Romans 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. 21 For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.
24 Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. 25 For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
26 For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, 27 and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error.
28 And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; 32 and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.
Romans chapter 1 describes the judgment of God in a way not normally understood. We usually comprehend the fact that as a just and holy God, He punishes sin, but this chapter teaches far more. It teaches that God, in His wrath can abandon a society (turn His back on them), allowing the people to pursue the sin they crave. He gives them up or gives them over to the sin they cherish most. When this happens, this will not merely BRING the wrath of God, it IS the wrath of God.
Romans 1 is a New Testament passage that mirrors many found in the Old Testament that speak of God’s dealings in this way. One such passage is Judges 10: 13, 14 where we read, “13 Yet you have forsaken me and served other gods; therefore I will save you no more. 14 Go and cry out to the gods whom you have chosen; let them save you in the time of your distress.” Haunting words, aren’t they?
This is why, now that the votes have been counted, millions of Christians in America are waking up this morning with a great measure of sadness in their hearts. This is not because their faith in God has been shaken. That is not true at all. Their sadness arises from the fact that though a deeply divided nation, America as a whole (by means of the choices made) has clearly abandoned God, and this by itself is a sure sign of God’s judgment. God is saying, “alright then, if that is what you want, go for it.” As Justin Taylor commented, “It’s possible to hope in God, believe that King Jesus is still on the throne, and still be deeply disappointed.”
Yet for all who seek refuge in God, He shows His great mercy. The Name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous run into it and are safe.
May God bless America… with repentance.
Here is Dr. John Macarthur with a message from the year 2006 entitled “When God abandons a nation.”
As I have watched and listened to all the people talking about the election, I knew deep in my heart that the president would win.Dr.James Kennedy.Dr. Francis Schafer, and Dr. John Macarthur have all addressed the issue of a nation without God. The schools, the politicians, society, has rejected God and it’s just a matter of time for America to see its own demise.We have lasted over the 200 year mark for empires.America has done much good throughout the years, but there are those that have wanted this country destroyed for a long time, however, what they fail to realize is that as one suffers, all will suffer.I have said for some time that Christians have placed far too much hope in a pre-tribulation rapture as millions of believers in other countries have suffered and died for their faith, while the ego of American believers hangs on to the idea that we will not suffer, and because of that, churches have become complacent, lethargic,and isolated.Jesus said we are to go, not sit and stagnate.Well now we are going to see just what is going to happen as the country rejects God and evil prevails, what shall the righteous do?
Help me out here. Are you stating that America’s waking up with sadness was due to the re-election of President Obama and if Mitt Romney was elected, such sadness would not have occurred? What is the source of this sadness that you are claiming out of whole cloth? Why would not America be sad if Romney won the presidency?
Lafe,
The issue is not personality but POLICIES, and America has voted for policies which oppose God. This is why we are sad. Perhaps this article might help explain: http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2012/11/07/the-changing-moral-landscape-in-america/
America voted to take care of its poor, sick, children, and elderly. Abortion may have been a factor for the rich and ignorant, but compassion was the deciding factor for most of us. We as a nation cannot afford to turn our backs on our neighbors. Jesus taught us to care for those that cannot care for themselves and Romney did not care about these people. Yes, abortion is a terrible thing, but so is not helping the millions of suffering and starving people in America.
We would probably disagree over the best way to help precious people who are struggling, but it is not right to ignore the silent screams of the unborn because of financial considerations.
All of the above comments assumes, wrongfully so, that America has been a Christian country and was founded upon Christian principles. Wrong on both accounts. If you read the founding papers, you will see that it was not the intent or the desire of those men to find a Christian nation but somehow we have bought into the fable that America is the apple of God’s eye and as such, we are entitled to some sort of divine blessings. American history has been woefuly distorted to present an image of a Christian country and we are shocked when we vote in policies or people that are nof of God and much less born again believers.
America is not God’s favored nation…never has been…never will. We would do ourselves a grave dis-service if we read into the Word of God, the name of America as being in prophetic scriptures. God did not call the church to take dominion over the culture but to be light and salt and to make disciples of all nations…not follow politicians for our fulfillment or hope… for that is idolatry.
Whether or not we view history alike, there is no doubt that God has given more light to this nation than any other (apart from ancient Israel). To whom much is given much is required.
