Pilgrims in a Foreign Land

By: American Decency Staff

America has lost sight of the Christian principles upon which this nation was founded.  However, as we approach Thanksgiving, we recognize that in spite of our wandering and rebellion, God has been very merciful to America.  Indeed, we have much for which to be thankful. God has protected our skies, waters, and communities.  He has blessed us with rich farm land, bounteous produce and natural resources. He has granted us freedom of speech and religion and press and so much more.  Our living standard has been far beyond any other peoples of the world. In many of our communities, there is seemingly a church on every corner.  Christian books and Bibles adorn our bookshelves. Our airwaves have Christian programming in abundance. In spite of His blessing, we are a wayward people. We have worshipped other gods.  Materialism has become the lord of many Christians.  Profanity and pornography flow over our airwaves and through our computers.  Millions upon millions watch it, buy it, act out from it and go back for more.  And some go to church each Sunday unrepentant.   Instead of having nothing to do with ‘the unfruitful works of darkness’, millions of Christians fall prey to the enticements of the world filling their minds with entertainment choices that mock the Lord and the teachings of His Word. While God has greatly blessed us, are we also now seeing His chastening through the harsh economic realities and angry political division facing our nation?  Perhaps such difficulties aren’t so much a referendum upon the wickedness out there in the world as it is a referendum upon the acceptance of wickedness by many within the church. Yes, we need to be salt and light within the political process and culture wars.  We need to vote Christian values at the polls and urge other believers to do the same.  We need to pray for our nation and her leaders. But first, as II Chronicles 7:14 states, we need to humble ourselves, seek His face, and turn from our wicked ways. With God’s help, I want to be one who does that.  I want to be true in sitting each Sunday under the Word of God.  I want to be a man of prayer, a man that tithes and gives beyond the tithe, that loves my wife as Christ loves the Church, that visits the lonely, the shut-in and lives for Christ – pursuing holiness and turning away from wickedness; a man that loves my children and grandchildren and a person that my loved ones can know now and remember as a man who walked with the Lord. This Thanksgiving may we offer thanks to a gracious God for His bountiful blessings, but also remember we are to live as pilgrims in a foreign land – not being conformed to it but presenting our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God – that He may be glorified! ========================================================= Your support is important to our ability to make a difference. Donate online at: https://secure4.afo.net/ada/donate.php American Decency Association is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability. American Decency Association Bill Johnson, President P.O. Box 202 Fremont, MI 49412 ph: 231-924-4050 www.americandecency.org http://www.twitter.com/billwjohnson

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