The State of America: A Holy God in Hands of Angry Sinners
By Matthew Maher
These are times most tumultuous. How did we get here? Well, I’m not going to outline a long thesis on the chaos, but I intend to highlight a few reasons, which I believe, have contributed to such division and utter confusion.
Reason No. 1: Because we have access to so much information through the internet, we have become a world filled with conflicting perspectives. Never has there been so many mediums by which every voice is given an audience on the world stage. From social media to the news and media, these outlets have drained us. Did you catch that? Outlets shouldn’t drain, they should empower and ground.
Yet, we live in the technological age where the spirit of antichrist is able to rage. In short, many of the mainstream mediums are under the influence of the “prince of the power of the air” (Ephesians 2:2). All roads lead back to his playbook of lies. Here’s a litmus test to see if you should believe the source—if the information you are being told or the position you are taking is also supported by the Marxist Mainstream Media, Big Tech Oligarchy, godless Hollywood, secular Academia, and a political platform that reflects the reprobate minds of Romans 1, I can assure you that you are not on the righteous side of things.
Again, one clear indication that your point of view is NOT in alignment with God's Word is when it is supported and affirmed by the non-believing world. And anyone who wears the name Christian needs to be paying attention to who or what they are supporting by way of affiliation.
“And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.” (Ephesians 5:11)
Reason No. 2: Because we, as sinners, choose to do what is right in our own eyes. We live under the influence of the spirit of relativism which has produced a land saturated by paganism. If there is no such thing as absolute truth, then each person becomes their own standard who sets their own course. “Speak your truth.” “It’s my truth.” But there is no such thing as “my truth or your truth” being relative to the culture. Nope! There is just God’s truth, which makes all men liars.
Notice how the Bible, which has stood the test of time and trial, is continually accused of being outdated and made out to be the liar. “Oh, that old book, it’s not relative to our times. It’s archaic and has contradicting lines.”
Actually, it doesn’t contradict itself, it contradicts man. And because we are sinners whose flesh loves darkness, we push back against any authority that reveals our crookedness.
“And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.” (John 3:19-20)
Again, “there is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of destruction” (Proverbs 14:12). And since we do not learn from the lessons of history, we are destined to repeat such atrocities. It first starts with a total denial of absolute truth and evolves to man becoming a law unto himself. And then in the name of progressivism--harnessed by relativism--we get full throttle hedonism.
“The people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and served the Baals… In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” (Judges 2:11; 21:25)
Ethics and morality do not have autonomy. In fact, ethics and morality cannot be separated from theology. You see, absolute truth is outside of all of us—a divine standard that is above us—and through the law of Moses was sent to judge us. And therefore, when we are lined up against the Law, we are all guilty as charged. However, the Law-Giver gave Himself over to the Law to fulfill it perfectly in order to salvage humanity. The Bible declares, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23). And to receive Jesus is to receive the Spirit of Truth within us.
Reason No. 3: The aforementioned reasons pale in comparison to the next form of treason. However, though I am presenting these reasons as separate, they are inseparable.
To be clear—Jesus came to save sinners, period. For all have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God, aka His righteous standard. And as sinners, without Christ, we are rightfully in the hands of an angry God. Why? Because as already mentioned, “the wages of sin is death,” and if we are being spiritually honest, we all deserve eternal separation from God and damnation. But that’s not the attitude of our present nation, nor is it the atmosphere of many church congregations. Sadly, the “American Church” is just as complicit, primarily from “Christians” being biblically illiterate, but also from pulpits failing to preach the true Gospel because they’d rather make church about the comfort of the people. And due to such complacent and complicit postures, we don’t act like sinners in the hands of an angry God. Ours is a land that audaciously places a holy God in the hands of angry sinners.
This rebellion explains the arrogance of rejecting divine order and pushing God out of the public square. Parallel that blatant rejection with the fact that the celebration of sin has replaced the confession of sin. You see, man is not satisfied with his own depravity, no, he wants to make his moral schism part of society’s rhythm. In other words, man left to his own devices and decisions is not only deviant, but he attempts to make what is deviant, tolerant.
“And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting… who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.” (Romans 1:28; 32)
All of these reasons, and more, have contributed to our nation’s condition, where we are no longer “one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all,” but we have become “one nation under fog, divisible, with tyranny and social justice for some.” This fog of deception and delusion seems to have blinded the minds of many. It’s not that we have different views on politics or differing ways to accomplish “justice,” even though it seems that way. It’s about having a skewed view of who God is. A small minority of Christians (in America) hold to a biblical worldview; a view of the world that uses the Bible as the lens and prescription of its chief end.
So, in short conclusion, if the source or medium or outlet that we are plugged into and influenced by is not the Holy Bible, then we will be left to make our own judgments on what is moral, ethical, and legal. And again, “truth” does not have autonomy, but it must be founded on biblical theology. Without absolute truth as our point of reference, man’s discernment becomes treacherous.
“Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” (Isaiah 5:20)
So, buckle up true followers of Jesus, because although Babylon seems to be closing in around us, keep in mind that God never leaves Himself without a witness. And we can stand firm against the godless pressure because we are firmly standing in God’s power.
Matthew Maher is a contributing writer for Think Eternity. Go to www.TruthOverTrend.com to navigate his ministry and messaging.