Return to Righteousness, America!

Passage: Psalm 33:11-20

Key Verse:

“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance.” v.12 (NASB)

“I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her commodious harbors and her ample rivers, and it was not there. I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her fertile fields and boundless forests, and it was not there. I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her rich mines and her vast world commerce, and it was not there. I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her public school system and her institutions of learning, and it was not there. I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her democratic Congress and her matchless Constitution, and it was not there. Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits flame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because America is good, and if America ever ceases to be good America will cease to be great.”  

 

This famous quote was used in a sermon on Labor Day weekend in September 1922 by reverend John McDowell in New York City. It is not known for sure where he got the quote; however the sentence “America is great because she is good” has been attributed by many American Presidents to a French political thinker, Alexis de Tocqueville (1805-1859). Being a foreigner myself, I find it absolutely possible that someone who was born and lived in a different country would have written this quote.

I love these United States. I became an American in September 2005 and I am so very proud to call this country home. I also love my country of origin, Brazil, but America's ingenuity and friendly embrace quickly conquered my heart. For Christians who live in this nation and were raised in a different country, it becomes very evident that America has been blessed in a super-natural way above any country on earth. As I studied the beginning of its history, I became more and more convinced of the fact that America’s greatness has been directly linked to its founding fathers and subsequent leaders’ general desire to honor the One true God.

I visited Washington D.C. a couple of years ago and verified to be true something which has been increasingly discredited by the media and many of our representatives: in spite of the fact that our constitution respects any religion’s freedom to worship, America’s foundation was based on Judeo-Christian principles. I saw bible verses in most of our monuments. I saw God’s hand in the history of this nation. From its very foundation, our country has attributed its strength as coming from Yahweh, the God of Israel. For centuries, American presidents and leaders would not dare to credit its greatness as coming from anything but Almighty God. And therefore, God has blessed America because we, as a nation and society, in our laws and statues, have sought to honor God and live in righteousness. One only has to do some research to find out. Below are only a few of the countless quotes from former American presidents:

"While we are zealously performing the duties of good citizens and soldiers, we certainly ought not to be inattentive to the higher duties of religion. To the distinguished character of Patriot, it should be our highest glory to add the more distinguished character of Christian." President George Washington

“The general principles, on which the Fathers achieved independence, were the only Principles in which that beautiful Assembly of young Gentlemen could Unite, and these Principles only could be intended by them in their address, or by me in my answer. And what were these general Principles? I answer, the general Principles of Christianity, in which all these Sects were United: And the general Principles of English and American Liberty, in which all those young Men United, and which had United all Parties in America, in Majorities sufficient to assert and maintain her Independence.” President John Adams

 “The fundamental basis of this nation’s law was given to Moses on the Mount. The fundamental basis of our Bill of Rights comes from the teaching we get from Exodus and St. Matthew, from Isaiah and St. Paul. I don’t think we emphasize that enough these days. If we don’t have the proper fundamental moral background, we will finally end up with a totalitarian government which does not believe in the right for anybody except the state.” President Harry Truman

 The Decline of Christianity in America

“The Lord looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men; From His dwelling place He looks out on all the inhabitants of the earth, He who fashions the hearts of them all, He who understands all their works. The king is not saved by a mighty army; a warrior is not delivered by great strength. A horse is a false hope for victory; nor does it deliver anyone by its great strength. Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, on those who hope for His lovingkindness, to deliver their soul from death and to keep them alive in famine.” v.13-19 (NASB)

It is no wonder politicians and liberals claim that America is not a Christian nation. Christian values have become increasingly unpopular in the past forty years. Many people attribute the hardships that we are currently experiencing only as a result of the decisions of the current administration, but that is simply not true. Just read about Israel's decline in the Old Testament and you will see the correlation. We are experiencing the consequences of God slowly withdrawing His hand of protection and prosperity because of our sin. As the verses above remind us, our strength as a nation does not come from our “horses”. Our power does not come from our mighty army. Our strength, prosperity and power come from a God who has blessed a people that honored Him. Likewise, the decline has been allowed by a loving and merciful God who has been trying to call His children's attention to turn from their wicked ways and return to righteousness.

