return to God – TERRY THOMPSON

Violent crimes that were unthinkable a few years ago in America are now common and increasing sharply. The tragedy in Uvalde, Texas, is a repeating example of the out-of-control hate and evil consuming our nation. Mass shootings last year were double the number in 2017. Of the 164 mass shootings in the last 50 years, over half of them occurred since 2000. The 10 so far in 2022 put us on a track toward the highest number in history. All homicides are up 44% since 2019. Rapes have more than doubled in the last four years. Law enforcement, the federal government, and the medical profession are screaming for stricter laws, gun control, and mental health enhancements as answers to the crisis. But there is only one answer.

America frantically seeks reasons for the stark contrast of today’s acts of senseless violence compared to the relative peace and contentment of just a few decades ago. The present decadence is not reversible by more laws and law enforcement, tighter control of personal weapons, or new mental illness programs. Although these may contributors to a solution, they are only Band-Aids for the root cause. The reality is that we Americans have allowed–no, we have invited–a culture of evil to invade our nation. We have turned from a people of faith in God to a people of independence from God.

Just in the last decade, Americans identifying as Christians have dropped by 12% according to Pew Research. A more accurate gauge of the commitment of Christians is the Gallop report that church attendance is down 20% in the last decade. For the first time in our nation’s history, less than half of our population attends church with any regularity. We have moved away from honoring God and adhering to biblical guidance. This shift has opened up a spiritual vacuum in our culture that is being filled with satanic influence. There is a spiritual war going on in this country, and we are losing the battle. We are experiencing the same trend that led to the collapse of almost every great nation that has gone before us.

The Uvalde atrocity is a case study of our nation’s spiritual condition. Salvador Ramos didn’t shoot and kill 19 innocent children and two teachers because he was mentally ill; he committed that act because of the hatred he allowed to enter his soul void of spiritual sensitivity. His life was in shambles worsened by having no father influence, and his mother was a drug addict. His parents had chosen to ignore biblical truth which resulted in dire consequences for their son. Similar scenarios have ruined thousands of lives in the past, are destroying lives presently, and will continue to drive demonic people to perpetrate vicious acts in the future. There is little or nothing so-called “professionals” can do to brighten this darkness. However, the answer is in something we all can do. Something we all must do.

Turning America back to God is not going to happen through a spiritual or political leader. It is not going to happen through laws and policies. It can only happen through each individual in a collective movement. Each one of us must make a serious assessment of where we are spiritually. Align yourself with the Lord through prayer and reading the Bible. Have serious discussions with your family about our nation’s spiritual deficit and about growing closer to God. If you are not in the habit of attending church consistently, get in that habit! If you know of a family or individual who is showing signs of irrational or evil behavior, intervene. Get to know what is driving that person, and try to rescue him or her from that dark world. Share all of this with extended family and friends.

Only if we begin to view everything from a spiritual perspective and act on that perspective will we be able to save this country. It is as simple as this, straight from God’s Word: “If my people, who are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)

America is in crisis. Mass shootings in El Paso and Dayton killed 32 and injured 50. In the last ten days, 46 have died and 67 have been injured by crazed men with guns. Sixty-two have died similarly so far in 2019. Then there are the riots, the hate speech, the pouring water on policemen, the vulgar rhetoric, and the chaotic politics. Solutions abound with good intention, but are unworkable. But, there is one rather simple solution that is the sole answer to this crisis.

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Champions of gun control say it will resolve everything. Others believe more restrictive legislation will save us. Maybe if we could just eliminate poverty. Or, if America would finally do something about mental illness, these killers might not reach their breaking point.

I lowered my backyard flag to half-staff on Monday as ordered by the president in mourning for those who lost their lives to these deranged murderers. Every time I look at it, I consider I am mourning for America as well as for the victims. Too many American lives are being lost in mass shootings, crimes, drugs, suicides, and abortions. It has become an epidemic. No amount of legislation, gun control, mental health policies, or economic enhancements will resolve this crisis, but one thing will. And, it involves little cost or effort on our part.

The answer is simply for all of America to return to God who made our country the greatest in the history of mankind. Because we were founded on faith in God, guided by His church and the Bible, and strengthened by worship and prayer, God has blessed us and favored us as a nation. This is blatantly obvious from a casual review of our history. However, about a half-century ago, we as a nation began to fall away from the power of God and depend on our own power. That started a decline of civility that has steepened with every passing year. We are now a nation in crisis having moved so far away from God that He has virtually left us to our own evil ways.

The good news is He has shown us in His Bible and through historical observation that He will always accept the repentance of a nation and will again return a nation to His favor and protection. That necessitates a return to a culture of faith. The Bible plainly gives us the answer. If My people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14)

What does this look like practically and on a national scale? It means moving from dependency on government to dependency on God. It means returning to a lifestyle of praying and meditating on scripture. It means getting back into church and worshiping, studying, ministering, and fellowshiping with others. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another. (Hebrews 10:25) It means reinstating prayer and Bible study in our public schools. It means making God part of our conversations, our news reports, our entertainment, our workplace, and our parenting.

Just this morning, I heard a news reporter say that there is not one action we can take to fix the crisis in our nation, but there are several partial solutions that we should pursue. I counter that there is in fact one action that would absolutely fix our crisis: A return to “one nation under God.” The same God who created our nation and nurtured it through two centuries desires to recover it now. It starts with each of us making a personal commitment to …choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve. Joshua 24:15

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