Habakkuk’s discourse with God began with a concern for all the evil within the nation of Judah. Violence, Lawlessness, Disrespect toward their heritage, Immorality, and Idolatry was growing rampant in their society. His first question was why God stood silent and allowed such evil within the nation to grow. When God replied that He would allow a greater evil, Babylon to take His people captive; Habakkuk was horrified at first. How could God use a greater evil to be the source to destroy the evil within the nation of Israel? Yet, Habakkuk knew that God was just. His righteousness and mercy would reign, so; prayerfully and watchfully Habakkuk waited for God’s reply. That is where we left off the story last time. Waiting for God to answer. Yet, shouldn’t we, the people of the United States of America not also be crying out for our nation?
On June 25, 1962, the United States Supreme Court decided in Engel v. Vitale that a prayer approved by the New York Board of Regents for use in schools violated the First Amendment because it represented establishment of religion.1 Since then, that decision has been extended to ban any prayers voluntary or not from being used within the schools. Furthermore, it at times is used to ban children from even carrying a Bible or teachers to pray. Some, if not most schools have stopped the pledge of allegiance to the American Flag. The First Amendment was never meant to keep Faith or Religion out of Government: it was meant to keep Government out of religion. We have sat idly by and watched as Government intrudes further and further into our religious freedoms throughout the years.
ONE NATION UNDER GOD BESIEGED
Since then, we have seen within our schools a steady demise. As Charles Stanley wrote,
“while Bible and prayer were still in the school system (and seminaries), these were the major problems in school: (talking in class, (2) chewing gum, (3) making noise, (4) running in the halls, (5) getting out of line, (6) wearing improper clothing, and (7) missing the wastebasket. Today these are our problems: (1) drug abuse, (2) suicide, (3) alcohol, (4) pregnancy, (5) rape, (6) murder, and (7) assault.”2
This is merely one small piece of a much larger demise within our nation; but, it is a start. Disrespect of our flag, our heritage, the battles won against slavery, against Nazi oppression, against fascism and against segregation have all been won as One Nation Under God. Now we have young people growing up never realizing how far we have come because of God being our strength. Instead, we are raising a nation of young people who burn the flag, who transform protests into violent riots and who want to hear nothing about the great strides we have made as a nation and as a people.
Today our universities have become strongholds of atheism and secularism. Our science, our art, and our laws are being used to marginalize and discredit the Christian faith. And America, founded on belief in an omniscient, omnipotent Creator, has banished God from every aspect of public life. Western civilization is being undermined from within, like a once-great edifice now being slowly but steadily consumed by termites.3
Michael Youssef
BESIEGED BY EVIL WITHIN
The problem continues to grow. “Evil does not stand still—it always progresses toward greater and greater evil.”4 We have continued down some horrid slippery slope. So, what is our only hope? We must like Habakkuk cry out to God first! Then, we must stand upon our watchtower and wait for His answer. Then, we must write that answer upon tablets and carry it to the people.
“I want us to look primarily at the government of the United States of America because we are leaders in the world. We were leaders in military might, leaders in strong moral fiber, leaders in affluence, leaders in sending the most missionaries out. We are still leaders. Leaders in crime. Leaders in drugs. Leaders in teen pregnancies. Leaders in illiteracy. Leaders in pornography. Leaders in debt. And fast losing in our preeminence of sending for missionaries.”5 Charles Stanley.
HOPE REMAINS
We will go much deeper next week into God’s Answer to Habakkuk; however, let me give you a brief synopsis. Babylon will make Israel their captives, enslaving the people. After that, Babylon will fall and Israel will stand as a nation once more. Ultimately, “the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord . . .the Lord is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him” (Habakkuk 2:14,20).
Overtaken by evil from within, the United States of America is running fast toward captivity by extreme ideologies that breed anger, violence, and divide; because, we forsook our first love. However, the followers of Christ know: God has won the ultimate victory. The road may appear rough at times; yet, we must stand united in prayer, watchful for God’s reply. We must take a stand for God and be willing to testify for the name of Jesus Christ. Our mission: is to tell the world of the gospel story. We must begin here at home.
Concluding Tweets
[tweetthis]We know the end of the story God wins! Until then we must remain faithful[/tweetthis]
[tweetthis]As Habakkuk prayed for his nation let us pray for ours Then stand watchful[/tweetthis]
footnotes: references
1Penny Starr, “Education Expert: Removing Bible, Prayer from Schools Has Caused a Decline”, CNS NEWS.COM, August, 15,2014, accessed 9/29/17, https://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/penny-starr/education-expert-removing-bible-prayer-public-schools-has-caused-decline
2Charles Stanley, Handbook for Christian Living, (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 1996), 99
3Michael Youssef, The Barbarians are Here, (Franklin, TN: Worthy Publishing, 2017), 125
4 Ibid., 123
5 Stanley, Christian Living, 96
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©Effie Darlene Barba, 2017
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