Starting in the 1960's, we have been changing our laws in order to “accommodate” our sin. Since Row vs. Wade in 1973, it is estimated that over 50 million babies have been aborted. We have made violation of God’s commandments a non-issue. You can probably observe each one of the Ten Commandments violated within less than a day of watching our TV shows, as people applaud and ask for more.  We don’t flinch when people around us curse. We laugh at funny jokes on movies, even though the Lord’s name was placed in between the lines. Indeed America has been in a slow, steady moral decline for many years. But what bothers me the most is that we, the Christians of this nation, are passively watching America turn away from God and doing very little. Many of us have chosen to blend with the rest of society. We’re no longer salt like we used to be.

In the name of whatever it may be, whether it is trend, fun, acceptance, friendship, being cool, “love”, we have allowed ourselves and our children to watch and participate in things that are completely against God and His Word. We have actually voted for leaders who stand against God's principles and commandments. We, the Christians have. Each politician elected, from the local level all the way to the highest federal levels, has been voted into power by many Christians, not just by the Buddhists, atheists or Muslims. We, God's people voted them in. Why? Because we have compromised and allowed our hearts to become desensitized to the things that God hates. We have become lukewarm to His truth.

Case in point: I have watched people get up and leave church because the pastor candidly pointed out that our government has taken unrighteous stands in critical issues, not based on his opinion, but rather based on facts regarding individual politicians’ records against Scripture.  Because of personal preference, we have elected officials who support, point by point, everything that is against God's law and commandments. We have not spoken out and very often we have silenced because we are afraid of what individual groups will accuse us of. Or, worse yet, we have silenced because we have forgotten who we are in the first place: not Americans, not rich or poor, not black or white, but children of God!!

 If My People....

“If My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14  (NASB)

Notice that God is not talking to just anyone. He is talking to HIS people. He is talking to you and me, the Christians of this nation. We are America’s lighthouse. God is America’s hope and we are His representatives. We are His prayer warriors and we vote.

My prayer these days for America goes beyond a change in government. I am praying for a change of heart that will start within the church. I am praying that we, as His people, called by His Name, will allow the Holy Spirit to speak louder than our personal preference, our race, or personal history. I am praying that we will be careful to silence our hearts and be sensitive to sift everything that we allow in our minds and lives through God’s grid: Does it glorify Him? Does it honor Him and His Word? And not: “How will this help ME?”

And finally, my prayer is that when we vote in less than 7 days, we vote with our God-given conscience. We must defend, with our ballot, the freedoms which made this country great: free enterprise, the ability to live the American dream with hard work and ethics, the sanctity of life and marriage, to name a few. It is simply wrong to separate our Christian values from our ballot. We do not have to blend with society. We never should! Salt does not blend – it seasons. Light does not blend with darkness – it puts an end to it!

To Whom Much is Given… (Luke 12:48)

One day, we will stand before the Lord and give an account of each one of the decisions we made in life. I don't see how our vote would not be one of them. We have been blessed with the freedom to vote and help change and determine the future of our great nation. Our children's future. We have the power, in our hands, to speak up and help preserve our Constitution, our rights and our freedoms. My prayer is that our vote as God's people will honor Him, that His hand of protection will continue to rest upon us.

As President Thomas Jefferson warned us almost two hundred years ago:

 "God who gave us life gave us liberty. And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are of the Gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath? Indeed, I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that His justice cannot sleep forever; That a revolution of the wheel of fortune, a change of situation, is among possible events; that it may become probable by Supernatural influence! The Almighty has no attribute which can take side with us in that event."

 May we heed the call…. Return to Righteousness, AMERICA!

A Scar Named Grace

Passage: Psalm 84:10-12

Key Verse:

“For the Lord God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory. The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right.” V.11 (NLT)

I was gently pressing Vitamin E oil over the bright-red scar on my abdomen. It extended for about 5 inches and it was painful. It hurt to move, to sit down and stand up, to turn around in bed and to take a deep breath. My surgery had only been ten days before and this was the first time I saw the incision. Vanity chimed in and I frowned at the sight.

