IS AMERICA UNDER GOD’S JUDGMENT?

Introduction

Is God judging America? As a nation are we being judged and experiencing the wrath of God? The objective is to expand on God’s judgment, His wrath and where we are as a nation. We should be able to say with certainty that, we find evidence of his wrath poured out on our nation.

If you look at the current state of our nation I do not need to explain where we are as a people. It would not be worth the time to list it all the turning away and all the rebellion that is prevalent in our culture. If we pay attention, we will realize that our culture is failing. We are living in a reality that we find in Isiah 5:20, “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness, who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.”

I do not want to scare anyone, but understand this – the United States of America, nationally is under divine judgement. The woe of calling evil good and good evil, is exactly the inversion of our culture and the wrath of a holy God has now come. However, before will go and blame a political party or a system of government for all that has taken place, understand that there is a higher power, a greater force than anything Washington DC possess. There is a higher office than that of the Oval Office! There is a stronger force than our three branches of government! The White House may represent the most powerful man on earth by a global standard; yet there is a greater power who according to Romans 13, ordains all structure and all government and all authority over all people in the world.

Joseph R. Biden, President of the United States; Donald J. Trump, 45th President of the United States; and all the way to George Washington- has never in any of their authorities or capacities, had a power or supremacy over God. God has always been in charge, God has always been more powerful, and the Bible says, that The Lord reins; let the people tremble. To not fear God, to not obey Him, comes at great consequence – it is a high price to ignore God. Today, the United States is paying that price.

God’s Wrath Against Ungodliness (Romans 1:18-20)

Paul states that God’s wrath is revealed against all ungodliness and unrighteousness. He says that God’s invisible qualities – His eternal power and divine nature – are clearly seen in creation, so humanity is without excuse. Yet, we suppress the truth and exchange God’s glory for idols.

God’s wrath, as described in Romans 1:18-20, refers to His righteous and just response to humanity’s rebellion against Him. This wrath is not an emotional outburst, but a deliberate and measured response to human sinfulness.

Consequences of God’s wrath:

1. Spiritual darkness: Humanity’s understanding is darkened, and we become futile in our thinking (Romans 1:21).

2. Idolatry: We exchange God’s glory for created things, leading to a distorted view of God and ourselves (Romans 1:22-23).

3. Sexual immorality and impurity: We engage in sinful sexual practices, dishonoring our bodies and relationships (Romans 1:24-25).

4. Depraved minds and unrighteousness: Our minds become corrupt, leading to all sorts of evil and unrighteous behavior (Romans 1:26-27).

5. Approval of evil and guilt: We not only practice evil but also approve and encourage others to do so, leading to a collective guilt (Romans 1:28-32).

These consequences of God’s wrath manifest in various aspects of society, including Moral decay and relativism, increased sexual immorality and gender confusion, rise of idolatrous religions and cults, corruption and injustice in institutions and leadership, growing hostility towards Christianity and biblical values.

As, nation we see these consequences in just about every facet of American life. America’s rejection of God’s truth, as described in Romans 1, is evident in various aspects of society:

· Secularism and atheism: Many Americans reject the idea of God or relegate Him to a distant, uninvolved being.

· Moral relativism: Truth and morality are seen as subjective and flexible, leading to a decline in moral standards.

· Sexual revolution: Sexual immorality, gender confusion, and LGBTQ+ ideology have become increasingly accepted and promoted.

· Idolatry of self and materialism: Americans often prioritize self-fulfillment, wealth, and consumerism over spiritual pursuits.

· Rejection of biblical authority: Many dismiss the Bible as outdated or irrelevant, rejecting its teachings on sin, judgment, and redemption.

· Embrace of pagan and occult practices: New Age spirituality, witchcraft, and other forms of paganism have gained popularity.

· Hostility towards Christianity: Christians face increasing persecution, ridicule, and marginalization in media, academia, and politics.

· Corruption and injustice: America’s institutions and leadership often prioritize power, greed, and self-interest over justice and righteousness.

· Decay of family and traditional values: The traditional family structure and values are increasingly eroded, leading to social and moral decay.

· Growing division and strife: America is experiencing increasing polarization, racism, and violence, reflecting a society at odds with God’s truth.

By rejecting God’s truth, America has opened itself to the consequences of God’s wrath, as described in Romans 1. This rejection has led to a downward spiral of moral and spiritual decay, manifesting in various social, political, and cultural issues. God’s wrath is a call to repentance, urging humanity to turn back to Him and escape the consequences of our rebellion.

The Consequences of Rebellion (Romans 1:21-23)

Paul describes the consequences of this rebellion. We become futile in our thinking, and our hearts are darkened. We claim to be wise but become fools, worshiping created things rather than the Creator.

