In order to express who God is(Holiness, Truth, Love, and Justice), He must punish sin. As Christians living in America today, we should not be surprised that the sins spewing out of this country makes God angry. To deny how angry it makes Him, is to deny the necessity of Christ's work on the cross for the sins of humanity. God's wrath toward the sins of America is being revealed to the entire world. In the book of Romans, the first chapter, we can see how our Lord "gives up" a nation who continually lives in sin and does not repent. This wrath that is vented toward the unrepented sins of America is not of eternal judgement, nor is it the wrath of the great tribulation. Its the wrath of the present revelation of God's righteousness. America has "held the truth in unrighteousness." This means, America has received the truth of God's Word, but has yielded to unrighteousness. Is God giving America up?
Romans 1:17 "For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: As it is written, the just shall live by faith." Righteousness is God's essential attribute. To those who practice God's righteousness Paul says, "The just shall live by faith." We as a nation should remember that God is our source of provision and that everything we have or ever will have is ultimately from Him.
Romans 1:18 "For the wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness." 1. "ungodliness", is the failure of spiritual discernment. 2. "unrighteousness", is the failure of the moral lives of people and how they treat each other. America has failed in both of these.
America has "held the truth", in God's word, but now the wrath of God is being revealed. Its not eternal wrath because that would be final judgement into the lake of fire. Satan and his followers have deceived so many, not only in this country but the entire world. America has abandoned the truth for so long now that it seems as though God is turning the country over to its sinful desires.
"God gave them up" No one will be able to stand before God and have an excuse as to why they didn't believe. Everyone is accountable to Him. In Romans 1:24-32, Paul tells us three times that "God gave them up." When a nation has been given ample amounts of evidence of God and His nature, He then expresses His wrath and justification by allowing those to be consumed with the desire to sin, having a "reprobate mind".
Romans 1:21 "when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations and their foolish heart was darkened." It seems with each year that passes by, America is acknowledging God less and dishonoring Him more. This nation's heart has become dark, that it cannot reason correctly or give thanks to almighty God.
Romans 1:26-27 "for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: Also the men leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was due." These behaviors and many more are exactly what we see in our country today. Its the opposite of the natural harmony of God's moral laws. America has abandoned self-control, is driven by lust, and participates in sexually impure acts.
Significant dates attributed to God's wrath:
1963..........The Supreme Court ruled that Bible readings and prayer in public schools were unconstitutional.
1965..........Immigration and Nationality Act permitted more Muslim, Buddhist, and Hindu immigrants into the U.S. changing the religious landscape of the country.
1971..........Sojourners magazine was founded, which promoted a greater prominence of liberal Christian views.
1973..........Supreme Court ruled to legalize abortion.
1980..........Marjorie Matthews was elected first female Bishop of any mainline Christian Church and pioneered the 80's for future women pastors.
1988..........biological fathers had no right to stop the pregnant mother from murdering his child.
1990's.........religious nonaffiliation in America started rising.
2015..........legalized same sex marriage
2016..........state and private institutions had to allow transgender students to use restrooms according to their gender identity.
Ephesians 5:6-7 "Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. But not ye therefore partakers with them." We became targets the day we believed and accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. There will be constant temptations and solicitations to evil, therefore believers must always be proving or discerning WHAT IS and WHAT IS NOT acceptable to the Lord.
Final thoughts
America is the greatest country in the world. Examining America more closely in areas such as Technology, Biology, Agriculture, etc., it can be argued that the United States is still the best in the world. The attributes that contributed to God's wrath and "giving America up", is far more than the events that happened on specific dates. It seems as though God has allowed America "free reign" expressing sin unchecked, which results in the natural system of cause and effect. America, it would appear, has been portrayed as a nation who has progressively been pushing God further and further away. God has been expressing His wrath by allowing this nation the things it wants and condemning those to suffer the painful consequences that came with it. Because America hasn't given the honor God deserves, He has let America do what it wants, to dishonor itself and being "given up" to those sinful desires.
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