My daughters sneaked in behind me as I bathed the scar in oil. Their eyes got big when they saw the surgery site. “Wow, mom. It’s sooooo big!” said the oldest in awe. “Does it hurt?” asked the baby. I looked at them and nodded. “Yes, sweetie, it’s big and it hurts.” “I’m sorry, mom” were the next words from my sympathizing daughters. And that’s when I heard the Spirit whisper within my soul. I turned around and signaled them to get closer. “You don’t have to be sorry, dear. I actually like my scar. I even gave it a name.” “A name?,” little one said. “What is it, what is it?”, she urged with growing curiosity. “Its name is Grace,” I said. “For if I did not have this scar, it would mean that the cancer would still be inside me. It was God’s Grace that allowed the doctors to find it while it was still small. So now we have Grace to remind us of how good God is to our family.” They both smiled as they looked up at me. Big sister was the first one to say: “Hi, Grace!” Little one echoed big sister’s greeting. They turned around, skipping out of the room, happy to go back to whatever fun game they were playing.   

Grace. Charis.

The word is found 206 times in the King James translation of the Bible; 150 of which are in the New Testament. It has become one of the most popular subjects among Christian writers worldwide. In the New Testament, grace is the Greek term charis, and like our English word, it may mean “graciousness” “attractiveness” or even “charm.” But as  we consider the theological meaning of the word in the New Testament, it refers to the free, unmerited favor of God; to the favor or kindness given to those who can never deserve it or earn it by anything they do or refrain from doing. As Charles Swindoll puts it in his book The Grace Awakening, “Every time the thought of grace appears, there is the idea of its being undeserved. In no way is the recipient getting what he or she deserves. Favor is being extended simply out of the goodness of the heart of the giver.”

Grace is in the center of the gospel of salvation. The unmerited gift that was poured down at the cross to mankind is the greatest demonstration of grace ever given: “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 (emphasis mine.) But grace does not end with salvation. The “graciousness” of God is renewed every day towards His children. Truth being said, we live on grace. We may not always see it, but we know that God is in perfect control over our destiny and orchestrates all affairs to work together for our good and His glory. His grace accomplishes that.

Grace Does not Always Look Good

As I look into my past, I realize that God’s grace has often been hidden in situations that did not necessarily look or feel good. The pain and suffering of a betrayal that crushed my heart hid the wonderful grace of God, which spared me from marrying someone who was not His best for me. Because of His grace, albeit disguised in suffering, I married the man He had chosen for me from the beginning of time. He gave me grace and at that time, I did not know it.

The day I found out I had kidney cancer was a painful one to me. I hurt terribly and ended up in the emergency room. Before I resigned to the fact that I needed to go, I remember praying: “Lord, please take this pain away!” and again “Lord, please heal me. I don’t want to have to go to the emergency room.” I cried out to Him, curled up on my bed and waiting for His healing to take place. I quoted scripture. I prayed. And as I waited, in faith, for the pain to go away, it only got worse. As I gave in and asked my husband to take me to the hospital, I remember getting really upset. “I don’t need another medical bill,” I cried. “I can’t miss work!” And all along, I envision God looking down from Heaven and pouring down buckets of grace over my increasingly upset self. I arrived at the hospital and found out through the scan that I had an ovarian cyst that had burst. And… a…. tumor. An asymptomatic cancerous tumor, which would not have been found, had the Lord heard my cry and relieved the pain I had. He was giving me Grace and at that time, I did not know it.

So What is your Grace Scar?   

I know you have one. Or two. Or twenty. If you are a child of God, He has called you to be perfected into the image of His Son (Romans 8:29). In order to do that, we will need to be polished. And sanded. And there are some things that just absolutely need to come off. Completely. He envisions what He has created us to be and will do whatever it takes to perfect us. That is, if we let Him, because we do have the option to throw in the towel and quit. But if we don’t, and I pray that we never will, we must tell our souls that often our trials are God's grace disguised. In the process of sanding, molding and perfecting us, He is lavishly pouring it over our lives. It may not always look or feel like Grace, but we must trust that it is. For we KNOW that it is (Romans 8:28).  

