏
There was a time in the not-too-distant past when an entrepreneur in Detroit proposed turning its abandoned skyscrapers, its desecrated theatres, and the Packard factory into a tourist attraction - drawing introspective tourists like the Parthenon and the Vatican.
We are at a crossroads. The youngest generation wants entertainment before enlightenment. The 3rd World War could bring on a revival of Christianity. It may replace history with ruined Cathedrals and tribes of warring barbarians.
In the long game of life, whether many years or few, as each human soul runs down the dead end alley of self fulfillment, all will hit the wall.
Some will find the end of make believe answers sooner than others. Some will hit that wall without realizing there’s another road. A narrow one. A road that leads upward, out of the darkness and into the Light.
The political theatre of the moment is the subtext. Life in the alley is always the same. No matter who’s President.
Everyone hits the wall.
The signpost at the intersection of Life and Death is the Gospel. The Good News of Savior Jesus.
Preach the Word in and out of season (and that can be as simple as a random chat with a stranger at In-N-Out).
Then rely on the Holy Spirit to make the Good News come alive in the heart of the one who has just hit the wall.
May I challenge you to insert Zionism into the “the Gospel is being replaced by drag queens, gay flags, and promises of health, wealth”.
It starts with Jesus's first sermon on the Mount...
Franklin Graham once preached in Halifax, at the church whose cemetery guards many of the Titanic’s sinking victims, “The choice is, do I get onto a life-boat or stay on the vessel that human Engineers described as “unsinkable”?
Great quote!
There is NOTHING that can be done about it. Nothing. America is not just failing, she has fallen. God has marked her for destruction.
"America, America, God shed His grace on thee."
He did. But He has removed His lamp stand and the Glory has departed. The sooner we acknowledge and accept this, the better we will be able to endure what is coming.
ICHABOD. The Glory has departed
2 Chronicles 7:14 tells us this:
"If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land." Good then, good now.
Many thanks for the comments!
I agree that no one man can deal with the problems facing today.
Could I add a few suggestions to “What to do about it”?
As you said, “The whole counsel of God” in Acts 20:27 is essential. The Great Commission in Matthew 28 includes “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.”
“All that Christ commanded” this is not just believing in Jesus and getting saved. This also means life for Christ after salvation. This includes dying to self; taking up the cross; walking in the straight and narrow way; humbling oneself beneath the word of God; not being anxious about tomorrow; forgiving our enemies; not even looking at a woman improperly; and many other things.
These are commands of Christ. They have to do with holiness and sanctification in the real world, not just as Bible verses.
This also includes belief in the God of the Bible, including the creation account in Genesis. Genesis 1-3 has much to do with our Christian faith, and someone who rejects this passage is headed for trouble if they are not in trouble already. Evolution needs to be condemned as an opposition of the world, and the word of God in Genesis should never be submitted to the editorial judgment of the unbelieving world. God created the world and all that is in it by his spoken word alone, an area over which science has no jurisdiction.
A little leaven leavens the whole life, and when biblical truth is subordinated to the wisdom of the world in Genesis 1-3, that attitude quickly spreads through all of Scripture. Noah and the flood; the biblical miracles; a man born of a virgin; resurrection from the dead? Scientifically impossible! But scientists without God are blind.
The commands of Christ also include – as we all know – his commands through the apostles. This includes the role of women in the home and in the church. Role reversal and unisex are a false and destructive lie of the world.
It includes our struggle with sin (Romans chapter 7) and our victory over sin (Romans 8). It includes striving diligently to make our calling and election sure, and the many exhortations in 2 Peter 1:5-9.
It includes Paul’s instructions for a proper worship service in I Corinthians.
It also includes the assaults of modern textual criticism. Back in the old days people used to believe that the Bible was the word of God, but now the critics and the “scholars” have fished some old badly made copies out of the rubbish of a monastery and tell us certain parts of the Bible are not really the word of God after all, but were included by mistake. This includes the second half of Romans 8:1, the ending of Mark, and even Christ’s words on the cross “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
Romans 8:1 NIV (1) Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, (2) because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit
Romans 8:1 KJV (1) There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (2) For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus
These many alterations insult God and grieve the Holy Spirit. Let's use modern English, fine, but modern textual criticism is a delusion, not a science at all but purely subjective guesswork.
And how does the most authentic text become buried and forgotten in a monastery in the Sinai? That whole imaginary scenario of Hort and Westcott is sheer deception.
Well said!
Fantastic Jim. You inspired me to write an essay detailing the proper role of the president and the limitations of power as intended by our founding documents.
I will look forward to reading it... I always do!
Good read once again, Jim. Linking it today @https://nothingnewunderthesun2016.com/
And thank you again!
Sadly, there is an equally insidious disease infecting many churches today which gets little attention due to the pervasive number of coddling churches, and that is those churches once thought to be strong evangelical churches which either were always, or just shifted, to being heavy handed pulpit pounders who control their congregants. Oftentimes stealing Gods grace by burdening His children with little more than a bunch of thou shalt nots.
Very few churches get it right!
Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,the people he chose for his inheritance. - Psalm 33:12
Thanks for the verse!
