America's Hope

America’s Heartbreak (cont.)

A major fault of socialism is that it depends on two ugly traits of human nature to make it grow: envy and covetousness. The have nots must be stirred to demand that government act to give them their part of what is owned by the haves regardless of merit or work.

Well, it is all rather sad, is it not? It really comes down to a question of how long we are going to be able to survive as a nation unless we have a change and unless we return to the Biblical principle of living within our means, personal responsibility and honest work. Unless government quits meddling in everyone’s business and returns freedom to individuals and business, we are in trouble!

There is nothing more ironic to me than to read some of the stories in established periodicals and secular news magazines where many, including churchmen, run down the whole capitalistic system and say that the wave of the future is Marxism and socialism. The fact is that the profits and fruits of the free enterprise, capitalistic system have kept the socialist systems surviving. Solzhenitsyn has brought that out beautifully in his speeches and writings.

The communist regimes in the world would have tumbled into ruins long ago if it had not been for the United States and other nations of the free world that came to them at some of their times of dilemma and pulled them out of tough spots. America has never thought to bargain for change before giving aid. Meanwhile, millions remain enslaved and deprived of the gospel because we help a satanic system to survive its problems.

Is it loving our enemies to pour money and resources into anti-God, anti-Christ nations so they can continue in chains and bondage for years to come? If we really love our enemies, let us do what we can to bring about conditions which could make the people rise up and throw out of power those who bind them.

Yes, we face the future of our nation with some trepidation. God has been so good to us. He has brought our nation through these many years so triumphantly, so wonderfully. How sad to see, to hear, to read about the way we are headed.

The Lord Jesus said,

Whoever falls on that stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder. (Luke 20:18)

When you have given all the economic, political, sociological and psychological reasons for the brokenness of our society, you have not told the whole story unless you heed the spiritual problem. The brokenness of America today is because we have kicked Jesus Christ out of our national life to a large degree. Lip service may still be there, but by and large He is not welcome in American society.

Our churches gradually die as they depart from the ministry of the Word of God, and some denominations do not even reach their own constituents.

Recently, one of the smaller denominations celebrated their centennial, rejoicing that in 100 years they had gone from 40,000 members to 80,000. One speaker finally had the nerve to remind them that if they had only won their children and grandchildren—nobody else—they would have one and a half million people in that 100 years!

The religious scene is one of heartbreak . . . and what about the social scene? Marriage is ridiculed and scoffed at in television drama, and marital infidelity is presented as the order of the day. Comedians joke about the sex act and suggest that life consists in doing as you please when you please, with anyone you please, as often as you please. It is a wonder that our kids stay as straight as they do! Father and mother, if you and I can bring up our children these days to marry somebody who is not soiled goods, we have really done something, because this is a very soiled world!

America’s Hope

There is always the hope for spiritual renewal. God has done it before, sometimes starting on college campuses, as at Yale University years ago when the whole student body was swept by spiritual awakening. God is at work, praise His name, on many college and university campuses today, and young people are turning to the Lord. We must pray for them, support them, and earnestly hope that every effort will be successful. God, who has done it before, can do it again!

But spiritual awakening has to start in our individual hearts. It has to begin with you where you are. Let us individually seek God for spiritual revival and for continuing mercy as we fit into God’s plan to call others for His name from “every tribe and tongue and people and nation” (Rev. 5:9). It is in America’s favor that probably a majority of the world’s missionary personnel and financial support come from the United States. As long as we set our goal to help in completing the bride of Christ, we can expect continuing mercy, even when we are so richly deserving judgment.

We know there will be no rest or peace until Jesus Christ comes to earth again to “rule them with a rod of iron” (Rev. 19:15). That day is coming, but meanwhile you and I must stand up and be counted. There is hope for America when spiritual revival brings with it an aroused sense of civic responsibility among believers. We are to be “the salt of the earth”—”the light of [this] world” (Matt. 5:13-14). As we move into the 21^st century, a crucial period in the life of America, I beseech you as Christians to take an unusual interest in the political arena. Study and learn the issues, find out who the candidates are—and pray.

There are still enough Christians in this country, if we can get them aroused and angry enough, to change the direction of our nation from a continuing drift toward big government.

We must awaken and know the issues. And when election day comes, we must march to those polls in volume!

Dear friends, this is a critical hour. We need to become awakened as believers! We have much to be thankful for to be sure. God has spared us in liberty and freedom to this hour. But if we want it to continue very much longer, we had better heed the warning signals. We had better be concerned about what is going on these days. We had better arise in indignation, study the issues, get to the polls. We had better let our voices be heard by letter, by telephone, by email, to congressmen, senators, state representatives, mayors and city council members. Christians, you are called “the salt of this earth.” Get busy—time is running out!

But suppose God is calling time on America? Suppose the bride of Christ is about complete and our tremendous missionary outreach is to end? Suppose it is so near the conclusion of God’s prophetic plan that the prospects of a turnabout in national affairs is not destined to take place? Then, dear friend, as always our greatest hope remains: the return in power and glory of our Lord Jesus Christ!

The King is coming—hallelujah—and a trouble-torn world shall be judged and reigned over in righteousness by the “King of kings” (Rev. 17:14). Let us watch and wait for that day!

America’s heritage—tremendous!

America’s heartbreak—horrendous!

America’s hope—vital and alive!

Whatever the future, God is still on the throne!

Dr. Bruce W. Dunn (1919-1993) was a pastor for more than 50 years. After serving churches in Wisconsin, Iowa and Chicago, he held the position of senior pastor at the Grace Presbyterian Church in Peoria, Ill., from 1951 to 1991. From there, he reached out to the world through his weekly radio and television programs called, “Grace Worship Hour.” The broadcasts were among the first in the nation to feature sermons recorded live before a congregation as the basis for a media ministry. Dr. Dunn was known for his clear and bold preaching of God’s Word. A herald of the prophetic Scriptures, he continually warned his flock regarding the growing dangers of these last days. Dr. Dunn authored numerous booklets and was a frequent conference speaker. What a privilege it is to list him as a member of the inaugural class of Revived Classics authors for Dispensational Publishing House.

This article originally appeared as chapter 3 in
How Long, O Lord? How Long?: What To Do While Waiting For the Lord’s Return
(Columbus, GA: Brentwood Christian Press, 2002), pp. 32-44.
Copyright © 2002 Dr. David B. Dunn. All rights reserved.
The article is reprinted here by permission of Dr. David B. Dunn.
For more information regarding Dr. Bruce W. Dunn, go to www.TimelessTruthMedia.org.