Has America Sinned?
HAS AMERICA SINNED?
In the weeks after September 11, are Americans "uniting together ?"
What are we Uniting for ?
Did the loss of approximately 4,000 lives make us angry?
Are we seeking revenge for the" injustices?"
Is there any similarity to America in 2001 and the nation of Israel in 600 B.C. during the prophet Ezekiel's time, before their captivity?
The New Testament of the Bible teaches that the Old Testament is for our example. There are at least 12 linkage scriptures that point us to Israel as an example:
1. Matt. 5: 17-20 ...not the smallest letter shall pass from the Law or the Prophets ... whoever annuls a commandment is least in the kingdom ... our righteousness must surpass that of the scribes and Pharisees.
2. Luke 16:29-31 ... if they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone rises from the dead.
3. Luke 24:27,44 ... Jesus explained the things concerning Himself from the Law of Moses, and all the Prophets, and the Psalms.
4. John 5:45-47 ... If you do not believe Moses' writings, how will you believe My words?
5. Rom. 7:1 ... the law has jurisdiction over a man as long as he lives,
6. Rom. 15:4 ... all written in earlier times is for our instruction.
7. Rom. 16:25,26 ... you are established by Jesus according to scriptures of the prophets
8. 1 Cor. 10:1-11... these things happened to Israel as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.
9. Eph. 2:19,20 ... you are God's household, having been built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets.
10. 2 Tim. 3: 15-17 ... all scripture is inspired and profitable for teaching, for reproof, and training.
11. Heb. 8:7-12... the New Covenant is repeated here but is actually from the Old Testament, containing the same laws.
12. 2 Pet. 3:2 ... you should remember the words spoken beforehand by the holy prophets and ....
These passages say that all the writings of the past and all examples are for us.
There are several popular phrases heard around the United States since the evil foreign terrorist attacks in New York and Washington. The same responses can be found after Israel was allowed to be defeated by the pagan Babylon nation. A study of some of the attacks on God's followers reveals the people's responses.
Consider 8 of the popular responses:
First, some say they are INDIGNANT OVER THE ATTACK. Are you indignant over the defeat? The Old Testament also teaches that Israel was indignant over the defeat by the pagan Babylonian nation because that nation was more evil than Israel. Israel was also indignant over the reprimand from God through His prophet Jeremiah. Jeremiah Ch. 36, tells how King Jehoiakim burned Jeremiah's scroll after he read it! Jer. Ch. 37 and 38 tell of the head priest Shephatiah and King Zedekiah casting Jeremiah into a cistern and then prison. Jeremiah Ch. 44:15-17, reports the people telling Jeremiah [telling God] "We will not listen to you," we will carry out every word that has proceeded from our mouths!"
Following the September 11th attack, evangelist Pat Robertson warned the U.S. that God may be lifting His protective veil from the country. Also right after the Sept 11th attack, Jerry Falwell rebuked the homosexual roles in marriage and church leadership as inciting God's wrath on our country, which gives legal protection to many homosexual activities. As a sign of how far from scripture the U.S. has turned, some church leaders felt Mr. Falwell's comments were untimely and unfortunate! Our only concern should be whether any comments are scripturally based.
Second, are you DISHEARTENED? In Joshua Ch. 6, Israel conquered Jericho. In Ch. 7, Israel fled from people of the town of Ai, disheartened by the loss of lives in the battle. Disobedience to God's commands was shown to be the reason for the defeat from Ai.
Third, many Americans are displaying signs proclaiming "UNITED WE STAND," and "God Bless America." Many in America are neither convinced of any need to admit God and His standards into their life, or to realize any meaning from the September tragedy as a message from God to repent. Some have returned to idol worship of wealth, entertainment, and pleasure. Just before the exile of the nation of Israel, the prophet Ezekiel describes how the people turned to idols such as Tammuz, sun worship, and creature images (Ch. 5- 9).
Should the loss of approximately 4,000 innocent lives on September 11th insult us'?
YES IT SHOULD!
What should the loss of 4,000 lives EVERY WEEK make us feel?
What about 12,000 lives lost every week?
What about 12,000 individual willful murders every week?
In the book "Politics in Healing" Daniel Haley leads his readers through about 100 years of bright, genius medical breakthroughs which produced 8 cures for cancer. Non toxic and harmless! Throughout these same years the American Medical Association, the National Cancer Institute, and the Food and Drug Administration of the United States
government suppressed, harassed, black listed, and prosecuted these discoverers and discoveries out of competition, and out of our country. Cancer victims are given - toxic chemotherapy [poisons] which are mass marketed. These do not cure cancer, but only occasionally shrink tumors in some of types of cancer. One American dies every minute. 10,000 deaths/ week. Toxic drugs of all kinds are the 4th cause of death in America, approximately 2000 deaths/week. This book is a must read for any family with a member who has cancer and wants to live without mutilation.
Israel UNIFIED after the rebuke from God. However, it was not to follow God! Jeremiah Ch. 44:17-19 says they went back to the queen of heaven - their pagan Ishtar, the Babylonian fertility goddess. In Ch. 42 and 43 the refugees had returned to Egypt, not God, after the capture of Jerusalem by Babylon.
How are we in the U.S. changing? Are we trusting God or the security of our country? History shows that God has previously rejected the works of His chosen people because it wasn't according to His Covenant terms or in the right spirit. His first people were an example for us-- see the linkages scriptures listed on page 1. Because we are voting citizens of the United States we have approved of the nation's deeds.
