We have recently more than doubled our parking space. The new parking lot is behind the building and can be entered from either side of the building. The main auditorium can be entered from either side of the building as well as the road-side entrance.
CAN CHURCHES HEAL AMERICA?
A few years ago the cover to a 1996 edition of U.S. News caught my attention.It asked, “Can Churches Cure America’s
Social Ills”?Hmm.
Now, as a Christian my chief
allegiance is to God’s holy nation of which I am a citizen (1 Pet. 2:9; Phil.
3:20); but since America is where I reside for now I want to see it do well for
if it has peace, I have peace (Jer. 29:7).
As I
pondered the question, “Can Churches Heal America?”, I thought of some things
churches are going to have to do if they hope to have an impact.
Churches must call people back to the book (the Bible).It’s what America needs more than anything
else.Just this morning, my “check
engine” light came on.I didn’t know
what to do.Of course, I knew to check
the engine, but where do I start?I
immediately reached into the glove compartment for the owner’s manual.It told me what I needed to know.Friend, that’s what your Bible is.It’s a
manual from the Owner who made us all and knows what’s best.No matter how broken down your life is the
Bible can fix it.In it, we have all we
need (2 Tim. 3:16-17).Why would so many people ignore a book that
is so good for us?Too many people just
don’t want to be accountable to God.So,
they reason Him away and deny the Bible as His word.Someone has said, “The atheist cannot find God for the same reason a thief cannot find a
policeman.”He doesn’t want to.America is not the first nation to
try to push God out.Jehoiakim, the king
of Judah,
took God’s word, cut it up with a knife and through it in the fire (Jer.
36:23).Perhaps he thought he had done
away with God’s word but he had not because He couldn’t touch its Author.Try as we may to push God’s word out of our
lives, it lives and abides forever (1 Pet. 1:22-25).Like an
anvil wears its hammers one by one, God’s word has outlasted all its
skeptics.Oh, how we need this
book!!America’s hope is to come back to
the Bible.
Churches must remember the mission of the
church.People long before us saw “going
to church” very simply.God’s word was
highlighted above all.Some have even
said that when preachers spoke you could “feel the heat.”How do people see churches now?As people see so many denominations with
recreation centers, cafeterias, gymnasiums and the like, are people impressed
with the need for the spiritual over the physical?Jesus had to deal with that problem.People came in hoards wanting physical
food.When He made it clear that His
mission was to provide spiritual food, most of them walked away (Jn. 6:26-27,66-68).A few in the religious world have been
willing to admit that without all the physical attractions their numbers would
drastically fall off.Jesus didn’t worry
about that.He sadly let them walk away.In fact, if you’ll notice, every time crowds
began to build, Jesus’ teaching became even more challenging (Lk. 14:25-25).He wanted those who wanted Him.That’s it.The mission of the church is to preach the truth, period (1 Tim. 3:15).Many years ago, a French statesman, Alexis De
Toqueville (1805 – 1859) came to America trying to find the secret
of its greatness.What he found is
interesting.Listen to this!!“I
sought for the greatness and genius of America in her commodious harbors and
her ample rivers – and it was not there… in her fertile fields and boundless
forests – and it was not there… in her rich mines and her vast world commerce –
and it was not there…in her democratic Congress and her matchless Constitution
– and it was not there.Not until I went into the churches of America and heard
her pulpits flame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius
and power.America is great because she
is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great.”Local churches must remember their
mission.Preaching is growing weaker in
too many places.Preachers must call
sin, sin (Jn. 8:31).Faith comes by hearing God’s word (Rom. 10:17).Without God’s word, America will be
faithless.
Churches must encourage members to come
home to family.Too many homes
hardly have anyone home.Dads must
provide (1st Timothy 5:8) but they can be gone far too much in their
pursuit of climbing the ladder of success.Moms need to focus their minds on being keepers at home (Titus
2:4-5).Even kids can be away from home
too much.We must spend time
together.I’ll never forget brother
Connie Adams telling of a yard sale at his parent’s home.Reluctantly, they decided to sell the family
dinner table he had sat around all of his growing up years.There were so many good memories.For most of the day, it had not sold.Inwardly, Connie was sort of glad.Then…a buyer came, loaded it up and drove
away.Connie said as he saw it go away,
he cried.I understand.How many families today would have such sentimental
thoughts about their table?We just need
to come home and build our homes on Christ (Mt. 7:24-27).
Churches must teach members to deny
worldliness in their lives (Rom. 2:17-24;
Mt. 5:13-16).If we, one-by-one, will let the Lord put our
lives together, the world will fall right into place.If you want to heal America, start
with you.May God bless the United States of America.
