Is religion responsible for the problems that plague America?

           I read an article to that effect written by a minister who also said that Jesus was still in the public school and the public square because He has the power to be where He pleases. While it is true that Jesus can be wherever He pleases, He does not force His presence; on the contrary, God departs from where He is not welcome.

The title uses the word religion, so first, we need to clearly understand the definition of religion, which is not easy. According to Wikipedia, “Scholars have disagreed on a definition of religion. Some refuse to classify specific religions as religions, arguing that they are instead heresies, even if they are widely viewed as a religion in the academic world.” So, there is a vast difference in organizations under the umbrella of religion; even Satanists and radical Islam are included. In a sense, religion plays a part in America’s problems, but those explicitly referring to true Christianity are wrong. I must add also that all who claim to be Christians are not what they claim to be, and they indeed can be a source of trouble even in the church.

According to the Bible, Christians are responsible for abiding by government laws. The Bible supports that in Romans chapter 13: “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. God has established the authorities that exist. 2Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. 4For the one in authority is, God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.”

If God determines who will govern, why are some of those elected evil or poor rulers? That is a good question, but it has a simple answer. Whether a leader is a man of faith or not is not as important as how he relates. For example, is he sympathetic to those of faith and welcomes their values and opinions? On the other hand, God still allows him to become a leader even if he is not sympathetic to those of faith. God allows good rulers and evil rulers according to Daniel 4:17: “This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the highest ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.” 

We may wonder why God would allow the basest of men to be a leader, sometimes including the president of the United States. First, we need to take another look at Romans 13:1, “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. God has established the authorities that exist.” Okay, we know that is a fact, that God does set up the basest of men to be leaders, but it still does not answer the question as to why. The second point answers the question from an example in the Bible.

God sometimes gives people what they want and deserve; this is what happened in 1 Samuel 8:1-22: Israel demands the prophet Samuel provide them with a king so they could be like other nations. Until then, Israel had been a Theocracy; God was their king. Now they reject God and insist on a man to be their king; this displeased Samuel, so he went to God in prayer and asked Him what he should do. 

God said, in 1 Samuel 8:7-8, “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. 8 As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights.”

So, Samuel told them that there would be severe consequences if they had a king. He went into detail about what would happen: “This is what the king who will reign over you will claim as his rights: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots. Some he will assign to be commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and others to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and still others to make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants. He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants. Your male and female servants and the best of your cattle and donkeys he will take for his own use. He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you will become his slaves. When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, but the Lord will not answer you that day.”

Even with all Samuel said a king would demand, they would not listen. They said, “No!” “We want a king over us. Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and go out before us and fight our battles.” After Samuel told the Lord what they said, God said, “Listen to them and give them a king.” If people want to go, God will let them; he does not force anyone to choose to serve Him.

America has had more than its share of bad presidents, leading them farther away from God. Even though America has had a more incredible opportunity to have a relationship with God than any other nation in history, like Israel, it has chosen to reject God. Israel paid dearly and faced God’s judgment. For some 2500 years, Israel lost their autonomy as a nation and was subjugated to the rule of other nations. Is that where America is headed? I pray not; my prayer is that America will have a great awakening and turn back to God.

Currently, things look bad, so is there any hope for America? Yes! But it will require a change of heart: God said to Israel, “When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, 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 I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 1 Samuel 7:14.

America’s problem is a moral one, a fleshly one. Galatians 5:19-21 describes immorality or “acts of the flesh:” “The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Does that sound familiar in relation to present day America?

America has set a course away from God that leads to judgment, which was the case for great nations in the past. There is hope for America. This county has experienced great awakenings before, which is what is needed today, a turning back to God. Will it happen? That is the sixty-four-thousand-dollar question. Presently it doesn’t seem to be in the plan.

Is God still judging nations for their sins, as He did in the Old Testament? How bad does a country have to be before God brings judgment? God judges nations just as He judges individuals: “But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out,” Numbers 32:23.

God is the same today as He has been in the past. He has not changed, and He is still the God of Judgment. When we sin against God, we run the risk of judgment. America has decided it will turn its back on God and do its own thing like its way is better than God’s. According to the Bible, “the wages of sin is death” Romans 6:23. You can be sure that our sins will find us.

Israel was God’s chosen people, but when they turned their back on God, God’s judgment came upon them as it did on the nations around them. How long can America scorn the ways of God and get away with it? Only God knows, but His patience does have a limit. We may not be able to influence the direction of this nation personally, but we have a choice of which path we take. If you are ready to turn to God in repentance and receive His forgiveness and His gift of eternal life, I have prepared step-by-step instructions from the Bible on how you may do so:  CLICK HERE.