PLEASE HELP AMERICA
INTRO.- I am concerned about our country. I don’t believe America is as good as she once was. She is not as good politically, socially, morally, patriotically, and spiritually. And perhaps every generation feels the same.
1- POLITICALLY. America is politically divided. It’s the Democrats against the Republicans. The right against the left. The liberals against the conservatives. There is anger on both sides and it’s awful. They don’t know how to disagree without being disagreeable and angry.
ILL.- Comedian Kathy Griffin recently had a picture taken of herself holding a bloody head replica of President Trump. And there has been a lot of backlash even though many people don’t like President Trump. Many TV companies have canceled her appearances and shows. Now she’s blaming Trump, saying it’s his fault, not her fault. COME ON NOW, KATHY GRIFFIN, YOU ARE REAPING WHAT YOU’VE SOWED. She thought she was being funny but it backfired.
I don’t like all the hatred in the political world. Neither side is trying to find some common ground and neither side is completely right on everything.
Politicians need to try as best they can to find some common ground on the issues that divide this country. What’s that old saying? UNITED WE STAND. DIVIDED WE FALL. It’s true for a marriage, a family, a church, and a country. Our politicians need to wake up and start using some common sense and some spiritual sense.
2- SOCIALLY. When I was a kid it seemed like people were more sociable and neighborly. Neighbors visited with neighbors and even helped one another.
ILL.- I remember when my cattle truck driving dad decided to build a bathroom on our house in Webb City, MO.
While my dad was working to frame the bathroom a neighbor came over and helped my dad one day. DO PEOPLE STILL DO THIS KIND OF STUFF? Maybe in Chaffee, MO and smaller communities but it seems more rare these days.
And do people take time to visit with one another? Or are we always in a hurry and don’t have time for others? Do we care about one another as much as people did in the past?
Galatians 6:9-10 “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”
Romans 12:16 “Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.”
We need to be good to one another...willing to visit and help one another. Jesus said, “Love your neighbor as yourself...” And your neighbor could be your neighbor or anyone else.
3. MORALLY. I believe that morality is lower in America than it has ever been. Many years ago it was considered indecent and perhaps immoral if people used any kind of cuss word on TV or in a movie. NOW IT’S STANDARD FARE. It’s getting harder to find a TV show or a movie where there is no vulgarity, or where they don’t use the “f” word or use the Lord’s name in vain or where there is no nudity and violence.
AND WE AMERICANS HAVE LET IT HAPPEN. We have not insisted on better TV shows and movies by refusing to watch those that are filled with garbage. If Americans would stop attending certain movies than perhaps Hollywood would get the idea and start making better movies.
American has gone down morally because people are very bold and brazen about their immorality. The LGBT movement (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) is growing and they are very open about their sexual deviation. I believe they are in the minority but they are very bold and boisterous about their sexuality. I DON’T HATE GAY PEOPLE BUT I STILL BELIEVE THEY ARE WRONG. And I still believe God’s Word over man’s word.
Romans 1:18-28 “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen. Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion. Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done.”
When people don’t believe in God and His Word they will do anything and they will do all kinds of evil. Christians must live a faithful Christian life. We must be holy without being “holier than thou.” We must demonstrate love toward all people.
ILL.- Remember what happened in John 8? A woman was caught in the act of adultery and those standing around condemned her and wanted to stone her. Jesus said, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." John 8:9-11 “At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" "No one, sir," she said. "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin." Jesus loved people and He also loved people out of their sin. We must do the same.
4. PATRIOTICALLY. It seems like to me that many Americans are not nearly as patriotic as they used to be. When the national anthem was played in the past we would put our hand over heart and pledge ourselves to our country. Now we’re seeing people all across dishonor the US flag, the national anthem and our country in general.
ILL.- In 2016, football player Colin Kaepernick gained national attention when he protested by not standing while the US national anthem was being performed before the start of games, motivated by what he viewed as the oppression of non-white races in the U.S. Kaepernick was cheered by some and hated by others. I didn’t hate him but I thought he was wrong. He was dishonoring our country which has allowed him to become a professional football player and make more money than most Americans. In fact, in 2016 he made around $12 million. He couldn’t do that in any other country but the US and yet he refuses to honor our flag and our country!!!
