In just a few weeks, the United States will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. It is undeniable that God has blessed this nation richly throughout its history, and it is no coincidence that His blessings followed a founding that was based in large part on principles from God’s Word. The following articles outline the thinking of the Founding Fathers, the Great Awakenings that played a major role in shaping the nation, and the crossroads at which we find ourselves today. Are we a nation that God will still bless?
As we celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, our nation is at a crossroads. We look to history and see God’s past blessing as our nation sought to honor Him. We look to Scripture and see God’s future cursing in the end times, when the nations, including America, will follow the Antichrist.
But what about America now? It is a time of choosing.
As a country, we face the same choice Israel faced before entering the Promised Land. In Deuteronomy 30:19, God said, “I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants.” Similarly, I believe God is saying to America, “You choose: a blessing if you follow Me or a curse if you forsake Me.”
What can we do to make the right choice for America’s present? Here are four action steps for every believer who loves God and loves America.
First, take a stand. Christians indwelled with the Holy Spirit are the restrainers of evil in this world (2 Thessalonians 2:6–7). That means we’re like a giant dam holding back the flood of evil trying to envelop our nation. We must take a stand wherever God has placed us, including our school boards, city councils, neighborhood associations, schools and workplaces. We are to push back against evil, especially against those who seek to diminish our freedom to worship.
Second, cast a vote. If we care about America, we need to vote. In Biblical times, people didn’t get to choose their kings. But as citizens of the United States, we, the people, have the privilege of electing our leaders. When we go into the voting booth, we have the opportunity to stand for righteousness. There are no perfect candidates, but which one will best fulfill God’s purpose for government? Remember, God created three institutions to accomplish His purpose on earth:
In Genesis 2, He established the family to be the foundation of society.
In Genesis 9, He created government to protect citizens from evildoers and preserve their right to practice their faith.
In Acts 2, He created the church to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Each institution has its own responsibility. God hasn’t called government to lead a revival or raise our families but to provide order and protect citizens. When we elect America’s leaders, we should consider candidates who can execute God’s purpose for government.
Third, say a prayer. We should pray for our country and those who inhabit it. In Jeremiah 29:7, God said to the Jews exiled in Babylon: “Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf; for in its welfare you will have welfare.” We’re to be concerned about the nation in which we live. Some Christians isolate themselves from the culture, but God said to be involved in the welfare of the city. An intentional way to seek the welfare of those around us is to consistently pray for their salvation. God said in 2 Chronicles 7:14, “If My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
Fourth, share the Gospel. The most important thing we can do is share the Gospel. The only way we can change America is by changing the hearts of Americans, and no political party can do that. Both the Democratic Party and the Republican Party are corrupt and spiritually bankrupt. Only the church has the answer. If we want to see God’s blessing on this country, we must do everything we can to share the Gospel with as many people as we can, as quickly as we can.
When I was growing up in First Baptist Dallas, our church sponsored a weeklong revival at Southern Methodist University. As our church prayed for an outpouring of God’s Spirit, we sang a chorus I still remember 60 years later: “Lord, send a revival. Lord, send a revival. Lord, send a revival, and let it begin in me.”
When our nation celebrated its bicentennial in 1976, my pastor and mentor W.A. Criswell preached a sermon called “Leading America Back to God,” in which he closed with these words: “I am a part of the nation. … And the nation cannot repent unless I repent. The nation cannot believe unless I believe. The nation cannot be baptized unless I am baptized. The nation cannot turn to God unless I turn to God. The nation cannot be saved unless I am saved. The devotion and the fire and the flame must start in me.”
Lord, send a revival, and let it begin in me. That’s the hope and prayer of every Christian who loves God and loves America.