Even today, as I write these words, the Lord has been working in my life in ways that are bringing change and pain. Again, this is not what  I had planned.  I am still in “God's waiting room,” as a sweet friend once put it. But because I can look back and see His love and grace upon my life, even when it did not feel that way, I am teaching my soul to look back, remember and trust. I don't like the pain and I won't lie to you: because I have a tendency to “make it happen” and “do something about it”, I have my moments when I get restless in God's waiting room. But as our key verse reminds me, my only job is to rest upon Him and not fight His ways. His face is upon me. He is holding my hand. He is molding me and changing me.  For “my God is my sun and my shield. He gives me grace and glory. The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right.”

 “After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.” 1 Peter 5:10 (NASB)

Amen to that.

The War Against the Name of Jesus

Passage: Acts 4:13-31

Key Verses:

“But Peter and John replied, “Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him? We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard.” vs. 19-20 (NLT)

Pastor Terry Sartain of Charlotte, North Carolina has ministered to police officers and their families for the past seven years.  During this time, he has always closed his prayers “in the Name of Jesus”. He can't do that anymore. The police department said that he can still pray, just not in the Name of Jesus. A Christian chaplain asked to pray is now prohibited to use the Name of the One who he prays to. This is just one in a growing list of  news articles describing situations where people cannot mention or pray in Jesus' Name. Christian students across the nation are constantly harassed for expressing their faith in the Name of Jesus. I myself have recently lost an opportunity to be featured on a public media outlet because my message was too Jesus-centered. And as we watch our society warmly welcome followers of Buddha, Al-ah, Joseph Smith or whatever other false prophet  this world has ever produced, I am troubled with the fact that other beliefs are free to express their choices, acclaimed and accepted by all facets of society, but Judeo-Christian values are ostracized and expressions of faith in Christ are even prohibited. From our national leaders to school administrators, everyone is open, accepting and understanding regarding various religions and cults. But, oh, the Name of Jesus! That Name shuts the doors of society's tolerance and entices hate and bigotry.

Although this not-so-veiled persecution is becoming increasingly popular in America these days, we should not be surprised. As we study our background passage, we realize that the apostles themselves were asked not to use or preach in Jesus' Name. The early church suffered intense persecution because of the Name. Many early church leaders and followers were killed because of the Name, including most of the Apostles. Throughout history and even today, many Christians have lost their lives because of the Name.

Really... What is it about the Name?

So if Jesus was just another prophet as many claim, why does the simple mention of His Name stirs up the seemingly peaceful surface of our “tolerant” society?

Behind the intolerance and hatred against Christianity, there is much more than what meets the eye. A while ago, I started to purposefully use His Name as I talked to people in secular settings. Instead of saying: "Thank God for this or that." I'd say “Thank you, Jesus!”. Or I would mention something very specific about my faith and deliberately use Jesus' Name. Each time I did that in a conversation with someone who I knew was not a believer, I would watch the person flinch and even become uncomfortable. The conversation would usually not last long after that. What started as lively chit-chat about trivial things would quickly end. I have no doubt in my mind that there is a reason for that. It's no problem if you talk about a higher being, "the man upstairs" and even mention God in your conversations. But the Name of Jesus is simply not welcome among those who reject Him.

Beyond the Meaning

Jesus' name means “the Christ, the Savior.” He who offered Himself as a ransom for our sins. The mere meaning of His Name is filled with power. For those of us who have accepted God's gift of salvation through Christ, His Name is the sweetest; for it opened Heaven's door and filled the huge gap that separated us from our Maker. But for those who deny God's gift of salvation, the meaning of Jesus' Name seems to be pointless. But still, when they hear His Name, they cringe. Why is it so?

His Name Represents the Presence and the Righteousness of God

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1 (NIT)

In this first chapter of John, the apostle refers to Jesus as the Word (Greek – Logos). He was present with God in the genesis of the world (Genesis 1:26.) The same verse in John 1 shows that Jesus and God are the same. Therefore any time we evoke or speak His Name, we are evoking the presence of God Himself. Moreover, His Name is full of the righteousness of God and as such, it exposes the wickedness of the world around us.

“In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome.” John 1:4-5. (NIT)

Jesus' Name shines so brightly, that it drives away or exposes the work of darkness around us. The spiritual power of His Name makes the unrighteous uncomfortable, uneasy. Moreover, at His Name, demons flee. At His Name, the sick are healed and the lost find forgiveness and redemption. His Name is above any other Name that ever was or ever will be.

