There was a time in America when most Americans put on their "Sunday go to meeting suit" and assembled at the church. They knew God loved them and sacrificed His Son on the Cross that they might escape the judgment of the ungodly (Romans 1:18ff). They expected the preaching to emphasize the blessings of Heaven and the horrors of Hell. Jonathan Edwards'Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God provoked the Great Awakening of 1730-1755 in early American history. Such preaching in the 21st century would be unthinkable. It could be considered politically incorrect.
In fact, the mere mention of Hell in today's world is considered politically incorrect in most places. Even Evangelicals and Born again Christians (Are there any other kind?) are hesitant to preach or even mention that place (Hell) Jesus warned us about (Matthew 5:27-30) in His Sermon on the Mount (chapters 5-7). Then there are funerals. Too many of today's preachers wax eloquent, preaching the individual into Heaven rather than taking the opportunity to warn the wayward of the consequence of immorality.
It is obvious that when the Gospel of Positivism has replaced the Gospel of Christ, God's morality has been abandoned. We are reminded of Julian the Apostate (360-363 AD, or CE if you insist) and his efforts to do away with Christianity and return Rome to Paganism. Christianity, as the foundation of Western Civilization, has surrendered to secularism in Europe and Great Britain - not to mention our neighbors to the North and the South. It looks as though the last great battlefield shall be here in America. It is vital for us to put on the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-20) and march together "against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places" (verse 12), singing "Onward Christian Soldiers."
If America is to have an Awakening and a revival of New Testament Christianity we must resurrect Godly fear (Hebrews 12:28) in our psyche. The fear of God must be instilled in our heart when we deliberately transgress His holy word. As in the first century, we must learn to, in the words of Jesus, "fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell" (Matthew 10:28). It is true that "perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love" (1 John 4:18). However, the apostle points out in the next chapter that, "this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous" (5:3). Thus, no matter how often we try, we cannot separate love from obedience.
Jesus commanded, "If ye love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15). Paul reminds us that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor Idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners shall inherit the kingdom of God" (1 Corinthians 6:9-10). The bottom line is that God now commands "all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead" (Acts 17:30-31). Repent or Perish is not a stupid sign by a bum on a soap box in Central Park -- it is the message of the Son of God!
Dale I Royal, Elk City OK
