Dealing with sin-saturated America

John Hatcher is pastor of Outreach International Center, 1091 South Jeff Davis Drive, Fayetteville, Georgia 30215. 770-719-0303

By JOHN HATCHER
Contributing Writer

America is sin saturated. I heard an inactive minister say recently — in an off the cuff fashion — that two singles who like and love one another should be able to sleep together, adding, “after all this is the 21st century.” What’s more, he suggested that God-fearing parents should not object to such behavior. After all, this is the 21st century.

I have some thoughts about America’s inclination to think lightly of sexual immorality and often its attendant sin of lacing drinks with drugs along with the proliferation of night spots and porn ( Please forgive me but I am just not a feel-good pastor or preacher. Physical cancer or spiritual cancer will not go away by speaking sweet words or attempts to make people feel good).

Historians for decades have been calling attention to the similarities between the Roman Empire before its collapse and the conditions far too obvious in the United States. Yet, we continue in a pattern of destruction.

Upon one historian’s retirement from writing the history of civilization, he was asked if he could sum up his appraisal of America’s situation. He said, “The heart of the matter is that there must be a change of heart.”

America’s heart is proud and haughty. We fear no enemy especially the one that will take us down. No, not Iran even if it gets the bomb. No, not terrorists even if they start car-bombing in New York City. The enemy is us and we will be most effective in taking ourselves down.

Consider this: America is actually at war and our sons and daughters are dying on the battle field. Yet there is more news about Michael Jackson of Neverland, Natalee Holloway of Aruba, and the run-away-bride of Roswell.

The tragedy of 9/11 caught America by surprise, prompting prayer meetings on the streets of New York City, and a very brief spike in church attendance. After a few weeks, however, church attendance fell back to its average rate. What kind of tragedy will it take for America to wake up? I suggest that no amount of destruction, death or disease will bring America to its knees. We are not doomed, however.

Consider this: middle school kids having sex. Someone who works with kids made the following observation: “These (sexual intercourse and especially oral sex) are cavalier activities for kids. They treat sex like washing their hands or changing their socks.” There is even documentation that school bus activity includes oral sex on the back of the bus. I remember the kids who sat in the back of the bus. I never went there because they were then and I suppose now for sure some of the most scandalous.

Consider this: our government will spend billions of dollars to stabilize the middle east so the oil fields will continue to supply our gas-guzzling cars (that could have been made more oil efficient years ago) and yet we dole out the dollars to people starving and dying of AIDS in Africa. Our dollars seem to flow freely when it’s in our selfish interest, but we are mighty stingy when it comes to children who go to bed hungry every night.

The Judeo-Christian faith and the book of that faith, both the Old and New Testaments, confirm that a people will be judged how they care for the widows and orphans. Even some of our own military widows (who gave their husbands in the fight for Iraqi freedom) are ill-treated by our own government. Presidents, Senators, Congressmen and Congresswomen will have to answer for this callously one day.

God don’t like people who mistreat his widows and orphans.

So, as I said, we are not doomed. The hope of America is in the Christian church houses. And yes, I am aware of the diversity of religion. But God has put the responsibility of rescuing America on the heart and shoulder of the Christian church. He states through his prophet, “If my people, who are called by my name, shall humble themselves and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land”(2 Chronicles 7:14).

Who would not agree that America does not need healing? Just watch the wasteland of television for 24 hours and you should be convinced of our culpability to national self-destruction. Examine our yard sales and see what fascinates us for a season and then it’s junked. One modern prophet put it, “We buy things we don’t need with money we don’t have to impress people we don’t like.”

The church house must become the epicenter for a mammoth revival of unparalleled proportions. Billy Graham’s crusade, though powerful, was a drop in the bucket of national moral emptiness. But let the fire of revival be lit in 300,000 Christian churches from sea to shining sea and we will see a new America. An America where the latest technological toy will not be the necessity around the Christmas tree. An America where white and black people will be worshiping together rather than worshiping their common God in different houses. An America who could view the world through the eyes of compassion and not commerce. An America who would be saying “no” to drugs, but also “no” to sex before marriage.

Where does it start? In the church house? How? Prayer. What kind of prayer? Knee bending and soul humbling prayer. What else? A genuine hunger for God and his righteousness. How? Finding out and doing what pleases God. America needs a change of heart. Is your heart in it to be a part of the revival?