“The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.” Hebrews 1:3a (NASB)


It's WAR!

“Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.” Ephesians 6:11-13 (NASB)

Behind every person or regime that has ever persecuted the church and every judge or politician who intentionally misinterprets Thomas Jefferson's “separation of church and State.” Behind everyone who welcomes cults and rejects Christ; behind the surface of each one of these conflicts there lays a much larger plan than any of us can grasp. From Jesus' birth in Bethlehem and until today, the devil has used evil men to attempt to destroy the work of God. A demon-possessed Herod wanted to lay hands on baby Jesus and end God's redemptive plan before it started. And in our background passage, the Jewish leaders, undoubtedly influenced by Satan, sought to extinguish the fire of the early church.

Our fight is not merely against those who rise against Christ and His church, but nevertheless we must realize that we are at war and remember that we are soldiers in this war. It is not by chance that Ephesians 6:12 is preceded by the verses describing the armor of God. We are at war and the Lord reminds us in these verses that we must put on the armor, stand up for what we believe and fight. Boldly fight. Just like Peter and John did. Not leaning on swords or spears, but on the protection that Almighty God gives His children as we stand up for what we believe.

Are you a Mighty or Wimpy Soldier?

Can you imagine where we would be had Peter and John succumbed to the Pharisees' prohibition of mentioning the Name of Jesus?

Jesus died, resurrected, sent the Holy Spirit to fill the church with power from Heaven, then there comes a handful of Pharisees prohibiting the use of Jesus' Name. Imagine if Peter had said: “No problem. Let's just be politically correct and not mention His Name.” He would have been a wimpy soldier instead of a mighty one. The fire that had come down from heaven at Pentecost would have been contained. You and I may not ever have heard of our Savior.

That is exactly what you and I do if we passively allow our society and leaders to take a stand against our Christ and God's laws and silence our voices. When we watch people curse in front of us using our Lord's Name and say nothing, we become wimpy soldiers. When we vote for leaders who call our worship short-sighted and narrow-minded and at the same time support things that our God hates, such as abortion and homosexuality, to name a few, we become wimpy soldiers.  When we are afraid to be rejected by people because we don't participate in their lifestyle choices, we become wimpy soldiers. When we succumb to this world's pressures and pleasures and live unworthy of His Name, we become weak, ineffective, wimpy soldiers.

 
Peter and John Stood Tall

“I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.” Matthew 16:18 (NASB)

Peter and John stand as powerful examples of how each one of us should respond to criticism against our Lord. Their position was bold and courageous. I am sure Peter remembered Jesus’ words, as He promised him that the gates of hell would not overpower His church. And so Peter and John took a stand:

“Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge;  for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” vs.19-20

Just like you and me, Peter and John had experienced the power of God. They would not be silenced. They knew that God would be their protection against the powers of darkness. Therefore, filled with the Holy Spirit, they pledged to honor God regardless of what men might do. They knew that their God was above any ruler. “He it is who reduces rulers to nothing, Who makes the judges of the earth meaningless.” Isaiah 40:23 (NASB).

As we read the remainder of the passage, Peter continued his speech by reminding the church of their predestined purpose (v. 28) and asked for courage to speak with confidence (v. 29). Finally, as he spoke, the Holy Spirit shook the place, empowering them to continue their mission in spite of the opposition (v.31.)

As the world closes in on us Christians, despising what we stand for and exalting their idols and lustful choices, where will you stand? Will you become a mighty soldier of the Lord, putting on the full armor and standing boldly for His kingdom, even if you stand alone? Or will you shrink into a weak, fruitless, double-minded and contaminated soldier?

Stand, my friend! Don't let your heart and mind be divided. Commit to your principles, even if everyone else is against you. Allow no compromise in your life. And above all, stand, stand, STAND by the Name above all Names. Live to honor Him. Do not support anyone or anything that stands against Him and His principles. Stand in righteousness before Him, that He may fill you with His power, protection and more importantly, use you in a mighty way to bring glory to His Name and further His kingdom.

A little sparkle of light ends the complete darkness of a room. I pray you and I will choose to be a beacon of light wherever we go.