America – Great Mercy or Great Wrath

“Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the Lord; I remember thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals, when thou wentest after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown.” – Jeremiah 2:2

Much has been said by greater minds than mine (both theologically and secularly), about the “Christian founding of America”. One such mind is that of David Barton of Wallbuilders.com. The historical accuracy of that statement is not the aim of my post today, but I do believe it is an interesting debate; and one that liberals far and wide would cry “VICTORY!” if they could but prove that Jefferson was a Universalist, and Franklin was a devoted Deist (as devoted as one can be) – and not ‘good’ Christians.

Nevertheless, faith in the Christian God, and namely His son Jesus Christ, was the preeminent belief throughout all the colonies, and later early America. Most modern denominations will proudly trace their roots back to those early American church fathers of the 17th and 18th centuries. These “first” Americans certainly claimed God...but where does that bring us today?

Our country’s history is chalked full of revivals, and evangelical movements right up to the present day. And any historian worth his salt will tell you that it was most surely a miraculous move of God that America even won it’s independence from the British, much less, rise to the “superpower” status that we claim today. Most will agree that America has been blessed in mighty ways throughout our 200+ year existence, but why then, can we not answer the Lord’s question in Jeremiah 2:5 : “What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?”

For a country so blessed from its youth, so endowed with gifts of opportunity, and guidance from the Providential God himself – why have we “walked after vanity” and “become vain”? C.H. Spurgeon once commented, “Rejecters of great mercy must expect great wrath”. What other nation in the world can be named that has benefited as much from the mercy of God as we? Freedom, safety, health, education, and civil government – all gifts from the omnipotent Jehovah. Homosexual marriages, gay priests, abortion-on-demand, and removal of the 10 Commandments from every site deemed offensive – that is how we’ve replied to His grace.

If you can think of nothing today to thank God for – think but a moment on the incredible forbearance of God, towards our beloved America. Judgment or revival are our only options, for the Body of Christ. What are you praying for?

“Will he reserve his anger forever? Will he keep it to the end? Behold thou hast spoken and done evil things as thou couldest.” – Jeremiah 3:5