What Now? A Response to an Interesting Week.

It is my belief that we are living in a “post-Christian” America.

What this does not mean is that there are no longer Christians in America.  This does not mean that groups of people that follow Jesus in America now are “un-Christian”.

What I believe it means is this.   America was founded by people who looked to God and His Word for direction, protection and provision.   Whether they were Christian or Deists is debatable – what is not debatable is these men and women looked to God and His Word In determining right, wrong and what was acceptable in the society.   Looking at our Constitution, Bill of Rights and original laws, it is obvious these writings were based on a Judeo-Christian understanding of God and His Word.  It was that understanding that provided a general consensus of what was right/wrong and acceptable for America.

No longer is this true.

I do not believe there is any consensus in America when it comes to determining right/wrong and what is acceptable.   It is for this reason I believe that America is now a “post-Christian” nation.

Some would argue this is a good thing while others would see it as a nation that is rotting but by any standard it is obvious that America is no longer the nation is was as founded.

So what does this mean for me?   I think any reasonable person has asked themselves that question.  I speak for no one else – no group – no church – these are just my thoughts.

The nation I grew up in isn’t the nation I see now.   I am not ancient – just 55 – but I can still remember a time when America had a “consensus” of what was right and wrong.    Now that is gone, it is hard to recognize what America has become.   Please understand – I am not America bashing at all.   Honestly, I still think that there MAY be a majority that would agree of the basics of right/wrong and what is acceptable, but looking at social media and media, it is hard to believe that to be true.

The nation I see now doesn’t hold the same values I have.   The nation no longer determines right/wrong and what is acceptable by the same standards as I do – the standards they once did.   The nation has changed.   Me – not so much.  So what do I do with that?

I am becoming an Exile in my own nation.

I can run and hide.   You know – just crawl into a church building and surround myself with people who believe what I believe, value what I value, worship who I worship and be comfortable patting each other on the back knowing “we” aren’t like “them” who abandoned God and ruined America.

I can stand and fight.   I think this is where the Church has been for the last 50 years or so.   We loudly proclaim sin and organize ourselves to bring change to our nation by electing leaders who will “steer the nation” back to godly values.  Somehow a great mixture of patriotism/Christianity is the hope for America.  Bring them to Jesus through the ballot box.  That really hasn’t worked very well.   For America or for the church.

I can give up and just blend in.   Just throw in the towel and accept that things will never change.   Agree with the “majority” on what is right and wrong.  Just give up my beliefs and adopt what the status quo for what is right/wrong and acceptable has become.

So if I don’t run and hide, stand and fight or give up and blend in, what do I do?

First – God is still in control.   None of this caught God by surprise.   America is not the first nation God has blessed only to see it rebel against Him and unless the world ends, it won’t be the last.  Nations – great nations – have risen and fallen.  Their arrogance, confidence and opulence gave way to decay, despair and their demise.  If the world is still spinning in 100 years – what will be written of America?   Will there even be an America?   God knows – I don’t – but He is in control.   He was in control of things before America ever was – and He will be if she ever ceases to be.

Second – God’s Plan does not hinge on America.   God’s Plan is bigger than America.  His Plan is about His Kingdom – not our Nation.   We need Him.   He does not need America.   Right now God is moving in powerful ways all over the earth.  With my own eyes I am seeing God move though Ethiopia – the heart of Africa.  In China, millions are turning to Him.  Right now I believe that God is raising up Nations, calling people to Himself – just as He did America some 400 years ago.

Third – God’s Calling on my life hasn’t changed.  That isn’t a Pastor/Teacher thing – that is a follower of Jesus thing.  As a follower of Jesus I am called to love people, compassionately speak His truth in love and as best I can – follow Him.  Live like He would live if He were here today.  I haven’t always done that well.  When I fail, I turn to Him and find forgiveness, restoration and love.  Then as best I can, I get up and start following again.

Finally, I strive to be a blessing to the very nation I feel has rejected Him.  Please understand – just as a church isn’t a building, but it is people – a nation isn’t soil – it is people.   I am to be a blessing to those people who have rejected Him and His Word for determining what is right/wrong and what is acceptable.

Follow me for a second.   Jeremiah wrote a letter to those who had been ripped from Jerusalem and taken into Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar.  There were called the Exiles.  He said they would be returned to Jerusalem one day, but not now.  So these are the instructions Jeremiah said God was giving them.

Build houses and make yourselves at home. Put in gardens and eat what grows in that country.  Marry and have children. Encourage your children to marry and have children so that you'll thrive in that country and not waste away.  Make yourselves at home there and work for the country's welfare. Pray for Babylon's well-being. If things go well for Babylon, things will go well for you." Jeremiah 29:5-7 (MSG)  

Here is what I take from these words.   I am not to run and hide.   I am not to stand and fight.  I am not to give up my values.  I am to live in a place that doesn’t believe what I believe, value what I value or ever agree with me what is right/wrong/acceptable.  I am to “work for my ‘communities’ welfare.”   I am to be a blessing to the very people I disagree with.  I am pray for America – that God may once again bless her.  I am to compassionately speak His truth in love.  I am to care for those that don’t care for me.  I am to love those that hate me – or what I stand for.  I am to do what Jesus would do if He met them face to face.   That is hard.  That is impossible without God changing my heart.  That is Kingdom work.

Again – I don’t speak for anyone else and you may totally disagree with me.   That is fine.   I may be wrong.  And please understand there will be a great many “churches” that will coalesce around the purpose of keeping themselves pure and unpolluted from a nation that has turned from God, while others gather for battle against the ungodly laws and people of our nation.

But as for me – Kingdom work isn’t about Nations.  Kingdom work is about people.  All people.  People that fill my community, my nation that vehemently disagree with me about marriage, sexuality, religion, God, morality or heaven forbid – football.  I am to love them.  I am to strive to compassionately speak God’s Truth in love and be a blessing to them.

What an adventure!