“We do not know what God is after, but we have to maintain our relationship with Him whatever happens. We must never allow anything to injure our relationship with God; if it does get injured we must take time and get it put right.” -Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, August 3
We must trust God, regardless of the circumstances of this world. This year–2020–has been crazy: attempted cup of the US government (which quite honestly I was naive enough to think I wouldn’t see in my lifetime), a flue-like virus that was exaggerated and used for political gain and a social control experiment, and basically the US is tearing apart at the seams. The major downfall? God was kicked out, ignored, and completely eradicated from so many parts of people’s lives and decisions.
According to Google, “Christianity is the most adhered to religion in the United States, with 65% of polled American adults identifying themselves as Christian in 2019, down from 75% in 2015, 78% in 2012, 81.6% in 2001, and 85% in 1990. About 62% of those polled claim to be members of a church congregation.” Another search reveals there are “240 million Christians” in the US and that is the world’s largest Christian population in a nation, although it is not the highest concentration, as other countries have higher percentages of their population as Christian.
Just some interesting statistics, continent-wise: Africa has the highest number of Christians, with 631 million, Latin America 601 million (I presume this includes Catholicism, which I do not consider to be Christianity by many standards, but because they believe in Jesus, I suppose it counts for this…I need to write a piece comparing denominations and beliefs), and Europe had 571 million. That means the US (north America) isn’t even in the top 3 and there are only 7 continents…and Antarctica is basically uninhabited!
Turn back to God, US! Teach your children! I don’t foresee this being some massive come to Jesus miracle moment, revivals of mass proportions– although I could be wrong, God can do whatever He pleases. However, people are going to have to invest their resources–time, energy–into their relationship with God, and then also invest their resources–time and energy-into their children. Oh, wow, I could totally write a paper on this! Just jotted down a quick brainstorm.
Every level–individual to the whole nation, preferably the whole world–needs to invest their time in their relationship with God. I believe the individual level is most important, the base, and then the church comprised of individuals is absolutely important–“For the Bible tells me so”–as the group supports and encourages one another. Will the whole nation of the US turn to God? I don’t think that is the plan .I hope I’m wrong, but the Bible doesn’t tell me that, so I really have no reason to believe it will. Gee, how different the world would be!
The other aspect is that the statistic is how many identified as Christian, not how many were/are Christian. How many follow Christ, have surrendered to Him completely? I identified as Christian for my whole life, but it wasn’t until I was almost 40 that I repented, did a 180 and really gave my life to Jesus, surrendered to Him and made (make) an effort to imitate Him as best I can.
How many people go to church on Sunday, but are so-no-Christian the rest of the week? God is a Sunday-only. That’s how I mostly grew up. Home life was so very different from what I portrayed at church and what other church-goes portrayed was going on in their lives. There is a broad spectrum…and just because someone “identifies” as Christian doesn’t mean that they are steadfast enough in their belief to stand up to degradation and persecution.
Lord, please come into the hearts of the US citizens. Heal their hearts, heal our land. Evil is here; it has been among us, hiding in the shadows. Now it is coming to light. Heal our land, Lord. Draw the people to You, especially the children. Save the children, Lord, please.
Thank You, Lord, for speaking to me through Your Word this morning! Right after I wrote the above, I opened my Bible to my reading to this morning and read:
Isaiah 12:2
2 “Indeed, God is my salvation;
I will trust him and not be afraid,
for the Lord, the Lord himself,
is my strength and my song.
He has become my salvation.”