What's Wrong with America?

What is wrong with America?

Hardly a day goes by that someone, especially those who believe in Jesus, doesn't ask that question. We see the hate crimes of the KKK and the skinheads. We see unpunished violence, rampant sexual immorality and corruption at every turn. We see a lack of spiritual values, whether in the marriage bed, the corporate boardroom or the political arena.

What is wrong?

It may seem easier sometimes to answer what is right with America, but it is important to ask the question and seek the answer from the perspective of God, for nations fall based on how God sees them. While we do not subscribe to the ideas of those who would make God's dealings with Israel and Judah parallel in some way to his dealings with America, we do believe, especially in the Minor Prophets, that God has spoken about what He expects from a nation and what will happen to nations which fail to meet those expectations.

What kinds of things brought on the destruction of nations in the days of those prophets? Quite simply, the same things we worry about today. Namely, a lack of mercy (Amos 2:6), greed (Amos 2:13), irreligion (Nahum 3:4), arrogance (Nahum 3:8). We cannot doubt that the crimes which brought destruction to Nineveh, to Damascus, to Gaza and Tyre and Ammon and Moab will bring destruction to our nation as well, if we allow them to continue unchecked.

Fortunately, our God is patient and kind (see Jonah) and will turn away from His wrath if we will but turn back to Him. God does not demand that every American be a Christian to bring about the sparing of our nation, but He demands that certain things be recognized as wrong and so punished, and He demands some effort to uphold righteousness in a land.

What is wrong with America?

In this issue, we will attempt to deal with some of the most glaring problems facing Americans who are also concerned with God's word. This is not a political statement for us, but a call for Christians everywhere to stand up for our nation to live up to the values upon which it was founded.