This lack of patriotism is being seen more and more in our country. When I was a kid in school we saluted the US flag and pledged our allegiance. I don’t know if this is done in our schools any more.
I feel like many Americans who say, “If someone doesn’t like America and support America then they can move to any other country in the world.”
ILL.- Sometime ago the editorial page of New York Times carried an article entitled "God Bless America." It was written by Janina Atkins, a Polish immigrant. "Just six years ago I came with my husband to this country with $2.60 in my purse, some clothes, a few books, a bundle of old letters, and a little pillow. I was an immigrant girl hoping for new life and happiness in a strange new country.
"There is something in the air of America that filled my soul with a feeling of freedom and independence. This begot strength in me. There is no one here to lead you by the hand and order you about. We believed in the future and the future did not disappoint us. Today my husband is studying for his doctorate degree and we live in a comfortable apartment."
That’s the kind of patriotic attitude that ALL Americans should have....appreciation for our country, realizing how blessed we are to live in this country.
5. SPIRITUALLY. America is not as spiritual nor as Christian as she once was. Christianity was once considered to be the dominant religion in America. I’m not so sure now.
When I was a kid in school it seemed like everyone went to some church that preached Christ. Kids and their parents were Baptists, Christian Church people, Church of the Nazarene, Presbyterians, Methodists, Lutherans, Assembly of God, Pentecostals, Catholics, and many others. etc.
They didn’t have the same doctrine but they believed in the same Jesus. Back then I didn’t know what a Muslim, a Hindu, or a Buddhist was. And it seemed like there were few Jewish people where I was raised although I certainly didn’t hate them nor anyone else.
Most people that I knew believed in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and Savior of the world. And people went to church. We picked out our clothes on Saturday night and polished our shoes in order to be ready for church.
BUT IT’S DIFFERENT IN AMERICA NOW.
ILL.- According to the Hartford Institute of Religion Research, more than 40 percent of Americans “say” they go to church weekly. As it turns out, however, less than 20 percent are actually in church. In other words, more than 80 percent of Americans are finding other things to do on Sundays.
Furthermore, somewhere between 4,000 and 7,000 churches close their doors every year. Southern Baptist researcher, Thom Rainer, in a recent article entitled “13 Issues for Churches in 2013“ puts the estimate higher. He says between 8,000 and 10,000 churches will likely close this year.
Between the years 2010 and 2012, more than half of all churches in America added not one new member. Each year, nearly 3 million more previous churchgoers enter the ranks of the “religiously unaffiliated.”
If this trend of not going to church continues then what is going to happen to our country? WILL GOD WITHDRAW HIS BLESSING FROM OUR BELOVED COUNTRY?
Psalm 33:12 “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance.”
What if America does not honor God as God and Jesus as His son? How can God bless people who do not remember Him and honor Him and His son?
CONCLUSION------------------
ILL.- Former Dallas Cowboys coach Jimmy Johnson told his football team: "If I laid a two-by four plank across the room, everybody there would walk across it and not fall, because our focus would be on that two-by-four. But if I put that same two-by-four plank 10 stories high between two buildings only a few would make it, because the focus would be on failing. Focus is everything. The team that is more focused today is the team that will win this game."
Johnson told his team not to be distracted by the crowed, the media, or the possibility of losing, but to focus on each play of the game itself just as if it were a good practice session. The Cowboys won the game by 52-17.
It seems that Americans have lost their focus or more so, Christian Americans have lost their focus. Philippians 3:14 “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
Instead of focusing on the Lord and pleasing Him, we’ve been focusing on the things of this world. Our focus should be on God, His Word and pleasing Him in all things.
What must we do to see America become the country she should be or perhaps once was?
1- We should pray fervently for our country and her leaders.
I Timothy 2:1-4 “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”
2- We should trust the Lord and not live in fear.
Psalm 37:1-3 “Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.”
3- We should live right (we don’t change things by doing evil)
I Peter 2:12-16 “Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.”
4- We should speak for Christ and our country (take a stand for our faith but do it in gentleness and kindness)
I Peter 3:15 “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect..."
II Chronicles 7:14 “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 will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
It’s time for all who claim to be God’s people to humble themselves, pray, seek God’s face (His will) and turn from sin if we want God bless our country and our lives. We keep asking God to bless America. NOW IT’S OUR TURN TO BLESS AMERICA.
