I am neither a prophet nor the son of a prophet. I don’t even play a prophet on TV. And it is certainly not my desire to sound like a Prophet of Doom with this column today. However, I probably will. One only needs to open his eyes to the things transpiring in the world today to see prophecy fulfilling at an exponential rate. As a result, I dare to say that, in my opinion, there is a tsunami of judgment coming upon America. As Hosea 8:7(a)(KJV) says of Israel, “For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind…”. I fear America has done the same. We are living the day spoken of in Isaiah 5:20 when the prophet pronounced “woes” regarding the actions of a people who, “… Call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” America has forgotten the irrevocable law of sowing and reaping declared in Galatians 6:7(KJV), “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” This holds true for nations as well.
How did we get where we are today? It begins with the anemic state of the church! In a sermon in 2013, Pastor James McDonald of Walking in the Word Ministries revealed some shocking statistics. He said, “Of the 250,000 Protestant churches in America, 200,000 are either stagnant (with no growth) or declining. That is 80% of the churches in America and maybe the one you attend, if you attend at all. 4,000 churches close their doors every single year. There is less than half of the number of churches today than there were only 100 years ago. 3,500 people leave the church every single day. Since 1950, there are one third fewer churches in the U.S.” He also went on to state that while Brazil is the number one missionary receiving country in the world, surprisingly, the United States is second. He went on to say, “I believe part of the reason that the church is declining in America is that expository preaching is no longer the rule but the exception. Too many churches are seeker sensitive that try to appeal to the masses to make them solve their everyday problems or try to make their lives happier. This is not the gospel for Christ Himself said that the road is hard and that we will all have to take up our cross and bear it (Luke 9:23). The gospel has been compromised and has been changed from a repentance, confession, and trust in Christ gospel to a feel good, real good, health, wealth, and prosperity gospel. This is not the gospel that Christ or Paul preached but another gospel (2 Cor 11:4).” Interestingly, this past week, in a conversation with Harris Malcolm, I asked if he knew the average age of pastors in Georgia Baptist Convention churches. Harris consulted with the GBC and in a few moments gave me a shocking answer: fifty-nine years of age. Two things immediately became glaring obvious to me: 1) There is a coming tsunami of pastoral retirements on the horizon – and we have not raised up young pastors to take our place. 2) Many of the younger pastors we have raised up don’t share the same Biblical world view as the old guard. It is causing conflict. Instead of fighting satan we are fighting each other. Church folks are dying from either not being fed Spiritually – or from friendly fire!
What are the consequences produced by the anemic church? It has produced a lesbian mayor in Texas wanting to subpoena sermon manuscripts from pastors who spoke out against homosexuality! It has caused prayer to be removed from schools. It has caused homosexual marriage to be legalized in many states. It has caused marijuana to be legalized in many states. It has caused governing bodies to pass laws and ordinances that open the alcohol spigots wider than ever – even on Sunday! It has caused our basic sense of morality and right and wrong to hit rock bottom. And when you couple all of this with a world-wide Ebola pandemic, unbridled terrorism, Americans being beheaded, our government turning its back on Israel, corrupt government, and the demise of the family unit, it is easy to see there is a tsunami of judgment coming! Open your eyes! It is time that our pulpits, churches, and individual Christians find their Christian voice and speak out before it is too late! I hope I’m wrong but don’t think I am!
Bro. Aaron
To schedule Brother Aaron to preach a Sunday service at your church, a revival meeting, or a special event, you may contact him at: 1-800-511-9536, 706-302.9162, or e-mail: freshfire@mindspring.com
