Pastor’s Thoughts – 07/05/2026

As an American I am very grateful for our country and thankful to God for maintaining us to our 250th anniversary as a nation. At the same time while we continue to have many physical blessings there is grave concern for the spiritual and moral failings in our present society and the promotion of their aggressive evil direction. Indeed, we are following a path of self-destruction. Our roots date back to settlers largely from Europe, particularly Puritans, Anglicans, and other Protestant groups following the Reformation who came to America seeking freedom to worship God. They came from oppressive state-affiliated and forced apostatizing beliefs. The Bible originally dominated America’s thinking, influencing social norms, education, and governance. Most of our founding fathers were orthodox Christians whose lives were influenced by commitment to God’s Word. The unique nature of America at its founding was a people fleeing religious oppression to worship God as the priority of their life. They came under great physical hardship, but did so by conviction, to worship God and live their faith without forced interference.

Our original heritage and Americas greatness and unusual position in the world is directly related to God’s blessing. It was an America where the church had a central role in the core thinking of most citizens. From this logical and inherent attitude came our special Constitution and willingness to fight against the oppression which sought its expansion into America. The founders did not want to allow the norms of Europe to be America and were thereby committed to fight the far superior physical forces of the oppressors, if necessary, even to death.
No one can argue that America has ever been close to perfection, indeed it is very imperfect. But it does and has had a unique role in relation to the church age and being used of God to maintain degrees of blessing to the world. America, since its founding, has been largely the catalyst for evangelism to other nations. The fruit of Christian thinking surrounding America’s history has by God’s grace brought much of the physical good and blessings of God into a fallen world. It is no wonder that many people still flee to America. Unlike those who initially came, many now come to enjoy America’s physical wealth.

Paul stated that God, “Made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation” (Acts 17:26). “He rules over the nations” (Ps. 22:28). “It is He who changes the times and the periods; He removes kings and appoints kings; He gives wisdom to wise men, and knowledge to people of understanding” (Dan. 2:21). It is interesting that our founders were willing to physically die for their freedom to live and serve God, yet today we continue to give that blessing away. We have allowed evil to overcome, grow, and possess us as a nation. Where at one time we recognized our faults, and humbled ourselves before God cherishing Him at the center of our essential thinking, today He is left out altogether. We pay no attention to His Word, nor see ourselves as sinful.

God tells us that moral character is directly linked to our well-being. “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people” (Prov. 14:34). History records that those nations who reject God and refuse not only to be grateful for His kindness, but instead reject all His revelations of truth, follow a path of destruction. We have been given so much as a nation, but Christ stated, “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded” (Luke 12:48). Historically, God destroyed Sodom, and He destroyed all the cities and nations of history according to their evil. Christ said of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum that God would be more tolerant with Sodom in the day of judgment than they (Luke 10). And why is this so? Because they had been privileged by so many blessings and revelations from God through Christ. Does not America fit this same pattern? America has redefined evil to become our standard. The church as the salt of the earth must be non-compromising to bring light and truth, and be dedicated to prayer. We must proclaim the Gospel that sinners might be transformed, and that if God is willing, we as a nation may be turned from our wicked ways
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We are told by Paul, “First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity” (1 Tim. 2:1-2). We are all aware of the terrible things taking place in our nation. God has told us what to do. We are privileged to follow His will and foster faithfulness to Him amid these difficult times. We thank God for America, but our foremost allegiance is to our Lord. In whatever degree of patriotism that we possess, the best we can do for America is to be faithful to God as His stewards and seek Him in prayer for our nation.