Yesterday morning a radio station news program reported that another person has filed with the courts to have the Ten Commandments removed from a piece of public property. Last week I heard that a baseball team’s Chaplin was dismissed for proclaiming that Jesus is the only way. “‘Behold, the days are coming,’ says the Lord GOD, ‘that I will send a famine on the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD'” (Amos 8:11).

Some American’s claim that they do not want to be faced with the Word of God. But what are we faced with everyday: abortion clinics in our neighborhoods – marches in our cities to proclaim that every lifestyle has a right to exist, except Christianity – government ran or legalized gambling in almost every if not every state in the union – Church ran gambling – too many unwed mothers and fatherless children – politically correct laws based on the lusts of mankind – it goes on and on. “‘Behold, the days are coming,’ says the Lord GOD, ‘that I will send a famine on the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD'” (Amos 8:11).

We hear about and witness the earth in uproar. Around the world, hurricanes and earthquakes have killed thousands of people in the last couple months. We hear about nations and large companies donating millions to assist and rebuild. Individuals join together to raise funds, food and clothes. It is a good thing, but what about the widow and the fatherless in our own neighborhood? What about the wounded and sick in our own hometown? I know of a women from Australia, that lives in Indiana with her husband, being treated for cancer. She is going back to Australia because our country and corporate America considers her a burden. The women’s clothing store, she works for, paraded her around in public banishing pick ribbons and then one week later told her she was being demoted if she couldn’t work more hours. Our government told her she hadn’t been living in the USA long enough to get assistance. “Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me’” (Matthew 24:45).

If the USA is still a Christian country, it is just barely holding on. It is time for the Christian to stand up in the power of the Holy Spirit and pray. Go into the neighborhoods and pray, but that is just the beginning. It is time for the community churches to start being an active part of the community. “And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me’” (Matthew 25:40). “‘Behold, the days are coming,’ says the Lord GOD, ‘that I will send a famine on the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD'” (Amos 8:11). Is it because the Christian is not praying and not ministering to the world in our own back yard?

© 2006, Tim D. Coulter Sr.