The Face of Moralism

What will it take for America to see and experience a revival?  Or any nation for that matter? 

How you answer that question determines whether or not you are a moralist or gospel-centered. 

Every day I get emails or read articles from well-meaning Christians that say we need to get God back in America.  Of course what they mean by that is that we need to get pray back in our schools.  Let’s not let those liberal rascals take God out of schools—besides that’s why schools are getting shot up.  The reason that our government is becoming increasingly corrupt is because the 10 Commandments are not on the front lawn.  We’ve taken God out of the courtroom.  We need to repent as a nation and get God back on our side.

Add to this the abominable sins of abortion, homosexuality, and pornography.  If we get rid of these atrocities then we will be in a position to receive revival.  If that is your vision of revival then you have missed the gospel. 

Did you realize that this statement, “You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell?”, was leveled against a people that did everything we just described?  The Pharisees held the 10 commandments in high regard, they taught prayer, they fought against abortion, homosexuality, and a ton of other vices such as pornography.  So, if that is your vision for taking back America for God then it’s a vision that God Himself considers an abomination. 

Please do not misunderstand me.  God is not pro-abortion, His view of human sexuality has not changed, He still hates pornography, He upholds the 10 Commandments, and loves to hear the prayer of His people.  That’s not the point. 

The point is that God is in the business of “ransoming people for Himself from every tribe and language and people and nation” through Jesus.  And as He ransoms people He (not we), “make them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”  He is not in the business of simply making us better people. 

So, I ask do you stake the hope for America on our moralism and response to the Law?  Or do you stake the hope for America on the gospel of Jesus Christ that rescues, redeems, and restores gays, lesbians, porn-addicts, mothers that have had abortions, unrighteous judges, corrupt politicians, and even moralists? 

When I talk about moralistic therapeutic deism in the coming days this is in part what I am talking about.