From the Pastor

 Pastor Mike Burns

 Victory Church

 903.567.2072 (Ext. 3002) 

 MBurns@wordofvictory.org                                   

 

Wednesday, July 8, 2015 11:11 AM

Living Strong: Will America Experience Further Judgment?

Wednesday, July 8, 2015 11:11 AM
Wednesday, July 8, 2015 11:11 AM

For those of us who have a Biblical worldview, the mix of sadness, grief, and anger over the redefining of marriage by the Supreme Court has been profound, and it is certainly appropriate. These emotions are much different than the trivial feelings caused by the sting of losing. They are more akin to the deep grief associated with death. We mourn because we know what has actually happened… and what is coming. Through this ruling, America took one step closer toward the death of our God-given destiny and greatness. As respected Pastor and Revivalist John Kilpatrick points out, we are now an apostate nation.

So, the question on some people’s mind and should be on ours a well is, “Will America experience further judgment?” The answer to this question is sadly, yes.  America will experience further judgment. Let me explain.

There are two types of judgment in Scripture. There are direct actions taken by God, such as the plagues visited on Egypt because of their slavery and mistreatment of Israel.  And there are also the “built-in” judgments as a result of sin. Most judgments are simply the inevitable and automatic results of disobeying God’s Word and principles, not God’s direct action. Sin has inherent wages. Just read Romans 3:23, and this becomes evident. To believe we can escape those ramifications is as foolish as believing we can defy natural laws. Without oxygen, we will die; wishing otherwise will not change this. Likewise, breaking God’s laws will bring painful consequences to us.

Disobedience to God also moves us out from under His protection, which is another form of judgment. John 2:8 says those who worship idols forfeit the grace or mercy that could be theirs. In most cases, judgment is simply losing the blessing, favor, and protection of God. America has repeatedly rejected God, His authority, presence, and ways for a generation now, thereby forfeiting the grace and mercy that could be ours.

We wonder why our economy fails and sputters, crime increases, and horrific and violent acts have occurred. The answer is not that a vindictive God is throwing a temper tantrum, but that we have removed ourselves from His protection and blessing.

With this arrogant and rebellious ruling, America has challenged God’s authority and justice once again. We have defiled the first covenant He established on earth, second in importance only to the covenant He gave us through the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ. Indeed, this is the covenant relationship He uses to picture our union with Christ! The pride and rebellion demonstrated by trampling under foot this millennia-old, God-established covenant will cause us immeasurable harm. Though of a slightly different nature, this sin ranks up with abortion and slavery. I tremble at the cost of this. I do not know in what form the reaping will come… terrorism, disease, natural disasters, poverty, loss of destiny… but I am very confident the price will be greater than any we as a nation have paid in decades.

One form of reaping will certainly be persecution against Christians. You do not have to take my word for this, just read the dissents of the other four Justices. Not only are they scathing in their exposing of the ruling’s unconstitutionality, they clearly WARN of the persecution and loss of religious liberty the ruling will generate. Justice Thomas said, “It appears all but inevitable that the two [this ruling and religious liberty], will come into conflict, particularly as individuals and churches are confronted with demands to participate in and endorse civil marriages between same-sex couples. The majority appears unmoved by that inevitably.”

The floodgates are open.

And yet is there a possibility that America can survive judgment? I will answer this question in the next edition of Living Strong.

Live Strong. Stand Firm. Unmoving in your faith and love for God and people.

Pastor Mike

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