Why Is Christianity Irrelevant in 21st Century America? Part 1

The following is a copy of a written prayer I read at a church in Maryland a few years ago:  I tried unsuccessfully not to have to lead the prayer.  This prayer, not in the usual prayer format, will be very burdensome and it will offend many here today.  I am even stricken with fear to share it right now and would gladly take my seat, if it was an option, and let someone else pray.

“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.”  II Chronicles 7:14.

Lord, my soul is severely burdened, my heart is broken and my eyes are red and swollen with tears over the plight of America.  How has this great nation founded on godly principles, although not perfect, in such a short time slipped into an abyss of depravity?  The founding Fathers relied on the Providential hand of God & the Bible to guide this fledgling nation, as demonstrated in the “Declaration of Independence” which states “ that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights”  Our public schools and great universities – such as Harvard, Yale, Columbia – were founded by Christian ministers who used the Bible as the main source of instruction to bring the gospel of Jesus Christ to the world.  Today these schools, like many others colleges and universities, ignoring history and claiming “the separation of church and state” are headed by Liberals and Progressives which oppose everything biblical or Christian. We spend tens of thousands of dollars sending our children to these schools and they return home questioning the validity of God’s word. Where is the church? Lord, have mercy on us!

In 1963, at the Lincoln Memorial Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr gave his most famous “I Have A Dream” speech which in conclusion he said, “….we will be able to speed up the day when all God’s children Black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old negro spiritual: Free at Last! Free at Last! Thank God almighty we are free at last.

In the same year, 1963, the US Supreme Court deemed unconstitutional, due to the tireless and fearless efforts of atheist Madeline Murray O’Hare to remove Prayer from public schools. Where was the church?

In 1970, then Governor of California Ronald Reagan, which later he regretted, signed into law a bill legalizing “No Fault Divorce” which has left many children in this country fatherless and poverty stricken. Where was the church?

In 1973, the US Supreme Court (in the Roe v Wade case) deemed it a woman’s right to de-stroy the fetus/baby in her womb. Planned Parenthood assisted Norma McCorvey, who was pregnant at the time, becoming the poster child for abortion – the killing of a child in the womb for any reason – from the pre-natal stage up to the end of the 9th month – was legalized. Where was the church?

In 1973, The American Psychiatric Association and in 1975, the American Psychological Association deemed it necessary, without any legitimate scientific support, that homosexuality was no longer a mental illness.  Where was the church?

In 1985, a group called “The Jesus Seminar” consisting of 70 Liberal theologians gained national attention and has been held in high regard by major media outlets and magazines, as they mock the validity of the Holy Scriptures regarding the words of Jesus – willfully ignoring any and all historical documentation contrary to their position.  Where was the church?

In 2013, the US Supreme Court, refusal to make a clear and definite stance on Proposition 8 defining “Marriage is between 1 man and 1 woman only” has created confusion in America. In 31 states marriage is still defined as between 1 man and 1 woman. However, in another 18 states, 15 of these states, although the people voted for Traditional Marriage – Liberal politicians and Judges – disregarding the will and vote of the people forced those States to accept Same-Sex marriage as a Civil and Constitutional Right.  Where is the church?

On April 28, 2015, the US Supreme Court, without authority is deliberating on the Constitutionality of Same-Sex Marriage.  The Courts, the government, nor did mankind create “Marriage and Family” God did. Therefore, the courts have no authority to change the definition of Marriage as “1 Man and 1 Woman Only” and the procreation of children “boys and girls only.” (I added this, May 2015). Where is the Church? Lord Have Mercy on us!

Lord, how can this be happening in America when millions of Christians claim to be filled with the Holy Spirit and walking in the will of God?  Jesus said in Mt 7:20 “By their fruit you shall know them” There’s not much moral fruit happening in America.  Jesus led and taught his disciples by example, even giving his life. On the day of Pentecost, 120 Spirit filled Christians began to change the most powerful nation in the world – the Roman Empire – however, millions of Spirit-filled Christians haven’t made any real difference in the American culture.  Why?  Because Men, women and children living in the first century followed the examples of their leaders and were willing to lay down their lives for the truth claims of Christ. Christians in America, however, are following the examples of their leaders. They are afraid to lead, they are afraid to stand publicly against the evils in our nation (the cost is too high for them) and most of all they are afraid to lay down their lives for Christ.  Our leaders fear men rather than God. Where is the Church? Lord, have mercy on us!

Lord, we think you are pleased with us. Christians, week after week, go hide in the church. We sing praises to you.  We give tithes and offerings.  These things are important but this is not what God want from us. God want our hearts, but we refuse to give it to Him!  Jesus said in Mt 15:8-9 “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.” The devil doesn’t care if we go to church, he’s happy that we go to church, sing worship songs and praises to God, giving our tithes and offering as long as we don’t make a real and profound difference in our culture.  What the devil desires, and is seemingly getting his wish, is for Christians not to live godly lives publicly on our jobs and in our schools – and he has been successful in that area. How is this possible? Because the churches in America are Deaf, Blind and Dumb! In us is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah 6:9-10, We are Deaf“You will be forever hearing but never understanding” We are Blind“You will be ever seeing but never perceiving” We are Dumb“For this people’s heart has become calloused…” The prophet continues, “They hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.” The Christian church in America, unwittingly, yet gladly renders all its hope and faith unto Caesar, while denying the true and living God, based on our actions.  Lord, have mercy on us!

“Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor is his ear to dull to hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear. For your hands are stained with blood, your fingers with guilt. Your lips have spoken lies, and your tongue mutters wicked things. No one calls for justice; no one pleads his case with integrity. They rely on empty arguments and speak lies; they conceive trouble and give birth to evil.”  Lord, have mercy on us!  Isaiah 59:1-4