by: William Tyson
We have all heard the story of the prodigal son. It is a story of selfish decisions and bad friendships, yet it vividly displays the wonderful truths of grace and restoration. While a parable, this story has played out in many families. Young people who forge relationships with the wrong crowd and turn their backs on what they have been taught will always reap what they have sown. Today, many a young person, in rebellion, is in a far country wasting his or her substance on riotous living and breaking the hearts of their parents and those who have invested in their lives.
Today America is a far country. We are wasting our substance on riotous and frivolous living. We are in many ways “a prodigal nation.” How did we get here? How did this all begin? The reality is that the seeds of rebellion have always been present, but this rebellion began to accelerate in the 60’s & 70’s. Attacks from the left and militant atheists began a concerted effort to undermine our liberties. The first amendment became their first target.
There are three landmark cases that changed the meaning of the First amendment as it was previously understood and practiced in America. These cases include Engel vs.Vitale in 1962, the famous Murray vs. Curlett case in 1963, and a lesser known case of Abington Township School District vs. Schempp. All three attacked prayer, Bible reading and religious activity of any sort held in a public school. Incredibly, the National Council of Churches and several Jewish organizations actually favored the Madelyn O’Hair case! Not a single Christian organization, to our shame, filed a brief in support of school prayer, so the case went virtually uncontested before the Court. The Supreme Court ruled 8 to 1 in favor of abolishing school prayer and Bible reading in the public school.
These three rulings essentially revised the First Amendment, putting restrictions on the people, and not the government!
Since these three landmark decisions, we have seen teen pregnancy rise and teen sexual activity has increased dramatically to the point where the vast majority of teenagers lose their purity before the age of 15.
1 in 6 teenagers have thought about suicide. 1 in 12 have tried to commit suicide…
30,000 commit suicide every year…1.5 million since these rulings.
Violence in our schools and gang activity have both increased.
America has asked for its inheritance and is out spending it’s substance on riotous living.
As a nation we are reaping what we have sown.
In 1973, the Roe vs. Wade case came to the Supreme Court, and on January 22, 1973, abortion for all women was legalized. Since Roe vs. Wade, 56 million abortions have been performed in America. 1.3 billion worldwide since 1980. Many of those paid for with your tax dollars through organizations such as Planned Parenthood which alone this year has already conducted 78,000 abortions.
As a nation we are reaping what we have sown: We are a prodigal Nation.
As of this year, same-sex marriage is legally recognized in several jurisdictions within the United States; as of January 2013, nine states – Connecticut, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont and Washington – as well as the District of Columbia.
We should be reminded that every state can pass laws defining marriage, but God still defines it as between one man and one woman. We are inviting the judgment of God on this nation. We are a prodigal nation away from God.
America’s entertainment has become lewd and lascivious. Hollywood has for many years been pushing an agenda to normalize the gay lifestyle, promote sexually immoral behavior, and to call anyone who stands against such actions as bigoted and hateful. Hollywood has undermined the institution of marriage. There was a time in America when divorce was shameful. There was a time when immoral behavior was hidden, now we call it Reality TV. We are giving up our civil liberties for so called security.
We are a Prodigal Nation.
Psalm 11:3 says, “If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?”
Today we have a choice. We can throw in the towel. We can throw up our hands, or we can do what I believe our founding fathers did at the founding of this nation. We can fight! We can stand with a vision for what this country can be again.
“If we wish to be free, if we mean to preserve inviolate those inestimable privileges for which we have been so long contending, if we mean not basely to abandon the noble struggle in which we have been so long engaged, and which we have pledged ourselves never to abandon until the glorious object of our contest shall be obtained _ we must fight!” – Patrick Henry
We have much to admire and love and be thankful for in being able to call America our home; however, our nation is rapidly drifting from its biblical foundations. Our freedom to serve God and to promote the Gospel in our land is disintegrating. We are engaged in a great spiritual battle that threatens our country, our families and our lives.
Only God’s intervention will return America to solid footing and restore a moral nation that righteousness will exalt. The Bible commands us to be salt and light in Matthew 5:13-16. We must take our responsibility seriously. Our responsibility is to put God first, not only in our homes, but also in our national affairs.
America is in trouble. We are a prodigal nation. What shall we do? What is our call to action?
1. We must pray.
James 5:16 says, “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”
More important than starting a voter registration drive, and more important than debating your adversary is getting alone with God and asking Him to stay His hand of judgment; asking God to bless America once again. Our founding fathers knew the power and purpose of prayer. From our nations beginning through times of war and tragedy, we have been called to pray that the hand of Almighty God might show forth His mercy and intervene with His grace towards America.
Today is no different.
2 Chronicles 7:14 says, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray , and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
We need to understand that God does not see souls as Republicans or Democrats. He sees mankind as lost or saved. The answer for America is not Conservatism. The answer for America is not on Fox News or talk radio. Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity don’t have the answer. What this nation is longing for and searching for is to fill the void that only Jesus Christ can fill. Jesus Christ is the answer! The Gospel is what will bring this prodigal back to God!
2. We must participate.
Participating within the process for change is the ultimate key to its success. It is futile to gripe and complain about what one considers wrong or unjust in our land, and not participate in the process of changing it for the better. The Scriptures are clear, James 4:17 says, “…therefore to him that knoweth to do good and doeth it not, to him it is sin.”
What we need is for God’s people to step up and participate. Participate in preaching the Gospel. Participate in the public forum. Participate in the political process. God’s calling to the ministry is the greatest calling, but not everyone is called to preach. Perhaps God would have you be our next congressman, senator or president. How would that change America? Grab your Bible and your Constitution and get involved!
3. We must persevere.
When fighting for right, we must never cease until we prevail. It’s about time God’s people make the decision – I refuse to give up, I refuse to give in and I refuse to quit, for the sake of our children and grandchildren.
We are fighting for that which is right, therefore we must never cease to fight the good fight, as Paul did, until we prevail. The battle is not always won by the smartest or strongest, but rather comes to those who persevere. We know from Scripture, “If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31) We must be reminded that all the resources of the Creator are available to us. May we access this power and persevere!
Keep the faith Christian! This generation is dependent on you. This Prodigal nation needs to come home! Pray, participate and persevere!
William Tyson
Pastor
Woodlawn Baptist Church
Bowie, MD