President Ponders God’s Judgment for the Nation’s Immorality
Over the past few months a significant number of Christian leaders have cautioned that God may judge the United States of America for its flaunting of sin, including the open support for and advocacy of the homosexual lifestyle and the epidemic of abortion.
Scoffers have roundly criticized and dismissed such statements, with one going so far as to ask why God would destroy America for homosexuality but not slavery:
If God were going to destroy America why didn’t he do it when we enslaved, brutalized, and murdered thousands of his children shipped over from Africa?
To be accurate, most mainstream faith leaders have said God will judge America, not (necessarily) destroy it. Is such a pronouncement really that fringe?
Ask President Abraham Lincoln.
Though less so today, years ago, many school children could recite the end of Abraham Lincoln’s second inaugural address. Even those who are a product of a more modern school system probably recognize “with malice toward none, with charity for all…” etc. Few, though, probably remember the lines immediately preceding that closing [emphasis added]:
If we shall suppose that American Slavery is one of those offences which, in the providence of God, must needs come, but which, having continued through His appointed time, He now wills to remove, and that He gives to both North and South, this terrible war, as the woe due to those by whom the offence came, shall we discern therein any departure from those divine attributes which the believers in a Living God always ascribe to Him?
Fondly do we hope — fervently do we pray — that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away.
Yet, if God wills that it continue, until all the wealth piled by the bond-man’s two hundred and fifty years of unrequited toil shall be sunk, and until every drop of blood drawn with the lash, shall be paid by another drawn with the sword, as was said three thousand years ago, so still it must be said “the judgments of the Lord, are true and righteous altogether.”
The President of the United States very publicly entertained the thought that the Civil War was brought by God as “the woe due to those” who had offended God, and that God might will it to last until the last payment was meted out. Even so, even in the midst of such Divine judgment that had taken the lives of countless citizens, Lincoln quoted Psalm 19:9 to say that God’s judgments “are true and righteous.”
It seems some modern day critics would include Lincoln as fringe for wondering aloud if God will judge America for its sins.
Some modern day leaders of the faith seem to be in good company.
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A couple of questions.
Why would your god want to punish the USA for letting gay people get married when he does not seem to have published any of the other countries that have done so for years?
And why would he care so much about the fact that gay people are allowed to get married and not about the fact that Hindu people are allowed to worship other gods?
Donalbain, to the best of my knowledge, the first country to allow same-sex marriage was the Netherlands in 2001, followed by a slew of other European countries. Where has that gotten them? They are in a a complete mess right now and still heading downhill. It is not just the US that faces judgement.
As far as your second example of worshiping idols and false gods, I will address your Hindu example directly. Look at all of the countries and regions in which the Hindu religion dominates. They are some of the single most impoverished, desolate, and backwards places in the entire world. They have not experienced nearly the wealth and standard of living which has accompanied those nations which are/were predominantly Christian nations or which built their nations on Christian principles.
@Donalbain
How do you know God hasn’t, or that He won’t?
No Nicholas C. our country (for example) was built on capitalism not Christian principles. Although some of the bazillionares may have been church folk, I believe its been mostly for show. Some of the Hindu countries you refer to were likely always impoverished, desolate, and backwards places in the entire world; and their sexual orientations have nothing to do with their purchasing power or standard of living…it is likely due to their government(s) or the like. Most don’t get to elect their leaders and just maybe they could care less about material things, wealth and other BS we “think” we must have. I don’t think everyone wants to be like the USA and thats just fine too.
So, no evidence of any punishments from any deity relating to legalised Hinduism or legalised same sex marriage. As I expected.