Glimpses of Truth

“The State of the Union” . . .

This week our President gave to us what is called “The State of the Union.”  Some might say that what he said was true; others might say it was only his idea of the state of the Union.  That’s not my intent in this article.  I want to focus on the spiritual state of the Union.

There are many things that we could look at, but one poll, which is very impressive, stated that 96% of the public say they believe in God.  Also, more than 80 million people claim to be born again.  Sounds pretty good, doesn’t it?

Another article stated that more than 500 million Bibles were printed in America last year.  That, too, is an exciting figure.

But may we look a little deeper?  It was also reported that 100 million Americans report that while they own a Bible, they never read it.  Gallup says the percentage of people who believe the Bible to be infallible is half of what it was two decades ago.  Another part is that in “Christian” America, there are 100 times more burglaries than in “pagan” Japan.

Another article stated that in America, considered to be the most religious nation on the earth, that approximately 1.5 million unborn children are murdered each year.

The state of our Union, spiritually speaking, is suffering.  What is happening?  It seems that people keep their faith and their lives in separate compartments, taking in the Word but not applying it.  The secular society endeavors to solve all our problems, yet the future continues to be bleak.  One study stated that one out of three teenagers admitted shoplifting, and when asked why, most responses were, “Why not?” for they saw nothing wrong with it.

We live in a sicker society today.  Divorce rates have doubled.  Teenage suicides have tripled.  There is fear of crime and annihilation.  We are in a time when we don’t have spiritual beliefs.

What are we to do as believers?  Three things.  We must get back to the basics.  The church will never impart spiritual truth to the world by simply mimicking secular technique.  We must (1) think Christianity, (2) speak Christianity, and (3) live Christianity.  In thinking our Christianity Paul says, “Do not be conformed to this world but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.”  Our thoughts must be above the horrors that this world presents to us.  Our speech must be about our God--Who He is and the reality of knowing Him.  Many of our so-called leading authorities and commentators today speak of things like the cosmos as if it is all that it will ever be, and they have no idea of how it originated.  It is time to speak of the reality of Christ.

And, finally, there is the living.  It is doing something about the needs of the victimized people.  It means living under the lordship of Christ.

So, what is the “state of our Union” as believers?  We have something fabulous to look forward to.  But while we’re here, we are commissioned to make disciples.  We are called to penetrate the spirit of our Age, to contend for the hearts and minds of those around us.  Let us think Christianity, let us speak Christianity, and let us live Christianity.