Our nation, and more importantly our churches, are in shambles.
And sadly I bear part of the blame.
You see, I’ve been a Christian (at least in name) since I was 7 years old. I was “saved” on a Wednesday night during revival in a West Virginia Baptist church. I knew what to say and when to say it. I could bible drill with the best of them. All of this without the help of Google or digital bible software. After all, I was a preachers kid and the grandson and nephew of two other pastors. Being a Christian was more or less in my blood, right?
But when my faith was really put to the test in late high school I was proven to be a liar. I failed even the simplest of tests of my faith and traded it for a weak attempt at having a reputation with man rather than with God.
I was not who I thought I was but because I wore the label of Christian I also bore the responsibility of bringing shame to the one I claimed to follow because of my behavior.
I was blind…blind to the fact that my faith had no more impact or importance in my life than the French toast I had for dinner tonight.
As I said before, this nation is in shambles and our churches are in shambles because of people like me. Well, like how I was. People who never took their faith serious enough to make it a comprehensive aspect of their life and would easily trade it in for the praises of men.
But you see, I once was blind…but now I see!
At the age of 19 I had an awakening. I finally saw myself for who I was and found myself awash in my tears, on my knees, in the middle of a church parking lot, at 2AM early one Sunday morning, begging for my God to forgive me of my sins and spare my life.
And He did! Thank God he did!!
I once was blind. But now…I SEE!!
And herein lies the issue; we expect our federal, state, and local governments to behave godly when our churches are full of people whose faith means no more to them and has no more lasting impact on their lives than the French toast I ate for dinner tonight.
If we really want to see effectual change in our culture and governments at all levels then we need to start in the church. Its past time we seek revival. And I think we are on the cusp of it. But now is the time for the church to hit her knees and beg forgiveness for making a mockery of the name of Jesus and for conveniently leaving him at home as we go about our day.
Then its time to set our communities ablaze with a renewed fire for all things God.
Then and only then will our efforts with the schools, and cities, and state and federal governments really see fruit.