Introduction

In recent weeks we have witnessed an outbreak of evil in America that is unparalleled since 2001. Many people in America have been shot and killed and many others wounded from California to Florida. Once again, we are witnessing the impotence of many of our so-called leaders. Many seemed puzzled as to what is happening and are asking what is causing this. There is a general call for unity from nearly every corner of the country which amounts to nothing more than “why can't we just all get along?" Is there an Answer to the “why” question.

• The Heart of the Problem

Many of those who call themselves leaders and are in positions of authority over us, are calling for legislation to control guns or even to outlaw and eliminate them from the hands of the people. Of course, the problem is not control of inanimate objects such as guns or any other legislative remedy. The problem is not "we just all need to get along". The heart of the problem – the real cause – is the heart of individuals throughout this nation. 

Throughout America, we have ceased teaching God's Holy Word and Holy Truth! From the early 60s the United States Supreme Court and many other courts “professing themselves to be wise" have outlawed the preaching and teaching of God's Holy Word in the schools, outlawed giving away FREE BIBLES in schools, outlawed the preaching and teaching of God's Holy Word in public places, and generally have validated many ungodly laws while striking down laws rooted and based in godliness. 

Because the heart – the inner person – cannot change unless one hears the preaching and teaching of God's Word, the real crux of the matter is the stopping of the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which is the power of God unto salvation. Those who suppress the truth have prevented the Gospel from being proclaimed in America. Political correctness prevents many from proclaiming that Jesus is the only way to God and without Him no heart can be changed.

• Wrong Solutions

Now we see many on television, whether political leaders or TV personalities, or other so-called experts, trying desperately to say something profound while at the same time struggling, if not just outright babbling, without even mentioning what the real problem and real cause is. These people are struggling to be politically correct! Nearly all of them have missed the mark in attempting to define or figure out the problem. We cannot have unity, we cannot have changed hearts, we cannot have new people in America without God's Word. The problem in America, as well as all around the world, is sin! One cannot solve a problem unless one first recognizes what the problem is.

• The Love of God

In John's gospel in the 3rd Chapter, God has revealed that He loved His creation so much that He sent His only begotten Son into the world to live a perfect life and to voluntarily give up His life so that those who repent from their sin and place their trust in Him alone may be changed – may have everlasting life. Also, in John's gospel we see that “light has come into the world and men loved darkness more than they loved light because their deeds are evil." It is imperative in order to solve a problem that we first discern the crux of the problem facing America today. Sin is the crux of the problem and Jesus is the only answer! Our founders knew these Holy Truths and many agreed with John Adams who said that “our Constitution was made only for a moral and a religious people and is wholly inadequate for the governance of any other." The Holy Scriptures teach everywhere that only Jesus can change a heart. He said, “I am the way the truth and the life, no man can come to the Father except by me." (John 14:6) He also said, “come to me all of you who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of Me for I am meek and lowly in heart and you shall find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and My burden is light." (Matthew 11:28 – 30)

• The Condition of the Non-Christian

The non-Christian – all non-Christians – are dead in their trespasses and sins according to Paul's letter to the Church at Ephesus in the second Chapter. In his first letter to the Church of Corinth, he elaborates on their condition by stating the following:

“Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the Kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9 – 10 ESV)

In Paul's letter to the Church at Galatia, he states substantially the same information regarding the non-Christian when he writes to the church the following:

“Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, the sanctions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warned you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things and will not inherit the Kingdom of God." (Galatians 5:19 – 21 ESV)

In his letter to the Church of Rome, Paul describes the fact that the wrath of God is already revealed from heaven against those who are ungodly and unrighteous and suppress the truth in unrighteousness. From Romans 1:18 through the end of the chapter, Paul describes the condition of those against whom the wrath of God has been revealed. In that passage of scripture, Paul says three times that the Lord God “has given them up”. The living Word of God, Jesus, speaks of their ultimate destination as being (“outer darkness where there will be “weeping and gnashing of teeth.") (Matthew 8:12 ESV) Thus, we see the condition of the non-Christian is hopeless, and they are incapable, literally unable, to change, just as a leopard is unable to change its spots or an Ethiopian is unable to change the color of his skin. That is why all of the “babbling”, “consternation”, and “opining” is of no use in the attempt to bring about “unity” or any other solution, without first identifying the real problem. The real cause of the violence, immorality, enmity, jealousy, fits of anger, distinctions, dissensions, divisions and things like these – to name only a few – is sin, and it is futile to talk about any attempt to find the solution without identifying the real source of the problem – sin!

• The Call to Repent and Trust Christ

Both Christians and non-Christians need to repent and return to the pursuit of holiness. We must preach Christ crucified! We must preach the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ, which is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. We must repent from our sins both individually and nationally! We must stand firm on Christ alone!

This is the remedy. Too long we have failed to teach holy truth and too long we have failed to repent. Too long we have remained silent in the face of ungodly laws. We have allowed ungodliness to run rampant in this country. We have allowed the murder of millions of little babies. We have accepted as legal the sin of Sodom and Gomorrah. We have allowed those who suppress the truth in unrighteousness to dominate the culture. Those of us who know the truth have remained silent or timid in the face of this unrighteous suppression of the truth. This, of course, is the sin of Israel during the reign of Ahab and his wife Jezebel. Ahab began to reign in the 38th year of Asa, King of Judah, and he did evil in the sight of the Lord. (1 Kings 16:29 FF) In verse 32 of First Kings 16, we see that he raised up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal which he had built in Samaria.” (1 Kings 16:32)

Our God is not Baal; our God is not political correctness; our God is not economic well-being; our God is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He is the God of James and Peter and John and Paul. Jesus is the Light of the world. He is the King of Kings and the Rock of Ages. He is the Living Word of the Living God. Jesus bore our sins in His own body on the cross that we may be dead unto sin and alive unto righteousness. This is not just a fable! This is not just some cleverly devised story! He is our only way out of this mess! Hear Him! Come to Him and repent and resolve to do His will as God gives you the grace to do it! Pray that the Lord God would cause many to preach His Holy Truth and the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ and that many would hear and surrender their will to the Lord’s will in true repentance and that God would grant saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ to many, thus changing their hearts and making them new creations in Christ.

Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we beg you therefore in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.

Conclusion

Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, unto Him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus, throughout all ages, world without end, Amen!

Your friend and brother in Christ,

Bill Gray