One look at our country and we can come away convinced that that the appropriate name for it should be the “Divided States of America” instead of the “United States of America”. If anyone ever needed an example of the havoc wreaked by one of satan’s most destructive tools, divisiveness, indeed they should look no further than America.
The consequences of our division are devastating:
- Dysfunction – inefficiency
- Weakness – vulnerability
- Lies – mistrust
- Hatred – bitterness
- Lawlessness – Moral degeneration
Nowhere is dysfunction more evident than in our federal government. It remains in total gridlock and accomplishes nothing. Instead of working together on the things upon which they agree, they prefer bitter partisan wrangling and strict adherence to talking points established along party lines for every issue which effectively blocks any hope of progress for any idea not generated by a particular party.
Our inability to agree on common sense items has deteriorated our economy and overwhelmed us with incomprehensible debt. All but the richest among us have seen big declines in income while the rest of the planet (including former banana republics) replace us as the economic super powers of the world.
Meanwhile our enemies both from within and without have become emboldened by our weakness and our country is facing real and present dangers. Our borders are transparent with people pouring across in record numbers making us vulnerable to terrorist attack that are in fact occurring routinely now. And our military has been so weakened we are being taunted by Russia, China, Iran, Pakistan, and North Korea almost daily. It is no longer hyperbole to consider that we face being slaughtered and/or enslaved.
Our President has routinely lied to us on many occasions as have others in his administration, and that it makes it all but impossible to discern when they are telling the truth. Federal agencies like the IRS and justice department wage war against ordinary citizens with opposing political views, and the NSA is listening in on all of our communications. This has resulted in deep mistrust of the government.
Our President who occupies the highest office in the land ignores his oath to enforce our laws and routinely refuses to enforce any law with which he disagrees ideologically which sets the tone for lawlessness. The courts make a bad situation worse by making up their own version of laws at will and operate in much the same manner. And let’s not forget that it’s good politics to stir up issues that are related to race, gender, special interests like the LGBT, and class warfare, because it persuades them to get out the vote and donate money. The result: more division, bitterness and even hatred among our citizens. This sets the stage for moral decline with an all-out assault on life, religious freedom, marriage, and God’s moral laws.
Unfortunately God’s church has not been immune to the divisions. What began as a singular church or body of believers has now so divided that today it encompasses some 63,000 denominations of Protestants and Catholics. We act just like our secular cousin the United States in that the church is divided and suffers dysfunction – inefficiency, weakness – vulnerability, lies – mistrust, hatred – bitterness, lawlessness – moral degeneration.
We are too divided to fight the worldwide moral decline that we see around us. We focus on the 10% of things upon which we disagree such as hair splitting theological/doctrinal points, politics, race, egos and logos instead of the 90% upon which we agree. We cannot seem to unite in prayer, preaching the Gospel, discipling the nations or the compassion ministries. Heck we don’t even have a plan.
There is a way to fight satan on this and win and we can look at the National Rifle Association which pales in comparison to the size of the billions in the church with its comparatively paltry 5 million membership. It is comprised of Democrats, Libertarians, Independents, Republicans, RINOS, Winos, atheists and people with far ranging differences that are identical to the rest of the country and yet they have successfully put aside their differences in the interest of protecting a freedom that they cherish, the right to keep and bear arms. They have been hugely successful and the NRA is a terrific example of what can be accomplished when reasonable people will put aside their differences and work together to achieve a common goal.
The Jesus Alliance is attempting the same thing with the church. We are not asking anyone to change their way of worshipping, nor are we trying to create another denomination or church. We are simply encouraging members of the body of Christ to come together as one. We want to come together to pray, preach the Gospel, disciple the nations and perform the compassion ministries in an organized, efficient manner instead of flaying away at varying priorities as independent believers each going our own way while our enemy, satan, laughs at our stupidity.
United we can succeed, we can come up with a comprehensive plan and execute it efficiently; divided we will fall. We need to become as one. Sign up today: http://thejesusalliance.org/
But hey, don’t take my word for it, someone else far greater than I has suggested/commanded this; (By the way His name is God.)
John 17:22
“The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity . . .
November 10, 2014 – Click here to listen