America's moral decline, like the decline of the Roman Empire, did not happen overnight. It happened gradually, almost imperceptibly.
Little by little America and its churches have made small concessions to the world incrementally abandoning our scriptural roots. As this process continues, at some point we will, like ancient Rome, pay the price. If we are candid with ourselves, we’ll see the evidence that we are starting to do that now.
In October, 2020 the trend of Christian churches to reject Scripture reached two new milestones when the head of the largest Christian denomination, Pope Francis, called for:
1) global recognition of homosexual unions and
2) endorsed and partnered with the world's heathen religions for our collective salvation and world peace.
The partnering of a large part of Christendom with the world's religions is predicted in Revelation and is called Babylon which stands for confusion of thought and corruption of doctrine. It is the fruit of fallen Christianity and the scriptures warn that Babylon will ride or be supported by a global political power, the Beast. This mirrors the moral decay of Rome and of Noah's day. Regarding those days Christ said:
“For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man” (Matt 24:35-39).
Describing pre-flood conditions, the Apostle Paul writes:
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.
For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them. (Rom 1:18, 20, 24-32).
When the Pope announced his global religious accord he asserted that no-one is saved alone. Some may believe, as the Pope does, that there is strength and salvation in numbers but this is a half truth. Numbers are powerful in the long term only when they partner with reality and the truth. In contrast to the assertions of the Pope that all religions lead to salvation, Christ says: “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). The followers of Christ stand in simple faith on the word of God believing that if the Spirit of Christ abides with a single individual he is indeed saved, transformed and empowered. By grace he is invincible against the powers of earth and hell.
The Constitutional Implications for America and for the Church
For a republic to survive in a healthy condition, its institutions, especially its churches and schools, cannot follow political correctness, calling evil good and good evil as many churches are doing now. It's been demonstrated throughout history that license is the opposite of liberty. The classic example of this is 18th century Revolutionary France. The Revolutionaries promised liberty and equality but delivered tyranny. In direct contrast to the debauchery and savagery of the French Revolution, genuine liberty is undergirded by the common assent of the people to the will of God, His holy covenant summarized in the Ten Commandments.
These ten words, brief, authoritative and comprehensive, are the embodiment of love. They are the principles of life demonstrated in the Word made flesh, they are the genius of Protestantism and the secret of America’s unprecedented power and greatness. After touring America in 1831 and taking extensive notes, French diplomat and author, Alexis de Tocqueville, observed: "America is great because she is good. If America ceases to be good, America will cease to be great." Only when the principles of the Law of God are cherished so as to enlighten and bear sway will the people be liberated and made sensible to the claims of their own consciences and respect the consciences of others.
Because America's universities (and now its primary schools) and many of its churches have taught for years that moral license is liberty, as was done in pre-Revolutionary France, America is undergoing a similar constitutional crisis. Since Roe v. Wade we have not protected our most vulnerable, the unborn.
We have trampled on the religious freedom of small business owners who cannot in good conscience make products endorsing homosexual unions.
Most recently we have closed our churches, at first out of panic and with good intentions, but now under the pretext of a public health emergency. I don’t dispute or minimize the fact that there is a deadly pandemic underway – deadly to those with weak immunity. However, since the spring of this year it’s been clear that the measures being used to slow the spread of the disease are worse than the virus itself. The strictest measures taken in different nations are about as effective as the measures taken by countries like Sweden where people were only given recommendations and left free to tailor them to their circumstances. The pattern of surges or waves is common to all nations.
But the noose continues to tighten as people are conditioned to blind conformity. I share the concerns of Supreme Court Justice Alito. If America allows the remaining protections of the Constitution to be sacrificed to flatten the curve and in the process destroys the lives and livelihoods of its citizens our freedoms and our economy will be the worst casualties of the pandemic. Joblessness followed by hunger then large scale social upheaval and war could well follow. Without a free America the world will welcome the advent of a global Beast system to deal with global chaos.
Nearly 2000 years ago God through the Apostle John warned of this
And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world (Rev 13:1-5, 7, 8).
But God responds to this crises. The next chapter, Revelation 14, pictures a spiritual awakening in the last days. In the face of global infidelity the church arises and takes a stand for God. The prophecy says this great revival impacts every nation on the globe. It is symbolized by an angel sent from heaven to earth with the gospel message:
And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. Rev 14:6-7.
And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. . . .
And I saw the Beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. And the Beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the Beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone (Rev 19:11-14, 19-20).
Like the early church, this grass roots movement of the word will transform its followers, pastors and members alike, into the powerful army pictured above that spoils the dominion of Satan and brings in the final harvest. And like the early church, although sometimes persecuted to the point of martyrdom, it will, in the end, be glorified like the cross of Christ.
The secret of the movement’s success will be thorough repentance, fasting, prayer and zealous, systematic, persistent work to save others. Let's do what we can while we have this window of opportunity. May His kingdom come and His will be done in earth as it is in heaven.
Blessings and Godspeed on your witness in 2021.
Mark Shipowick is a dual Canadian and American citizen who lives in Summers County, West Virginia. He is a lawyer by training, admitted in Ontario, Canada, and New York State, but also does health outreach ministry and builds.