Many people of faith (I've taken my shots) are piling on this current Administration, decrying its polices, arrogance and penchant for demagoguery.
But, let's face the the hard truth: Government shares only part of the responsibilty for the tragic state of our Nation. The failure of the Church to be the Church has accelerated our decline. The light from The City set on a hill cannot penetrate the darkness because "The City" too often has become a dark, anemic, impotent place.
The Church has embraced popular culture and been absorbed by a pursuit of the good life; by a quest for "relevance" in the name of Christ. She has a vital role in culture: to be the watchman on the wall, the harbinger of Good News; instead, she slumbers. The Church need not quest for relevance; when she behaves as The Church, she is relevant. Instead...
Apathy, division and moral compromise have ravaged the fruit of the Spirit.
Reaching out with the Good News has become an unfunded mandate.
Codependence has swallowed up courageous leadership.
Sound teaching has been replaced by pop pyschology.
Relevance has pushed reality to the back of the bus.
Sacrifice is considered a synonym for weakness.
Integrity is open to interpretation.
Godliness just isn't hip.
This isn't the first time the people of God have lost their moral and spiritual compass:
"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land." 2 Chronicles 7.14
It ended badly for Israel. But, it need not end badly for this nation; there is hope.
Hope springs from humility
Humility leads to repentance
Repentance produces healing
This, is change we can believe in.
