We preachers hesitate to get involved in politics lest we alienate some to the more important message of the gospel. However, there comes a time when we must speak out—not in a partisan manner, but to warn of dangers that we see lying in the pathway of both the nation and the church. There’s enough guilt to go around in both national parties for both to be held accountable

I am becoming increasingly aware of similarities between the downward spiral our nation seems to be in and the decline and fall of Israel and Judah in the Old Testament. Israel, once blessed of God with prosperity, through moral decay and irresponsibility of its leaders came under the judgment of God. From the Bible we learn that under King Solomon the nation enjoyed unprecedented prosperity. 1 Kings 4:21 tells us, “so Solomon reigned over all kingdoms from the River (Euphrates) to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt. They brought tribute and served Solomon all the days of his life.” But Solomon, through a disregard of God’s laws, and excessive taxation of the people, sowed the seeds of the nation’s ruin. Upon his death, the kingdom was split into two nations, Israel and Judah, and future kings of each did nothing to correct the decline. They had been warned of God: “The alien who is among you shall rise higher and higher above you, and you shall come down lower and lower. He shall lend to you, but you shall not lend to him; he shall be the head, and you shall be the toil. Moreover, all these curses shall come upon you and pursue and overtake you, until you are destroyed, because you did not obey the voice of the Lord your God to keep His commandments and His statutes which He commanded you” (Deuteronomy 28:43-45 ). Both Israel and Judah followed the same destructive path to eventual captivity.

We have become a nation in degeneration. A few decades ago our nation was a lending nation, but now a continuously borrowing nation. Our national morals are at an all-time low, whereas we had once been admittedly a “Christian nation.” Are we following the paths of Israel and Judah to eventual enslavement to foreign powers? Repentance and prayer from God’s people are desperately needed.

by Ron Bartanen

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