America's Enterprise of Faith

"When the Church began in Jerusalem it was a relationship. It moved to Greece and became a philosophy. It moved to Rome and became an institution. It moved to Europe where it became a culture and it moved to America and became an enterprise" said Morris.

Every nation, people and culture which has had the privilege of a strong Christian influence has allowed time or culture to negatively influence the faith. In Greece and America culture is the bane. Time and the complacency it breeds are the culprits in Rome and Europe. The results of their gradual fall we see mentioned above. They now, like the cities of antiquity, have only a semblance of their former glory.

When I walk the book isles, browse the music section and take a general inventory of Christianity in America today I am sickened! Christian material is too often marketed with money at the heart rather than Christ and the edification of believers...especially when a particular product does well! It is a business attitude that dictates product placement and advertisement not the will of God...or at least The God. Sadly much of the Christian community has chosen the master wealth and God is at their back. For Christ said, "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth" (Matthew 6:24).

Moreover, churches have succumbed to this worldliness and joined hands with business and entertainment for the sake of numerical growth. "The rise of the evangelical churches, especially the megachurches, is a consumer-driven movement similar to changes seen in politics, art and education, said James Twitchell, author of 'Shopping for God: How Christianity Went From in Your Heart to in Your Face.' 'Successful churches,' Twitchell said, 'have one thing in common: They are entertaining'" (Denver Post 26.2.08- "Americans restless in search for God" by Electa Draper; http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_8362744). As a result truth is little preached and few disciples made (true there are many Christians, or perhaps very few once the surface is breached). Depth has taken a backseat, if it is even in the vehicle, to width. That is, the only sacrifice made on the alter has been quality in order to make room for quantity.

Love too has been a victim. Those swinging to the other side of the pendulum in reaction to the aforementioned movement have offered a different but equally offensive sacrifice. Christ NEVER ceded doctrine but He also NEVER ceased to love. One without the other is empty and meaningless. Love without doctrine is cheap and shallow and doctrine without love is only noise.
Therefore like Christ let us return to a proper balance, always loving and always upholding doctrine.

Moreover, we must also take heed of the current situation in America lest the age old adage "history repeats itself" become true of the US. Sadly it appears that this nation has already slipped far down the slippery slope and is nigh unrecoverable. But there is hope and it lies in prayer. All revivals have their birth herein because only God can take such calloused and hardened hearts and make them soft and open again.

Yet hope lies in the future as well if we should fail to climb back up the peak. History reveals that as one nation falls another picks up the banner. Looking to the East, Asia, particularly China shows great potential and is perhaps already prepared by God and poised to seize the standard! Thank God for His knowledge to know all things, wisdom and discernment to act righteously and best and His power to work them out!