Fourth, our leaders today are urging us to GET BACK TO BUSINESS - whether traveling, shopping, or working. They want shoppers to spend money to get the economy going faster and to assume peace will prevail so that you can pay-off these new debts! Did Israel call all their people to get back to regular business? In Ezekeiel Ch.13:10, Israel's false prophets told them that the future would be "peace" - back to prosperity, but that was not the message of Jeremiah, God's prophet.
Fifth, the Old Testament teaches that Israel SINNED AND COMMITTED IDOLATRY. Jeremiah Ch. 7, teaches that Israel committed immoral and idolatrous acts. Jeremiah 8 charges that Israel was unrepentant, and Jeremiah 9 describes their faithlessness.
Today in America most self professed Christians follow their denomination teachers or a favorite media personality rather than trusting God's Holy Spirit to guide them into all the truth, as Jesus promised you could. How many people in America are persecuted for following Jesus' lifestyle? Scripture promises you will suffer persecution if you follow His teachings. 20,000 babies are killed by abortion each week by people seeking relief from responsibility in their own selfish way, rather than rearing children. They choose their own pleasure rather than following God's rules.
There are other ways that the United States government is officially angering God. Here is a partial summary:
20,000 abortion deaths per week
10,000 cancer deaths per week
2,000 toxic drug deaths per week
Due to Federal discrimination laws, local and federal governments are forced to spend money to honor prisoner's non-Christian religious days. An example of this is providing a special diet to Muslims, during their month of Ramadan. These people do not believe Jesus Christ is the Son of our Creator God. Ref. Exodus 22:20, 23:13, Deuteronomy 17:2-7, and I John 2:22-24, and the Islam Koran writings. (Muslims say their god is the creator god but they will not accept Jesus Christ).
Sixth, DID GOD REJECT ANY OF HIS FOLLOWERS "GOOD WORKS?" Scripture describes such a rejection in Isaiah 1:11-13. What kind of sacrifices does God want? "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise," (Ps. 51:17). A broken and a contrite heart is one that is circumcised - willing to accept God's scripture and His sacrifice for our sinfulness. Sacrificing to God means to allow the cutting away our hardness of heart by the Spirit, obeying His commands and having a spirit of love to God first, and also others. God wants a circumcised heart (Rom. 2: 28,29).
In Isaiah 1:4, God charges Judah with sins. Verse 13 tells how God does not want any of their New Moon Ceremonies, their Sabbath observances, or even ?any called assembly! He rejected any of their worship because it was done in the wrong spirit. These ceremonies should be done, but in love and gratitude to God for His redemption and out of respect for His Kingship! In Amos, Chapters 2,4, and 8 describe the insincere, selfish religious and business practices of people who were supposed to be following God.
Seventh, God's people have CORRUPTED THE COVENANT OF THE LORD. Daniel Haley's book "Politics in Healing" is also a must read to understand why God cannot Bless America any longer. Are there examples of what God expects from his followers? Yes, there are. The four short chapters of the book of Malachi describe how they or any people can return to the Lord. Malachi describes how the church leaders insult God and how the people cheat God. He goes on to tell how God wants us to test His faithfulness and to follow His ways.
Eighth, could God possibly USE AN EVIL POWER TO PUNISH HIS PEOPLE today? He has before. Many people see the Afghanistan terrorist as crude, barbaric and evil. In Habakkuk Ch. 1:12-17 the prophet asks God why He used the wicked Chaldeans to punish Israel. In Daniel 1:1,2 God describes using the pagan Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar to capture Israel and to punish them. In 2 Chronicles Ch. 35:20,21, Neco king of Egypt tells King Josiah of Judah [a righteous king] to not bother him because he was on his way to do a job for the Lord and the Lord had told him to hurry!
Is it too late to repent? Does the Lord love us? In Rev 3:19, scripture reminds us, "those whom He loves, He rebukes and chastens. I John Ch. 4:19 tells us that we love because He first loved us. He still does love us. When He returns, He will call those who have chosen to follow His ways to eternal life. God knows the motives of our hearts (John 5:29, Heb. 4:12).
We have read of the miraculous healings and miracles which occurred in Israel, some of which are found in Matthew Ch. 8 and 9. God has performed miracles such as these in America, as well as other parts of the world in answer to prayers, using modern medicine and scientific advancements. Many people suffering with impaired vision get laser surgery, and regain perfect eyesight. Electromechanical therapy reverses paralysis. Many people are resurrected from death due to new technology revealing how to treat people who have been buried in snow banks or drowned in cool water. Especially important to mention are the answers to prayer many of us are aware of when God has granted merciful restoration and healings to our diseased friends. According to Daniel Haley in his book "Politics in Healing," America has been given 8 cures to cancer and many other degenerative diseases in the last 75 years. What have our leaders done with them? Jesus' warning to Capernaum in His day, found in Matthew Ch. 11:21-25, applies to our country as well;
"And you Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you? You shall descend to Hades; for if the miracles had occurred in Sodom which occurred in you, it would have remained to this day. Nevertheless I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgement, than for you." If this warning applies to Capernaum, it equally applies to America.
Read in the newspapers how the United States government wants to encourage trade and commerce. Then compare Revelation Ch. 18: 11-13 describing the order of importance Babylon places on things and where they finally list human life.
We have no other choice but to repent to God's commandments, - first by observing those commandments which show our love to God, and second by observing those commandments which show love to our neighbor. We must keep God's Laws and show grace and mercy to others as God instructs in Matthew Ch. 22:37-40.
To repent we must be ready to follow the Holy Spirit's guidance into all HIS truth, upon His conviction of sin, righteousness, and judgement.
By Richard Liskow
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