A Broken Promise?

Psalm 33:12  "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people He chose for His inheritance."

On August 5, 1620, two ships set sail from Southampton, England headed to the New World.  However, the Speedwell was found to be leaking and both ships returned to Dartmouth, England for repairs.  They set out again after repairs, but once again, the Speedwell was taking on water.  They returned once again to Plymouth where 102 Pilgrims boarded the Mayflower for the trip to the New World.  They left on September 6th and arrived at Cape Cod on November 11, 1620.  They had missed their destination of the Virginia Colony and so they authored and signed the Mayflower Compact as their charter.  This document would serve as a model for other American documents, like the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.  The wording of the Mayflower Compact begins, "In the name of God, Amen. We, whose names are underwritten, the loyal subjects of our dread Sovereign Lord King James, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, defender of the Faith, etc.  Having undertaken, for the Glory of God, and advancements of the Christian faith and honor of our King and Country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the Northern parts of Virginia, do by these presents, solemnly and mutually, in the presence of God, and one another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil body politic; for our better ordering, and preservation and furtherance of the ends aforesaid; and by virtue hereof to enact, constitute, and frame, such just and equal laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions, and offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general good of the colony; unto which we promise all due submission and obedience.In witness whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names at Cape Cod the 11th of November, in the year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord King James, of England, France, and Ireland, the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fifty-fourth, 1620." (This version has modern language to help us better understand the document).

There had been two other attempts to establish a colony in the New World:  (1)  Roanoke Island, North Carolina on August 17, 1585 by Sir Walter Raleigh.  On August 15, 1890 a resupply ship arrived to find the entire colony gone without a trace.  No one knows what happened to the "Lost Colony".  (2)  The first permanent settlement in the New World was at Jamestown, Virginia on May 14, 1607 with the purpose being to establish wealth, trade and commerce.  From the beginning, this settlement had overwhelming problems and struggles.   Yet they established the first permanent settlement in North America.

Why, then, do we celebrate and know more about the rag tag Pilgrims than we do about the strongly financed and armed Jamestown settlement? I believe it is because the purpose of the Pilgrims:  They came to worship God and serve Him in this new land.  If you read the history of the two settlements, there is a marked contrast in the growth and attitude within these two.  The faith of the Pilgrims led them to follow the Bible, which helped them as they wrote their Mayflower Compact - A promise made to God.  America began with a prominent faith in God, which wee have often heard about in our founding fathers.  Though secular historians enjoy trying to rewrite the history to change the faith of these founders, their words speak of their deep faith.  They saw America as a nation which would honor God and have His blessings as they became a light of morality and faith in the world.  They knew the promise which America made with God.  Truly, a unique nation among the world.

So what is the significance of this?  I give this introduction of our history as a reminder of the promise we have had with God as a country.  Today, America has chosen to ignore this legacy of faith and turns towards immorality and human solutions rather than faith in Christ.  We have begun to trust ourselves, our politicians, our power and our finances more than we trust in God.  Therefore, we have become a nation under God's judgment.  Our immorality testifies against us and our misplaced trust becomes part of the judgment.

I looked through some of the times in the Old Testament when Israel was under God's judgment and found these qualities to be at work each time the nation was under God's judgment:

1.  The country refused to acknowledge they were under God's judgment

2.  They justified their sins and sought to normalize immoral behavior

3.  They sought human solutions to the problems brought on by judgment - Which only led to further judgment

4.  They sought to marginalize those who would call them to return to God.

5.  They sought to popularize worship of God by incorporating pagans gods and rituals into the worship of God or as other options to God

Would any of this apply to American today?  In such a short blog, it's impossible to go into great detail, but look at each one of these for yourself and you will find America involved in all five.  My quick take:

1.  When was the last time an American political leader or religious leader told us that our problems weren't financial, but were spiritual?

2.  The sin of divorce, cohabitation and homosexuality have all become mainstreamed and lost any negative stigma.  As a matter of fact, there are churches which give leadership to those in these life settings with no regard to Biblical admonitions.  We have an accepted level of vulgarity, violence, thuggery and indignity that is stunning and thorough.

3.  Each solution our politicians give us (Government take-over of Fannie Mae/Freddy Mac, two stimulus packages, government take-over of health care) have all made our situation worse, not better.  We continue to look for human solutions rather than repenting and turning to God.

4.  Anyone who calls for morality and repentance receives a label and is pushed to the fringe edges as an extremist.  If you have read this far in this blog, you have already had thoughts that Ted is a little off.  You didn't know I was such a far right, Bible thumping nut job.

5.  There is a church for any proclivity you may have.  Our churches try to compete with Hollywood by being just as entertaining with music, technology, hip looking preachers, self-help messages and a dose of cultural relevance.

If you think America is under God's judgment, there is only one solution and it is found in II Chronicles 7:14.  God is speaking to Solomon at the dedication of the Temple and letting Solomon know what Israel must do if she finds herself under judgment because they have abandoned God.  "If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked days, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."  Notice, this call of repentance is not to the lost, but to the saved.  The Church must stop pointing a finger at the world, and point her finger at herself.  The Church needs to repent and turn.  God's acts of judgment are to serve as a wake up call, not to destroy us.  But if we won't respond, the downfall of America is imminent.

Every night before I go to sleep, I make sure my two sons are tucked in and sleeping safely.  I look down on their angelic faces deep in sleep and pray for them.  Many are the nights when I place my hand on them and pray for them.  there are nights when I weep for these young ones because I fear for the America which will be handed over to them, a country under God's judgment.  I pray that they will be strong warriors for Christ to endure what lies ahead.  Maybe I am a pessimist because I don't see America turning back to God, but continuing to seek her own solutions.  My hope for my sons is that America will see she has broken a promise made by those who came 400 years ago and turn back to our loving Heavenly Father.  Because "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people He chose for His inheritance."