Is God Judging the United States of America?
What do the fires in Los Angeles and the exposure of megachurch pastors have in common?
Imagine you’re on vacation at the beach and you decide to launch a raft into the ocean. You relax, soak up the sun, and enjoy the sounds of nature. Every so often, you look up to see how far you’ve drifted from shore. At first glance, you’re in the safe zone. You peek a few moments later, you’re a little further out but your stuff is still visible. Eventually, your eyelids become heavy and you stop looking up. Suddenly, you’re stirred awake by turbulent winds. The sun is setting, land is nowhere in sight, and a tidal wave is coming your way.
WHERE ARE WE!?
The United States has drifted so far from the principles of God’s word that it’s a wonder we haven’t been wiped off the face of the earth. I’ve never declared America to be a “Christian nation.” However, I believe there was a point in our history when the evil acts of sodomy, pedophilia, and blasphemy weren’t so widely accepted in mainstream society. There was a time when common sense ruled the day. Now we’re witnessing a massive shift toward lawlessness. Even our children are spiraling out of control.
In 2 Timothy 3:1-5, the apostle Paul predicted this about future generations:
…[I]n the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness although they have denied its power. Avoid such men as these.
This form of godliness without power can refer to a weak, emasculated, lukewarm group of people who work to keep up with religious appearances. Sadly, this is the state of many American churches today. These 501(c)(3) organizations—with celebrity pastors and prosperity brainwashing—experience exponential growth in numbers, memberships, and material wealth. Meanwhile, families, communities, and whole nations are burning to the ground.
Based on my observation of current events—children killing parents, parents killing children, frivolous divorces, viral fits of rage, perversion—I’d say we are the generation Paul described. What’s most concerning is the fact that we’re nowhere near the levels of barbarity and wickedness revealed in Scripture. Humankind will only grow more evil as we draw closer to the Return of Jesus Christ.
Brace yourself.
DIVINE RETRIBUTION
The tidal wave crashed into the American Church at the passing of Ravi Zacharias, a prominent Christian apologist turned sexual predator. After his death in 2020, I began to hear about the sexual assault, spiritual abuse, and manipulation of women who worked as massage therapists in various countries Zacharias frequented for “ministry” purposes. Turns out Zacharias lived a double life that his wife, family, and all of Christendom were unaware of (or covered up for the sake of his prosperous influence).
In 2023 came the exposure of Mike Bickle, former pastor of the International House of Prayer-Kansas City. Bickle took his indiscretions to another level by sexually grooming and assaulting teenage girls and women. He “prophesied” to several young victims that his wife would die and that God was preparing them to replace her as his companion. (That’s so crazy!)
Another disgraced pastor, Robert Morris of Gateway Church in Texas, was credibly accused of sexually abusing a girl from 12 to 16 years old while traveling as an evangelist in the 1980s. Joni Lamb, president of Daystar Television Network, and her late husband Marcus, allegedly covered up the molestation of their five-year-old granddaughter in 2020. T.D. Jakes has filed lawsuits against young men who accused him of sexual misconduct when they were teenagers.
This doesn’t even scratch the surface. For every “big name” preacher, there are literally dozens of “no name” ministers under investigation, on trial, and doing time for harming children, abusing women, and scamming their congregants.
Fierce Santa Ana winds blew across L.A. County, fueling an inferno that claimed the lives of dozens of people. There are political, scientific, and even ideological explanations for this multi-billion dollar catastrophe. However, like the exposures in the church, the wildfires of California are spiritually motivated. Some in the faith community believe this tragedy was a direct act of judgment from God.
Now, of course we know much evil is conceived and birthed in the 31st State: From Hollywood “couch calls” to sodomy parades in the streets of San Francisco, the West Coast is saturated with demonic perversion. Then, there’s the scene at the Golden Globes a few hours before fires blazed across the hills. Listen below as the rich and famous laugh at their host who openly mocks God and dubs Los Angeles a “godless town.”
JUST JUDGE
If God were to set LA on fire while exposing wickedness in the church, would He not be justified in doing so? As to the question of whether God is judging the United States, my thoughts are as follows:
In Scripture, when the nation of Israel fell into idolatry, child sacrifices, extortion, and corruption, God sent prophets to warn the people. In mercy, He entreated them to repent, be reconciled to Him, and live under the jurisdiction of His perfect law. When the people refused to listen to the prophets, God stirred up His enemies against Israel. His chosen people were raided and carried off to foreign territories. Their properties confiscated, their wives violated, their sons slaves, their virgin daughters maidservants and concubines.
Note: when God judged an individual’s sins directly, He struck them dead.
Americans are not special. God doesn’t hate sin any less because Jesus went to the Cross. We are in a season of mercy like the Israelites and we’re being given time to repent. Fires, natural disasters, exposures—these are all warning signs before the wrath of God breaks upon the shores of the United States. And how does the Creator get through to a society that’s forgotten Him?
His judgment has come in the form of letting tragic situations play out without divine intervention. Think about it. It’s getting harder to live here not knowing if your child will be the next victim of a school shooting, whether you’ll make it home from that morning jog or land safely on the tarmac. Contrary to the doctrine of “happy preachers,” it’s not always in God’s immediate interest to deliver us from the consequences of sin. Human suffering is often the antidote for evil.
So, what should become of the people who make idols out of pastors? Who shed innocent blood for convenience; who seed a multi-billion dollar child rape industry; who worship science and technology; who commit fraud on every level of government? What will it take for sinners and saints to examine the condition of their souls and get right with God?
A nation that forsakes God will not be a nation for long.
“Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.” - Proverbs 14:34
“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom He has chosen as His own inheritance.” - Psalm 33:12