Whether or not America can be saved rests squarely in the hands of the church.
God agreed to Abraham's plea to spare Sodom if just 10 righteous men could be found. Are we such a people? Righteousness implies a respect for the moral laws and principles articulated in God's Word.
As the influence of godless secular culture has invaded the church, however, we have seen a gradual erosion, not only of the morality of those who call themselves Christian, but of foundational historic theology. We need a massive move of repentance, beginning in the church, but repentance begins with a consciousness of sin, something increasingly missing, both in the surrounding culture and in the church.
Both the First and Second Great Awakenings in America began with repentance. Even as the masses fell into immorality, the nation shared an understanding of moral right and wrong and therefore knew what to return to when conviction came. Repentance made sense to them. Such a cultural agreement concerning moral right and wrong no longer exists.
A time is coming when increasing numbers of people will be crying out in pain as the lifestyles they've chosen inevitably fail. At such times people seek answers. Will the church then appear as a glowing beacon of light, a place of healing and restoration? Or as a dark wall of condemnation? Will we present a doorway to a better life? Or falsely affirm the sin that produced their misery to begin with—and all in the name of "grace"?
I know from experience that the closer one comes to the holiness, glory and goodness of God, the more clearly that which is unholy and unclean stands out. In that light, the Holy Spirit reveals sin for what it is. My job is to love; His is to convict, and I've seen it work time after time.
As the sinner draws nearer to the radiant goodness of God exhibited in and through His people, light exposes darkness.
When darkness is clearly revealed, conviction falls, lives change and people are healed. America can be saved as Christians lovingly radiate the glow of the goodness of the Father's heart.
Will the church as a whole step up to the plate in this crucial time?
Will we be that beacon of inviting light that draws the hurting to repentance and healing?
Will America be saved? The answer lies with us.
Pockets of true revival are breaking out across America. Want to know more about the next great move of God? Click here to see Jennifer LeClaire's new book, featuring Dutch Sheets, Reinhard Bonnke, Jonathan Cahn, Billy Graham and others.
R. Loren Sandford is the founder and senior pastor of New Song Church and Ministries in Denver. He is a songwriter, recording artist and worship leader, as well as the author of several books, including Understanding Prophetic People, The Prophetic Church and his latest, Yes, There's More; all of which are available with other resources at the church's website.
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