What in the World Has Become of the World?

As I read the news of the chaos that our nation and world has become entrenched in, I find myself asking “What in the world has become of the world?” How has our society slipped into such a chasm of craziness in such a short time? The meaningless killings of innocent people on the streets. The senseless murders of police officers simply doing their jobs. The rioting, the violent protests—our nation is very sick today!

As a pastor, my heart goes out in daily prayers for America but even more so for the church of the Lord Jesus Christ in America. We are witnessing a rapidly growing satanic attack upon the church. From the outside, he is working to destroy our ability to influence our world. The rapid influx of new laws pertaining to political correctness are working to silence those speaking out for what is right. There is a growing proliferation of radical groups denouncing Christianity and the church and the government has bought into their radical teachings and philosophies.  

From the inside, many churches have become weakened by the growing influx of worldliness, by the failure of pastors to preach repentance, sin, judgment, and by a failure of the people to truly repent and turn from their wickedness. Symbols of God’s mercy, such as the cross, have been removed from a growing number of churches to prevent people from being offended. Yet, it is only by way of the cross that salvation has come!

John Wesley said: “Before I preach love, mercy, and grace, I must preach sin, Law, and judgment.” Paul wrote to the Galatians: “As for me, I will never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. The world has been crucified to me through the cross, and I to the world” (Galatians 6:14 HCSB). He told the Corinthian church: “For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2).

Until people realize that the Gospel message is the message of life that is so inherently needed for eternal salvation, their personal response will remain weak, at best, often failing to open the door of access into that life. The church must get back to preaching the truth of the Gospel message just as Paul instructed us. The messages of prosperity and blessings that became popular some years back are laced with untruths and filled with lies and deception. They serve only to tear down the true workings of God through His church.

The chaos we are experiencing in our nation and in the world is definitely a sign of the end times we are living in. Because of this, we, the church, must rise up in the power of the Holy Spirit and begin proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ and His cross and the salvation He has secured for all who will believe. It is through His power that lives will be changed. “The only hope for America is Jesus!” (Carmen).

Paul inspired the spirit in young Timothy with these words: “Preach the Word…!” (2 Timothy 4:2). May our hearts and lives be inspired likewise. GOD help America; GOD help the church in America!

  ~~ Pastor Danny Anderson