The Apathy of America

I am in  the process of re-reading Dr. David Jeremiah's timely book, Is This The End?  This book was published four years ago and it seems to be even more applicable today. Chapter four of his book is entitled "The Apathy of America" where he opens up the reality of how America is very like the nation of Israel as revealed in the Old Testament book of "Judges."  Dr. Jeremiah calls our condition "a downward spiral" from which it becomes very difficult to pull out.

He quotes Erwin Lutzer, pastor emeritus of the Moody Church in Chicago, where he writes about how quickly apathy can return after a period of renewal:

"When the 9/11 terrorist attacks happened, "God Bless America" signs were everywhere, even on marquees on porn shops.  Everyone thought that surely God could be trusted to come to our side in this war against terror. . . . But once our nation felt secure again, God was safely tucked away, church attendance declined, and the so-called wall of separation of church and state was built a notch higher. . . . The God of the Bible will not endlessly tolerate idolatry and benign neglect. He graciously endures rejection and insults, but at some point, He might choose to bring a nation to its knees with severe discipline."

"Dr. Jeremiah further writes: Imagine what would happen to the moral and spiritual health of America if the true church of Jesus Christ suddenly vanished.  We don't know how may true Christians would disappear. of course, but estimates suggest the the US population might be reduced by a much as 70 percent (this may be an exaggerated percentage).  More devastating than the number would be the absence of the Holy Spirit, who empowers Christians to be salt and light in society (Matthew 5:13-16). Without the Spirit's influence, all hell would break loose in America - literally - sending this nation into a devolution from which it would not recover (2 Thessalonians 2:5-12)."

The past two weeks of protests over the horrific murder of George Floyd have devolved into chaos as peaceful protestors exercising their Constitutional right to gather and speak out against injustice have been overtaken by "anarchists" seeking to take advantage of the circumstances and bring America to her knees.  Multiple cities all over America have fallen prey to these Satanic activists whose whole scheme is to stir up the emotions of obtuse, senseless and illogical individuals who blindlessly follow those who lead from behind.  

It is the responsibility of the church to stand up for truth and pour light on Satan's schemes being worked out in the streets of our cities.  America is acting like a formerly great symphony orchestra which is out of tune.  Dr. Jeremiah wrote that "the nation has lost its pitch by removing God from its life, thus producing dissonant chords of cynicism and apathy.  Into this cacophony of hopelessness, God calls His people to sound a clear A so the world can hear above the discord the heavenly note of hope."  It is the church which needs to wake up to her calling to be an instrument of change, an instrument of hope in the midst of our dying culture and society.

In this chapter, Jeremiah writes that "the church has a living hope as pilgrims."  This world is not our home . . .  indeed, we are just pilgrims passing through on our way to an eternal home with our Creator and Savior.  It is our deep responsibility and opportunity to rescue as many from this world and bring them with us . . .  of those who will accept the gift of life from God.

This living hope of which Dr. Jeremiah writes is seen in his subtitles:

• Our Living Hope Rests in the Power of the Resurrection
• Our Living Hope Rests in the Promise of Our Reward
• Our Living Hope Rests in Our Protection Until Christ's Return

He says that "if we are diligent to reflect that hope to our neighbors, we may find that it is too early to write-off America.  Even if Christianity becomes a minority, we must remember that only ten righteous men would have saved Sodom...We Christians could well be the rudder that turns America's ship out of the doldrums of apathy and into the security of commitment," and might I add out of darkness and into the true Light of God's grace.

Is it too late for America?  It is never too late until God has had enough and sends His Son to retrieve His church in an event know as "the Rapture."  You and I do not know when this will occur . . . we do know the season or signs of the time and it seems that that hour could be very near.   Since we do not know when that time will happen, what we do know is that we are to reach out and touch as many people as possible with God's love. (John 3:16)