Influencers Weekly Devotional- Heal Our Land-Part Four

The Cure for America’s Real Problem

by

Rocky Fleming

  The last few devotionals that I have written and have been sent to you, connect with our call to prayer on November 2nd.  You may already know that Influencers asks as many Christians as possible to pull aside for prayer on November 2nd at 12:00 Noon.  We realize there is prayer by many people and organizations already going on across America concerning the elections, your candidates, and our country.  This is a good thing to do, for Christians need to seek God's heart and values, and decide for themselves which candidates they should put in public office based on His leadership.  However, I will never use a forum such as this to influence you to vote a certain way.  I promise you it is not my intention to do this, nor is it the intention of our call to prayer to do it either.  Instead, we seek to inspire you to seek God's wisdom, and allow Him to guide you.  Also, our request for this prayer is not about the election.  Rather, it concerns the greater need in this Country that God's people, Christians in America, come back to Him.  Yes, I believe our Country is having a defining moment, and is in a critical time in her life as a Nation.  This is obvious to most of us.  As a father and grandfather, I am deeply concerned about what my family will face in the future.  Our Country is in great need of God's healing, and His leadership.  Our Nation's leaders have strayed far from God's leadership in how to lead a nation, and they need to return to Him for their own good, and for the good of our Nation.  But whether they do so or not, and whether our Nation turns away from the direction she is headed or stays on the same course she is on, the elections will not solve the biggest problem in this Nation.  The biggest problem lies within the heart and health of God’s Churchin America, and unless we address these issues, I believe we will continue to struggle as a nation.  Let me make my point with some statistics.   Studies show that in the U.S. about 79.5% of adults (247 million) identify themselves as Christians.  This would make some people feel comfortable about the health of Christianity in America.  But, studies also show that only 17.7%, or 52 million people, worship in churches regularly in America.  This means that most people who identify themselves as Christians are either deceiving themselves and others about their true relationship with Christ, or they have no concern about being connected with a church and its community of other believers.  Why is this?  What has happened to the Church in America that would cause this disconnect?  Some say the problem is the culture change in America that has affected the Church.  Others say it is the culture changewithin the Church that has affected Her.  I believe it is the latter, for God's message, mankind's needs and God's true Church is timeless and relevant to every generation, if we follow Him and His timeless precepts.  She weathers all storms, if we seek God and allow Him to lead us.  Spiritually healthy churches would agree with this.  Ask them.   As God’s Church we should not only be concerned for our own well-being, we also have a sacred responsibility for the passengers who share the storm with us, such as the rest of the nation we live with. Therefore, the Church in America needs to be healthy and united in heart and purpose, to be able to be God’s Church to a Nation in great need.  But, the Church in America is not healthy.  In fact, there is great danger that a decline in the Church in America is occurring, for the statistics point it out.  That's the bad news.  The good news is that our Country desperately needs the Church, and this need can also serve two great purposes.  First is to take Christ to people in this Country who are in desperate need of Him, and that we the Church will find our identity and purpose again.  There is a great, great opportunity for these things, and they are near to the heart of God.   How about the typical local church in America?  To this point, when I speak of “the Church” in America, I am referencing all Christians in America, and nottheir denomination or church affiliation.  But, we cannot overlook the local church in America.  The congregational church, or the typical local church in America is in trouble as well.  Consider that every year, approximately 4000new churches open their doors in America. But, every year approximately 7000 churches close their doors for the last time.  The local church is in decline.  The fact that only 22 % of confessing Christians attend and support their churches would indicate one reason why they are closing.  The truth is, they can't keep their doors open. They can't pay their bills.  But, there might be a deeper, more sinister work that is going on in our local churches that attacks our church leaders and discourages them?  Did you know that studies show that 1,500 pastors exit their church each month?  Most reasons are because of conflict within their congregation, moral failures, burn out, or being forced out.  These pastors are in trouble, and it in turn troubles their churches.  When our local churches are in trouble, the Body of Christ (Church) in America is troubled.  When the Church in America is in trouble, our land is troubled.  Look around.  Can you see the domino effect and see why our greatest need is not with an election but with God's people in this nation being strong again as God's Church?  Our greatest antidote for the spiritual sickness in our churches and the evil that attacks our pastors is not found with a vote or a certain candidate, but rather as a result of our prayers.  But, are we praying and seeking our King's help like we mean it?  If we did, it would make a difference.  For example:   I am blessed and given great encouragement by what I see with some local pastors I meet with regularly.  These men love Christ, and they love their congregations like Christ loves their church.  I see in them great leadership that does not lead their people to an institutional expression of just going to church,but rather to a deep, abiding relationship with Christ.  It is this intimate relationship with Christ, rather than just an affiliation with a church, that creates a transformed life and a transformed church.  I have seen this emphasis in their leadership bring body life and health to the members of their congregations, and it is this intimate relationship with Christ that influences the relationships in their church, and the way they live their life outside it.  There is a cause and effect dynamic that blesses the congregation, the pastor, and the health of the church.  In other words, it is the turning of the pastor and his church to an intimate, abiding relationship with Christ that brings healing and health to his church, and this church impacts the community.  Likewise, it would be the same with the Body of Christ (Church) in America…if we would return to God, and seek this intimacy with Him.  If we would act on the directions given in 2 Chronicles 7:14 that as God's people, we seek Him and turn from our sinful, independent ways, we would be welcomed back, and experience the cause and effect of our repentance and restoration.  We would see health in the Church in America rather than decline, and we may see our land restored because of it.   On the other hand, there are some pastors, churches and Christians in America who will not look beyond their own circle of need and comfort.  If things are fine for them in their circle, there is little concern for other churches or the body of Christ in America.  They think the problems in the Church are someone else's responsibility to fix.  My challenge to this way of thinking is to ask if they think this is the attitude of Christ?  Just because our life is comfortable, or our church has all the outward signs of health and has no present needs, would Christ not expect us to be involved in helping the Body of Christ in America regardless of a distinction of theirs that is different from our own?  I've got some startling news for you.  Our problems in the Church in America will require that all churches, and all ministries be part of the fix.  We must be awakened from our slumber, turn from our selfish ways, and work together.  Our biggest problem is not with who will be elected a few days from now.  Rather, it is what comes after the election.   I see a great opportunity for God's People to make a difference at the voting poles in America, because we are a free Nation who elects its officials based on the values we want to either protect or project.  I pray that our rights will always be protected, regardless if we agree with a certain candidate, or their position.  But, the greater opportunity for God's People will not be found at the voting poles.  It will be with how we nurture this Nation toward the King of Kings.  To lead our Nation in this direction requires that we first lead our own people to Him, and the statistics show that nearly 80% of confessing Christians are far from Him.  Therefore, our work must begin within our own family in Christ, by encouraging all believers to draw together and to God.  Therefore, let’s pray that our prayer emphasis on November 2nd will be a national movement toward this goal, and that it continues after the election.  We don't have to agree on anything within our politics.  It is not about that, and we need to release the burden we feel to change someone's political choices.  If a change is needed, let's let God speak to hearts about it.  Regardless of our different political outlook, let the Church and churches in America agree that the Body of Christ in America needs to seek God together, and embrace our sacred responsibilities as His Church.  The stakes are high and we need to hear from our King with what His family needs to do in this present age.  Let's take our voices and hearts to Him on November 2nd at 12:00 Noon in the time zone where you live, and let's continue it to and for the generations that follow.  May God bless you as you spread this invitation and embrace your sacred responsibility.