Monday, October 13, 2008

Heal our Land

Have you heard of the new movie coming out called Religulous? Here's a few of the things being said about it by journalists around the country. They call it the #1 sacrilegious comedy in America. They say it turns religion on its ear. That it is a blasphemous detonation of all things holy and scriptural. And they call it funny.* If you see a commercial on TV for it, you will see various people involved in their religious activities, accompanied by a smirking Bill Maher. Also included is a parody of Jesus' Crucifixion. I was appalled when I saw this. Appalled that people would be so publicly irreverent to Jesus Christ. I know that wasn't really Him on the commercial, but it was the idea of Jesus that they were smacking around. Do you see anything humorous in blaspheming things holy and scriptural? Not me. There's a word for that: profane. PROFANE: characterized by irreverence or contempt for God or sacred principles or things; irreligious.**

Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. Hebrews 12:16 (Esau was profane; what did God think about that?)

As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. Romans 9:13 (That was God who said that.)

God hated Esau because he was profane. He didn't hold the birthright as a sacred thing. To him it was worthless, and he traded it for a bowl of food. Do you suppose God harbors any great love for profane people today? People who would blaspheme the death of His own Son?

For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. Malachi 3:6.

God doesn't change.

It seems that our nation is pushing the edge lately, and on the verge of crossing a line into a deeper level of sin and perversion than it has been in already. Not just because of this movie. This is just a symptom of a deeper problem. There was a time when even non-believers had the decency not to openly mock the Cross of Christ.

Many things are at stake in the upcoming election. There is more involved than just taxes, the war on terror, and abortion. There is an underlying culture that is just waiting to overwhelm our nation. It has been subdued in the past, although we have always heard rumblings as its members lashed out in the press against 'right-wing' people who they believe would shove conservative morals and values down their throats. There is a culture of evil, and it hates the Cross of Christ and those who stand for it. It would drown us if it could. It will try.

I'm sure you hear every day about the troubles in our economy. This is just another symptom, the result of unchecked greed on the part of many people. People trying to make gain off others, people who took out loans they couldn't afford to repay, people who were looking to make a buck off the greed of others.

Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Hebrews 13:5

As Christians we need to be content with what we have, not always striving and scratching to get more, more, more, and better, better, better. There is nothing wrong with getting something better – if you work and pay for it.

Sometimes the problems that face us in our nation seem almost overwhelming. At times, it almost looks hopeless. This scripture really came home to me this morning:

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. II Chronicles 7:14.

God is not expecting every wicked evildoer in America to fall down and repent. He says for His People to do it. If all the Christians in America would examine our own hearts, humble ourselves, pray, seek the face of God, and turn from any wickedness that's in us, God will forgive us and heal our land.

Shall we put Him to the test?


*www.lionsgate.com

**www.dictionary.com