"Healing for our Land"

Living with the conviction that God's Word is as true and relevant today as it ever has been is not an easy task, considering that the tides of our culture break upon the cliffs of faith in Christ like a typhoon.  A case-in-point could be the recent striking down of Proposition 8 in the state of California by a federal judge who determined in his ruling that marriage defined as a union between one man and one woman was an "antique" of a bygone age. 

The issue of homosexual activism aside, the overall sentimentality behind Judge Walker's decision reflects the intellectual snobbery of many of the prevailing personalities in leadership in our country today.  Such disdain for reverent regard for the holy Word of God is found not only in formal politics and in our judicial systems, but in the worlds of medicine, education, and even among many church denominations, even though the constituents of many of the leaders of these are in sharp disagreement with such attitudes and the policies that are borne of them. 

Some will look on the moral plummet of our country and simply shake their heads in helplessness and continue to live life in "survival mode".  Some say our country is "going to hell" and are ready to wash their hands of everything except of the joy of criticizing others.  Perhaps there are a few who take on a violent attitude of retaliation and subsequently plot bombings and shootings as if these things can solve the effects of the spiritual crisis that besets us. 

But hope for a return to greatness for America is not found in these things, but rather in what God can do through His people as they are renewed and the power of God surges again through their obedient lives.   And the spiritual renewal and the resurgence of holiness that God's people today desperately need is not in "fighting fire with fire" but in their humbly turning from worldly thinking and living and returning to genuine relationship with God through Jesus Christ.  Repentance, faith, holiness, love, and obedience is what God expects of us today. 

Even political activism is insufficient and even insults God, hindering Him in the transforming work that only His Spirit can do if such activism is not the fruit of following God's lordship in our lives.  The answer to the need of America is found only in Jesus Christ in every area, from disintegrating families to crime, from economic collapse to unemployment, from illegal immigration to lack of healthcare, from drugs to national security and terrorism. 

Our need is for the power of God's saving grace to enter into our individual lives so that it may then flow into those institutions that reflect the uniting of all who call themselves Americans. Whether they call themselves leaders or simply see themselves as citizens, all need to come to Christ Jesus. 

"If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked way, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land" (2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV). 

(Thom Mollohan and his family have ministered in southern Ohio the past 15  years and is the  author of The Fairy Tale Parables:  Classic Fairy Tales Pointing to God's Love and Truth.  He is the pastor of Pathway Community Church and may be reached for comments or questions by email at pastorthom@pathwaygallipolis.com).