Exchanging God’s glory for idols, as described in Romans 1:22-23, has severe consequences, including:

1. Spiritual blindness: Idolatry leads to a distorted view of God and ourselves, causing spiritual darkness and confusion.

2. Idolatrous relationships: We prioritize relationships with created things (idols) over our relationship with the Creator.

3. Distorted identity: Idolatry redefines our identity and worth, leading to insecurity, anxiety, and self-obsession.

4. False sense of control: Idolatry gives us a false sense of control and power, as we rely on created things rather than God.

5. Disconnection from God’s grace: Idolatry separates us from God’s grace, leading to a works-based salvation and self-righteousness.

6. Immorality and impurity: Idolatry leads to sexual immorality, impurity, and dishonorable passions (Romans 1:24-25).

7. Depraved minds and unrighteousness: Idolatry corrupts our minds, leading to all sorts of evil and unrighteous behavior (Romans 1:26-27).

8. Approval of evil and guilt: Idolatry leads us to approve and encourage evil, resulting in collective guilt and shame.

9. Destruction of community: Idolatry destroys community and relationships, as we prioritize our idols over others.

10. Judgment and wrath: Idolatry invites God’s judgment and wrath, as we reject His glory and truth.

In America, idols abound, manifesting in the form of material possessions, celebrity culture, political ideologies, and self-obsession. We have exchanged the glory of God for the fleeting allure of created things, prioritizing temporal pleasures over eternal truth.

In America, exchanging God’s glory for idols manifests in various ways, such as:

· Prioritizing wealth, status, and material possessions

·  Idolizing celebrities, athletes, and influencers

· Pursuing self-fulfillment and self-actualization

· Embracing sexual liberation and gender ideology

· Prioritizing human knowledge and science over God’s truth

· Idolizing political ideologies and leaders

Our idols promise false hope and fulfillment, leading us down a path of spiritual darkness and moral decay. It is time for America to acknowledge and repent of its idolatry, returning to the one true God who alone can bring redemption and restoration. By recognizing and repenting of idolatry, we can return to worshiping the true and living God, restoring our relationship with Him and experiencing His grace and redemption.

Sexual Immorality and Impurity (Romans 1:24-25)

Paul writes that God gives us over to the lusts of our hearts, impurity, and dishonorable passions. Women and men exchange natural relations for unnatural ones, and we receive the due penalty for our error.

American society has increasingly embraced sexual immorality and impurity, manifesting in various ways:

· Sexual liberation: The sexual revolution has led to a culture of casual sex, hookups, and Tinder culture.

· Pornography: The widespread consumption of pornography has desensitized society to sexual immorality and objectified human beings.

· LGBTQ+ ideology: The promotion of gender fluidity, transgenderism, and non-heterosexual relationships has challenged traditional sexual morality.

· Sex education: Comprehensive sex education programs often prioritize consent over abstinence, encouraging sexual exploration.

· Media and entertainment: Sexual content is prevalent in movies, TV shows, music, and social media, normalizing sexual immorality.

· Sexual violence and harassment: The #MeToo movement has exposed the prevalence of sexual assault and harassment, highlighting a culture of sexual entitlement.

· Sex trafficking and exploitation: The dark underbelly of sexual immorality, including human trafficking and child exploitation, persists.

· Decline of traditional family values: The erosion of traditional family structures and values has contributed to sexual confusion and immorality.

· Increased STDs and teen pregnancies: The consequences of sexual immorality are evident in rising STD rates and teen pregnancies.

·  Spiritual emptiness: America’s rejection of biblical sexual ethics has led to a spiritual vacuum, filling it with fleeting pleasures and false fulfillment.

This sexual immorality and impurity have far-reaching consequences, including:

· Objectification of human beings

· Exploitation and abuse

· Emotional and psychological damage

· Physical consequences (STDs, etc.)

· Spiritual decay and separation from God

It is crucial for America to acknowledge and address these issues, promoting a culture of biblical sexual ethics, purity, and respect for human dignity.

The connection between God’s judgment and sexual immorality is rooted in the biblical understanding of God’s character and His design for human sexuality. The Bible often links sexual immorality to idolatry, as it involves worshiping created things (sexual desires) over the Creator (Romans 1:22-25). Sexual immorality rejects God’s design for human sexuality, which is intended for marriage between a man and woman (Genesis 2:24, Matthew 19:4-6). Sexual immorality disregards God’s boundaries and commands, such as those against adultery, fornication, and homosexuality (Exodus 20:14, Leviticus 18:22, 1 Corinthians 6:18-20). Sexual immorality corrupts the image of God in humanity, distorting our understanding of masculinity, femininity, and relationships (Genesis 1:26-27). Sexual immorality invites God’s judgment, as seen in the stories of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18-19), the conquest of Canaan (Leviticus 18:24-30), and the warnings in Proverbs (Proverbs 5:3-14, 7:10-27).