If people would only do research on their own and not take words of other people ,perhaps people would get a better understanding than talk about things they know nothing about .The United States was not founded on christian values if it had it would not have killed the Native Americans and enslaved Africans (Talking about the Christian brethren )Judgement is not coming just because of same sex marriages etc. What we have done as a nation to those least of us who’s blood is crying out from the ground.I think we as a nation need to seek the true living God and not the God of greed.That is what has doomed us greed.
Agreed.
Kristina, I don’t recall any scripture saying the government should take care of the poor, elderly, homeless, etc. He commanded his followers to do that. To believe we are following our Lord’s commandment by proxy through the government is silliness. Respectfully posted.
as to my last post why do you think that if it were at all posible that even the very elect would be fooled. to thinking it was. whats going on in america is God giving them over to a reprabate mind…though they knew Him as God they didn’t worship Him as God…they take from Him the glory of His Grace. for by grace are you save through faith, and that not of your selves it is the Gift of God lest any man should boast.
God does not Judge nations as geographical entities.In the new covenant everyone is responsible for their own sins,not even the sins of their fathers.Besides God has now set a date when he will Judge the world and he only knows the date.As for now we are living in a dispensation of Grace.No where in the new testament did the apostles travel to distant lands and warn them of calamities as God’s judgement the way the old testament prophets did.You might ask, then why natural calamities? Those occur as a result of a fallen world.Out of sync with God.Jesus even mentioned that those whom the tower of Siloam fell on and died were no more sinners than those who survived(Luke 13)
The gospel does not save nations but individuals from all/any nation of the world, who upon accepting Christ become part of the Holy/Spiritual Kingdom of God which is not part of any earthly kingdom.
The Kingdom of God cannot be advanced through legislation.That is where the Law failed miserably.Only transformation of the human heart through the power of God can bring meaningful change in peoples hearts and way of life.
Just think of it, even if you had “Christian” President/Politicians of your choice who would make abortion/homosexuality illegal that wouldn’t stop the people who want to commit this sins from doing so.They would do them in private and if that is the basis of God Judging America he would still judge America for those sins despite them being committed in private.
And believers would deceive themselves that they have a godly constitution/leaders and yet sin would still abound in peoples private lives.
I am sorry to disagree with someone called Moses but I must do so.
We read in Psalm 33:10 The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples. 11 The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations. 12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!
The individual will be judged in the ultimate and eternal sense (the Great White Throne Judgment) but that does not negate the fact that there are temporal judgments seen on nations. If God can bless and prosper a nation that looks to Him as their God, He can also withhold such blessing when they do not.
sorry my first post didn’t get posted…button failure. What I said is that like the Church in Laodicea so is the so called Church in America, most even saying that gain is godliness. You see it everywhere and it is world wide. But like the Laodicens as Christ said I will spew them out. Paul speaks of a falling away an apostacy. Its like those who say gain is godliness. They take not into account the full word of God as in John 1:12,13 that it is God who who cause we who are truly His to be born again, John 3. and that comes by the drwing of God John 6…but the apostasy by the so called churh of today that I mostly see are those who apostise by giving themselves the glory because of their free will. A falling away…and I think from grace. For by grace are you saved through faith. and that not of your selves it is the gift of God; not of works that man should boast.
Even in Acts 13 when the gosple came to the gentiles there, not who were, but as many were ordained to salvation believed, and Glorified the word of the Lord.
Not so here As many think it is the fact that they worked up in themselves a belief and God is obligated to them. And like James I say so too; the devil and his demons believe and they trimble…
John, i agree that God’s purposes will be fulfilled regardless of men’s plans or even who leads a country.He did it with Pharaoh, Nebuchadnezzar, King Cyrus etc.
That is why i am not bothered by politics.
On Psalm 33:12 the context is old covenant when God had a covenant with a physical nation called Israel, who were physically different from all other nations, both genetically and culturally. Every promise in that verse had a physical fulfillment in Israel.
In light of the new covenant those who believe in Jesus form God’s Holy nation which is a spiritual kingdom separate from any earthly kingdom/nation and God is our God and we are his people cutting across all geographical/ethnic/national boundaries.
I may also ask if psalm 33:12 applies to physical nations in this present world,how then does a nation as a whole make God their lord? My take only individuals can make God their lord and after doing so be enjoined to God’s holy nation( 1 Peter 2:9)
“Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.” – Proverbs 14:34