Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant, and his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord’s sake. O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies. O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God: for thy city and thy people are called by thy name. —Daniel 9:17–19
On June 26, 2013, our Supreme Court voted in favor of homosexual marriage. I believe all of us have heard about this court case and have been praying since. The Supreme Court of the land overturned the wishes of voters in California and voted in favor of homosexual marriage. Not just the voters in California, but the law of God was despised by our Supreme Court. They ruled against God’s commands and God’s desire for people on earth. They went against His law and His Word. This ruling is significant because it is an indication of deeper issues that we face. This was a death blow, and we felt it when this case was heard. It is indeed an indication of deeper issues, deeper spiritual problems that we face as a nation. America is morally bankrupt—and not just America. Western nations such as Canada and in Europe are morally bankrupt.
While Western society is morally bankrupt, the modern church in our society today is spiritually bankrupt. On June 30, 2013, the Crystal Cathedral in California held its last service. Some of you may know about this church through The Hour of Power radio and TV program with Robert Schuler who preached many years in that church. It was a very large church building in California, and it has become an icon of the modern evangelical church in North America. This large church was famous for its teaching of “positive thinking.” Many politicians and world leaders visited and worshipped there, enjoying the music from the very large organ as well. But in the last few years they have had problematic transitions of leadership and economic crises; three years ago, the church declared bankruptcy. The building was sold.
This is a symbol of the bankruptcy of the modern church in North America. The power of positive thinking hasn’t really gotten us anywhere, has it? Society becomes morally penniless when religion becomes only a message of positive thinking that encourages us to get through the week, when the church is only a social club or entertainment, when the church no longer influences society with a prophetic voice speaking against the sins of society, when a nation of so-called Christians violates God’s law and despises His Word. Then society and religion are both spiritually insolvent. There are corrupt judges, politicians who blaspheme God, shallow religion, moral brokenness, idolatry of athletes and music stars, sexual pollution, devalued life, degradation, and selfish greed on every hand—bankruptcy.
On June 26, 2013, our Supreme Court voted in favor of homosexual marriage. I believe all of us have heard about this court case and have been praying since. The Supreme Court of the land overturned the wishes of voters in California and voted in favor of homosexual marriage. Not just the voters in California, but the law of God was despised by our Supreme Court. They ruled against God’s commands and God’s desire for people on earth. They went against His law and His Word. This ruling is significant because it is an indication of deeper issues that we face. This was a death blow, and we felt it when this case was heard. It is indeed an indication of deeper issues, deeper spiritual problems that we face as a nation. America is morally bankrupt—and not just America. Western nations such as Canada and in Europe are morally bankrupt.
While Western society is morally bankrupt, the modern church in our society today is spiritually bankrupt. On June 30, 2013, the Crystal Cathedral in California held its last service. Some of you may know about this church through The Hour of Power radio and TV program with Robert Schuler who preached many years in that church. It was a very large church building in California, and it has become an icon of the modern evangelical church in North America. This large church was famous for its teaching of “positive thinking.” Many politicians and world leaders visited and worshipped there, enjoying the music from the very large organ as well. But in the last few years they have had problematic transitions of leadership and economic crises; three years ago, the church declared bankruptcy. The building was sold.
This is a symbol of the bankruptcy of the modern church in North America. The power of positive thinking hasn’t really gotten us anywhere, has it? Society becomes morally penniless when religion becomes only a message of positive thinking that encourages us to get through the week, when the church is only a social club or entertainment, when the church no longer influences society with a prophetic voice speaking against the sins of society, when a nation of so-called Christians violates God’s law and despises His Word. Then society and religion are both spiritually insolvent. There are corrupt judges, politicians who blaspheme God, shallow religion, moral brokenness, idolatry of athletes and music stars, sexual pollution, devalued life, degradation, and selfish greed on every hand—bankruptcy.