The consequences of sexual immorality include spiritual darkness, emotional pain, physical damage, and relational destruction (Romans 1:26-27, 1 Corinthians 6:18). God’s judgment is always accompanied by a call to repentance, offering forgiveness and restoration to those who turn from sexual immorality and seek Him (John 8:1-11, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11).

In America, the widespread acceptance and promotion of sexual immorality have led to a rejection of God’s design and boundaries, inviting His judgment and consequences. However, there is hope for repentance, forgiveness, and restoration through Jesus Christ.

Depraved Minds and Unrighteousness (Romans 1:26-27)

Paul states that God gives us over to depraved minds, leading to all sorts of unrighteousness, evil, and greed. We become filled with envy, murder, strife, and malice, and we invent evil things.

Depraved minds and unrighteousness, as described in Romans 1:26-27, refer to a state of moral and spiritual decay, where individuals deliberately reject God’s truth and wisdom, leading to a darkened understanding. They replace God’s glory with created things, idolizing them and prioritizing temporal pleasures. Their thinking becomes corrupt, leading to: foolishness (Romans 1:21), senselessness (Ephesians 4:17-19), darkness (Romans 1:21, Ephesians 4:18) and confusion (Romans 1:26-27).

They not only practice evil but also encourage and approve of others’ sinful behavior (Romans 1:32). This state of depraved minds and unrighteousness leads to a downward spiral of moral and spiritual decay, manifesting in various aspects of society, including:

· Increased crime and violence

· Moral relativism and decay

· Corruption and injustice

· Sexual immorality and gender confusion

· Rejection of biblical truth and authority

In America, the consequences of depraved minds and unrighteousness are evident in the rise of:

· Sexual revolution and gender ideology

· Increased violence and mass shootings

· Political corruption and polarization

· Moral relativism and decline of traditional values

· Rejection of biblical truth and Christian principles

By recognizing and repenting of depraved minds and unrighteousness, individuals and society can return to God’s truth and wisdom, experiencing redemption and restoration.

Approval of Evil and Guilt (Romans 1:28-32)

Paul concludes that we know God’s judgment but ignore it. We do not retain God in our knowledge, and our minds become depraved. We approve of those who practice evil, and we become guilty of all these things.

Approving and practicing evil, as described in Romans 1:28-32, refers to a state where individuals not only engage in sinful behavior but also: encourage others to do so (Romans 1:32), justify and normalize evil (Isaiah 5:20), celebrate and glorify wickedness (Proverbs 2:14), reject God’s truth and wisdom (Romans 1:28) and embrace a culture of death and destruction (Proverbs 8:36).

Characteristics of approving and practicing evil include:

· Rebellion against God’s authority

· Disregard for moral boundaries

· Corruption and depravity

· Hatred for what is good and right

· Love for what is wicked and evil

In America, approving and practicing evil is evident in our daily life. We see it through the normalization of sexual immorality and gender confusion, celebration of abortion and rejection of human life, glorification of violence and cruelty in media, corruption and greed in politics and business and rejection of biblical truth and Christian principles

By recognizing and repenting of approving and practicing evil, individuals and society can return to God’s truth and wisdom, experiencing redemption and restoration.

Conclusion

We as a nation are really good at finding things to replace God. America has replaced anything good that God would offer, with the things of hell and we are calling it our God – money, sports, career. This is the downward spiral of the wrath of abandonment. The wrath of abandonment leads to the downward spiral of a nation when God abandons them. We did not as a nation abandon God, when we elected Joseph R. Biden as the 46th President. We abandoned God generations ago, even in the 50s and 60s there was a shift that was happening and the church started playing games – we got jealous. The Southern Baptist and Independent Baptist were more worried about each other more than the souls of Americans. These are the final chapters of our country’s existence, and our hearts desire should be souls coming to Jesus.

“Now I am coming to You, and I speak these things in the world so that they may have My joy completed in them. I have given them Your word. The world hated them because they are not of the world, as I am not of the world. I am not praying that You take them out of the world but that You protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, as I am not of the world.” (John 17:13-16 HCSB)

Just as much as Jesus is not of this world and the wrath that is intended for this world – this that are in the faith that belong to Christ, the wrath poured out on this nation is not for the church. The wrath is for the unbelieving, the world that passes away. We live in this world, but we are not of this world. As we live in this world, we feel the pressures and pain of the wrath, but it is not for us.