But from all indications, the Glory has departed. There are some somber words is 2 Thess ch 2
Amen to much of what you say, as always. But I think what is occurring in America now—especially the amount of disunity and promotion of materialist transgression as the new and only “tolerable” American religion—has much to do with what has happened since the Immigration Act of 1965 and the work of hidden hand controllers to destroy the American economy. Due to the immigration exclusion acts of the 1920s to the 1960s, and the gradual expansion of the American middle class from the mid-19th century on, large cohorts of Silent Gen and Baby Boomer European-Americans, had the opportunity opportunity to solidify a strong mythological Christian and secular Christian identity, always looking back to Europe (and Ancient Greece and Rome, and ancient Israel) for its origins. The biggest counterpoint to this identity would be contrasting America to these origin cultures. There were a few people here from East and South Asia and Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Slavic countries, parts of Africa and South America, but mostly concentrated in urban areas. Since the 1960s (but especially noticeable since 9-11), a floodgate has been opened, and places like California where I live, have turned into western Canada overnight, with bizarre non-Christian Asian majorities possessing mysteriously large amounts of money, everywhere. Moreover, demonic bank entities like Blackrock and Vanguard—or whatever they are, for I truly do not know—appear to own everything and flaunt a globo-homo vision as the new America as the normative one, everywhere. What are Americans like me—lower middle class, “white,” older, essentially trapped in my circumstances— to do? Yes, I pray for wisdom and forgiveness daily, and long for a better America. But I can hardly change the fact that my family’s hometown of a century has been completely altered by the two things I just mentioned, in only a couple of years. It’s highly disturbing, and I struggle to see any of the newly arrived non-European people around me, many of whom are from the weird pantheist Hindu-sphere religions and Confucianist money-worshipping idolators (most Chinese people talk about money and little else, 24/7), as turning to Christ for wisdom. But perhaps I am wrong.
Great comment... Paul tells us that we need to be content in whatever circumstances we find ourselves in, but its hard!
Indeed.
Rev 14:8
I can believe that interpretation. But the decisions made to turn America into “Babylon” were certainly not made by anyone I know, for I have never been in the bourgeois class of hidden hand elites that move “America” into these dark places.
Not made by anyone we personally know, but we still see this, don't we?....
https://c-fam.org/friday_fax/analysis-biden-imposes-homosexual-transgender-mandate-on-entire-world/
All part of the utopian materialist secular belief system that has been ascendant in the West since the “Enlightenment.” Many promoting it (not in positions of elite power) believe they are doing so for “Christian” reasons.
And, "They will kill you thinking they are doing God service." :-/
How can we make America great again when the Revelation 14:8 prophecy concerning her fall has ALREADY been fulfilled? If you say that the prophecy is not about America, then tell me, what do you make of this?.....
https://c-fam.org/friday_fax/analysis-biden-imposes-homosexual-transgender-mandate-on-entire-world/
It's a Divine omniscient prophecy. "The Scripture CAN NOT be broken."
The Revelation 14:8 prophesy pertains to the entire world, not just America. Biden may attempt to force all nations... but many will resist.
Yes, it pertains to the entire world, but WHO is it that is mandating it unto the entire world? Along with all the many U.S. entities. You surely see this, Jim, do you not? Yes, many nations do still resist, but they, too, one by one, fall like dominoes.
Just last week, the little tiny island nation of Sri Lanka--a very religious nation--fell. They consented to drink the wine. Even they for so long, resisted.
"For she has made ALL nations drink." All, not some.
No one can make America great but God, which a lot of Americans do not want. So we have what we have. And it will become worse. Therefore, those who are in Christ better draw nearer, those outside of Christ better rush to know Him, and those who are playing better get real.
100 percent right on C.A.!
Amen!! I see & hear many people worshipping Trump, "We need him to rescue us and our country. No one can save us but Trump." I've also heard people compare his persecution to what they did to Jesus Christ!! Are ya kidding me!!? There's absolutely no comparison!! Makes me sad to see so many worshipping him, Taylor Swift, pro athletes. You know all those great heroes!! We have big churches that are like a franchise; with coffee shops, loud music & big lit up stages like your at a concert! Churches with rainbow signs out that say Everyone is welcome here....Well I always thought everyone was welcome to come to church, we don't need rainbow signs to tell us that. But unfortunately they're bought and manipulated through the propaganda. They don't want to offend anyone now & it's fine to think you're a different gender than what God gave you and you can even come as a Furry! I pray for these people, please forgive them for they do not know what they do. (Some do yet some really don't because they follow along with the evil that lies within that whole mess of a situation! Thanks for your great post! Too many people are blinded by what's going on and not repenting or getting into the word of God. Jesus Christ is our Savior and he is the only one who can save us! His door is always open! Blessing you!🙏
Amen to that!
There was a time in the not-too-distant past when an entrepreneur in Detroit proposed turning its abandoned skyscrapers, its desecrated theatres, and the Packard factory into a tourist attraction - drawing introspective tourists like the Parthenon and the Vatican.
We are at a crossroads. The youngest generation wants entertainment before enlightenment. The 3rd World War could bring on a revival of Christianity. It may replace history with ruined Cathedrals and tribes of warring barbarians.
I hope you're right, Jim.
In the long game of life, whether many years or few, as each human soul runs down the dead end alley of self fulfillment, all will hit the wall.
Some will find the end of make believe answers sooner than others. Some will hit that wall without realizing there’s another road. A narrow one. A road that leads upward, out of the darkness and into the Light.
The political theatre of the moment is the subtext. Life in the alley is always the same. No matter who’s President.
Everyone hits the wall.
The signpost at the intersection of Life and Death is the Gospel. The Good News of Savior Jesus.
Preach the Word in and out of season (and that can be as simple as a random chat with a stranger at In-N-Out).
Then rely on the Holy Spirit to make the Good News come alive in the heart of the one who has just hit the wall.
Because—sooner or later—everyone hits it.
Well said... great comment!
AMEN! I couldn't agree more!