Will God Bless America?

“God bless you.”  “And God bless America.”  How many times did we hear some version of “God bless” during the past two weeks of the Republican and Democratic National conventions?  Almost every speaker invoked God’s blessing once or twice at the end of every speech.

But I was struck by the irony of asking for God to bless America all the while advocating moral positions that are contrary to the will of God.  Abortion. Homosexuality.  Same-Sex marriage. So as I thought about all the request for God to bless America, I wondered…..will He?

Of course, God has blessed us.  The fact is without dispute. Even in a time of economic downturn, high unemployment and rising gas prices, most folks have it pretty good.  Our “poor” would be middle class in many countries of the world.  In fact, most “poor” people enjoy creature comforts unknown to millions of people in impoverished countries.

We have great wealth, technological resources, educational opportunities, leisure, and the ability to pursue whatever it is we may desire or dream.  Yet, it seems that we are less grateful, less religious, and more proud and self-reliant that ever.

So, will God continue to bless us?

Abraham Lincoln once said, “It is the duty of nations, as well as of men, to own their own independence upon the overruling power of God…and to recognize the sublime truth announced in the Holy Scriptures and proved by all history, that those nations only are blest whose God is the Lord.”

The basis of Lincoln’s words are found in Psalm 33:12.  They are as true today as when Lincoln said them and the Psalmist penned them.  However, it is apparent that we are no longer one nation under God.  Secularism, atheism and agnosticism have undermined our core values.  The spread of Eastern religion, and  belief in Islam and their god, Allah, has further eroded our “Christian” precepts and principles.

Will God bless America when our people are reveling in  wickedness at every turn?  Corruption in business and government, the promotion of pornographic materials, breakdown of the family and  an increase of deviant crimes against children.  Furthermore, we are in the midst of a great struggle regarding the sanctity of marriage. William Bennett was right when he wrote, “the real crisis of our time is spiritual.”

And what is the answer?  I believe it is one that God gave to Solomon at the beginning of his  reign when he built the temple.  God appeared to him in the night and made a promise to him based on the faithfulness of the people.  God said, “If my people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and forgive their sin and heal their land.  (2 Chron. 7:14)

Will God bless America?  Yes, If we… 

          (1) Humble ourselves.  “A man’s pride will bring him low, but the humble in spirit will retain honor” (Prov. 29:23).  We need to be reminded that God has blessed us.  Our affluence, success and greatness is the result of a benevolent Creator.   

          (2) Pray. Humility leads to earnest prayer.  Pride takes us away from prayer.  Paul exhorted that we should pray for those in authority (1 Tim 2:1-2).  More than ever prayer is needed today.  

          (3) Seek the Face of God.  If our nation is to be healed, we must come to the great Physician for the spiritual balm so badly needed. Our 30th President Calvin Coolidge once said, “We do not need more national development, we need more spiritual development.” 

          (4) Turn from our Wicked Ways.It is not enough to know what is right, we must do it.  We must turn from both the practice of sin and the approval and tolerance of it.

          As a result, God promises to hear, forgive and heal.  If God is to bless America, Christians must make a difference.  Let us lead the way.  Let us be the light.  Let us be the salt. And let us stand up and be heard before it is too late!

–Ken Weliever