If Righteous Exalts A Nation, Is America Still Exalted?

According to Webster’s dictionary, the word exalt means to raise in rank, power, or character; to elevate by praise or in estimation. If we accept this definition, America is still exalted among the nations. Our American dollars (and gold) set the monetary standard around the world. We have the highest GNP of any nation. We are the most powerful military might. Our government is stable and we are the richest nation on earth. These factors enable us to remain exalted.

God has allowed America to remain in this exalted position. Our forefathers covenanted with God in 1620 with the signing of the Mayflower Compact to bring forth godliness in America. There are many praying Christians in America and God attends to those prayers. We have a rich, godly heritage that has been passed down to us in the forms of our Constitution, government structure, civil law, strong family unit, work ethics and so on. These are all manifestations of the character of the godly men whom God used to found this nation.

Unfortunately, the church in America has relinquished much of its authority and power to affect the character of our nation. Much of the church clings to antinomianism (doctrine which denies the necessity of moral law in view of the fact that salvation is bestowed by grace) which renders us lawless. In some aspects, teachings of Plato guide Christians more than Christ. Plato taught us that the world is divided into a spiritual and secular realm and that Scripture cannot be applied to the secular. The Bible says, “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein (Psalm 24:1). Therefore every sphere of activity is spiritual and should be subject to the Word of God. Most of the church willingly accepts the humanistic (therefore antithetical to God) shackles of government (public) education, exorbitant taxes, an existential view of God, and lust which ultimately becomes death.

Should we then be surprised at the increase of sin in our nation? Man is desperately wicked apart from God — modern man presently lacks honor for or fear of God. He is ignorant of God’s role in the whole of history. Most of the church is guilty of the same ignorance and lack of respect for God.

Despite the church’s failings, is God a liar? James 5:16b says, “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” No! God is not a liar. God is staying His hand against much of the evil arrayed against us. Most of us have not been destroyed. Most are healthy and have food, clothing and shelter. Christian education has grown exponentially since the mid-1960s and more families are having more children and have committed to raising them in godliness. We are still free and God still exposes sin in the church. He hears our prayers and has not left us to ourselves.

By His grace we need to employ self-government in our own lives, thereby making the church a more honored authority in America. We need to know that the God of the Old Testament is the same as the God of the New Testament and He has answers for the whole of life. Most importantly, we need to truly love God with our whole being. He is the King and will always rule and reign. He loves us and will do whatever it takes to draw our hearts completely to Him.