What is Happening in America?
Pastor's Perspective, South Stevens County Times
August 2023
By Pastor Tim White
The title of Spokesman-Review’s Aug. 21st article read: “Woodward faces condemnation after appearing on stage with Matt Shea at Christian nationalist event.” First, regardless of any opinions you may have about former state Rep. and now Pastor Matt Shea, his encouraging and supportive prayer was worthy of Mayor Nadine Woodward’s hug before she left the stage. It is easy to find online if you have any doubts about the prayer he prayed.
Secondly, Mayor Woodward had accepted an invitation to this worship and prayer event before any fires had started. Still, after the backlash from an unfriendly press, she bowed to the pressure and disavowed Pastor Shea as someone whose “political views are a danger to our democracy.” Whether you agree with that statement or not, the point is that nothing about the “Let Us Worship” event was dangerous or a threat to this nation—quite the opposite.
Why would anyone consider the prayers of Jesus-loving people who strive to live by God’s Word a threat? There is, however, a threat to the kingdom of darkness, because Biblical and Church history show that humble, repentant, and fervent prayer moves the hand of God and overpowers Lucifer’s work. Our enemy is not those who have different beliefs than we do, but instead, it is the “father of lies” (Satan) and the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms (Eph. 6:12).
Moreover, it is not the first time Spokane’s major newspaper has mischaracterized a Christian event. What is disturbing is the repeated use of the made-up term “Christian nationalist” applied to Christians who exercise their duty as citizens by engaging the culture, our schools, the government, and elected leaders. A few Christian haters in my area have also tried to apply it to me.
This label is intentionally inflammatory, hoping to send us running in fear back into our secluded sanctuaries until we promise to comply – or else! The anti-Christian activists among us want the followers of Christ to apologize profusely for talking out loud in public and to stay out of the process that creates laws and policies over which they (anti-Christians) want complete control. Sadly, many of the faithful have backed off in fear, but not all – I hope you will stand up and speak up while we still can.
Furthermore, the term “nationalist” elicits a sense that we (Christians actively involved in current issues and policy-making institutions) are of the same lineage as Hitler and his Nationalist (Nazi) movement. One of many examples is in the town of Benicia, CA, where a local realtor, Janet Roberson, lost her job because she spoke up to the school board about the grossly inappropriate sexual and “gender confusion” curriculum forced on 10-year-olds.
In a letter to the editor, a former educator and failed City Council candidate called her belief in biblical values nothing more than a “bigoted diatribe” and that “these spiritual sons and daughters of Hitler are but a small-minded and small-numbered minority within the city of Benicia.” He then called her every “[fill-in-the-blank]-phobe” he could think of to vilify her character as much as possible. Roberson’s real estate broker bowed to the pressure from a loud minority and told her she had to leave. You can find more details at www.ResisttheMainstream.com, August 19, 2023, by John Symank.
How can we forget that the unconstitutional and equally evil SB 5599 is now the law in Washington that allows government agencies to cut the parents out from raising their vulnerable and impressionable minor children who think they need a sex change or an abortion. Karl Marx would be proud of those who passed this wicked bill because he saw the nuclear family as an institution of oppression, where the parents oppress the children by not letting them do as they want. To Marx, marriage was equally oppressive to wives who should not be “chained to the sink” but should be “set free” to have their own career – and then leave the children to the state because “we know best.”
When it rains, it pours. A Biden-appointed federal judge ruled that parents in the Montgomery County Public Schools (Maryland) do not have the right to opt their children out of reading books with LGBTQ+ subject matter. The battle began when the board introduced 22 new LGBTQ-themed books into “pre-K through eighth-grade classrooms and feature references to gay pride parades, gender transition, and pronoun preference.” Religious groups of a wide diversity sought to remove their children from reading these books, but they have been (for now) denied. [News story by Chris Pandolfo, FoxNews.com, August 25, 2023].
From my pastor’s perspective, I believe there is a more significant issue than curricula, federal judges, presidential candidates, 72 genders, and multi-alphabet identities. As the people of God and citizens of this nation, we must look around and ask ourselves the broader question: “What is happening in & to America?” The logical next question is, “What is our role in the current national cultural crisis?”
For years, most of the Christian Church has stayed “apolitical” – how much longer can America survive without the Light of Christ shining into the halls of government and public discourse on the critical issues of the day? We are the stewards of priceless freedoms paid for by the blood of Americans of every color – we must steward them well. But we cannot do this in our strength or talents – we need divine intervention – God and His Word.
The Bible applies to all areas of life, culture, government, and society – so let’s hold these up to the life-giving principles and promises in the Bible by “speaking the truth in love” (Eph. 4:15). The ultimate answer is found in multiple transforming encounters with Jesus Christ -the One who suffered the pain of death on the cross so that “whoever calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved” (Acts 2:21). So, get to Church, support, engage, worship, and pray for God to “open the heavens and come down” (Isa. 45:8). He is our nation’s only hope.