American culture is in moral decay as it drifts more to the left, many Christians say. But the demise of the country is not at the hands of nonbelievers or anti-Christians, says one conservative leader. It's at the hands of Christians who fail to be Christians.
"Christians have lost their vision of truly being a nation under God ... that God is interested in using them to change anything," said David Crowe, executive director of Restore America. "We're apathetic. We love the world more than we should. And we don't love God enough."
Crowe opened the 3rd Annual Restore America Conference Friday in Tualatin, Ore., with some 500 people. He and a lineup of speakers will inform fellow believers about the "culture war" they're in and how they can step up as Christians to restore the nation under God.
"We need to stand up for what God says and not compromise with what the world says. We need to fear God and not fear man," Crowe stressed.
The ministry leader believes Christians are running away from the truth of God's word and accepting compromises because it's palatable.
"We fail to shine the light and allow the other side to prevail with darkness," Crowe said bluntly.
One way to shine the light is to vote.
Crowe called voting a fundamental responsibility for Christians. But many are not taking it seriously and not heading to the ballots. He says out of 52 million voter eligible evangelical Christians in America, only 33 million voted in the 2004 General Election. In 2006, only 20 million voted.
"We folded our arms and [now say] we're unhappy with the Republicans and nothing's happening the way we wanted," said Crowe. "We folded our arms and said we'll send them a message. We sent them a message alright – we allowed the other side to take complete control of the House and the Senate."
So when it's time to point fingers when the country's political leaders and courts make decisions that do not reflect a moral standard, the blame falls on the large absence of Christian voters from the voting booths.
Crowe's comments come as more Christian groups are urging pastors to speak up on biblical and moral issues such as traditional marriage and to encourage congregants to vote. While pastors cannot tell congregants how to vote, they are able to personally endorse candidates and present overviews of candidate positions, according to Christian legal group Liberty Counsel.
"If we would simply mobilize our votes and stand for fundamental principles, we would dominate who gets elected to office," Crowe insisted. "So when I say it's the Christians who are the problem, that's exactly what I mean by not voting."
As conservative Christians this year face a tough road in deciding the next U.S. president – given that many are unhappy with the likely Republican nominee, Sen. John McCain – Crowe's advice to Christians is to apply biblical principles in terms of social and moral when evaluating candidates and issues.
Another piece of advice he offers is to “vote for the lesser of two evils."
“It’s better off [to do that],” he said, regarding the dilemma many face between voting for McCain or the current Democratic candidates or sitting out the election altogether.
His messages are viewed as radical, Crowe acknowledged, but he says more are encouraged by it.
"It's not a matter of what man thinks, but what God thinks," he said. "If we would believe God and do what we're supposed to do, God would be with us and we would prevail."
Comments
seedplanter "Al-Qaeda is being demolished there in Iraq. "
they weren't in Iraq prior to US invasion. Now they are and will be when the US eventually pulls out of the worst foreign policy mistake in US history. US is a war mongering nations, got to keep that military-industrial complex going as President Eisenhower warned against almost 50 years ago.
seedplanter "They do not want their sacrifice to have been in vain."
about 58,000 US troops killed in Vietnam, now another debacle in Iraq, too bad the US doesn't learn from its past. I suppose when a country maintains a huge military, they have to use it somewhere.
SheQuon,
While I do sympathize with your comment in the aspect of personally having two longstanding friends in the military and not taking pleasure in their brush with death, what is missing in this is the plight of the Iraqis. When my friend drove from city to city parades followed them wherever they went. The crowds loved them and cheered their presence. These things are all lost in the media. The last time I heard of killings was when a bomb blew up some Iraqi policemen a month or so ago. Al-Qaeda is being demolished there in Iraq. This is a battle front. I suppose you would rather the battle be in your front yard? The men who have served want more than anything for the project to be completed. They do not want their sacrifice to have been in vain.
Eight years of George W Bush, who profess to be a christian, destroyed this great nation. Yes, freedom, free to do whatever W Bush, wants. That is why america is ruled by men & not by laws. And Pat Robertson has sin of commission for supporting, defending, & preserving this 'president'.
Lord Acton said it. Henri Nouwen tells how he early on got involved with a "ministry" which was gaining power. Soon he discovered that their power was just like secular power.
Also, where are--apart from the overused "salt and light" text--the commands to Christianize the culture?
Right on....now let's go get Mike into office!
Mikehow...
While I agree with you that all sides have some owning up to do, you made some errors. The Bible actually does not say that the love of money is the root of all evil, it literally says something along the lines of, "The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil", surely loving money doesn't cause us to be sexually immoral. Also you are thinking of the quote, "Absolute power corrupts absolutely" (I forget who said it, winston churchhill maybe???)
You also said,
"that it is only thru fellowship in christ, in the sharing our relationship with christ with each other, that our "i" center is transposed by "christ" being our center."
Right, so "you" believe that this is right...
what you are really saying is.............ITS NOT A MATTER OF WHAT MAN THINKS, BUT IWHAT I THINK GOD THINKS.
feet,
the statement "I believe" is not based upon I but upon the belief. For instance, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven" Is not based upon me, but is based upon God and what He said. You accuse me and other Christians of being "I" centered, hatemongoring, divisive and so on, but you do the exact same thing, you say "I believe..." What you are not thinking about is that faith in Christ, is based upon faith in Christ, not me or you. You do not get to decide what is truth, you have to accept or reject what is truth. The Church is called to be unified, but not on a lie, but the Truth of God. Paul says in 1 Corinthians Chapter 5:
"It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that does not occur even among pagans: A man has his father's wife. And you are proud! Shouldn't you rather have been filled with grief and have put out of your fellowship the man who did this? Even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. And I have already passed judgment on the one who did this, just as if I were present. When you are assembled in the name of our Lord Jesus and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, hand this man over to Satan, so that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord."
And,
"But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat."
Now you can argue with God, but your complaint is not with me.
Folks, it's too bad we as a people are so forgetful. We aren't going to get the leader we need, we're going to get the leader we deserve. We had our choice between three elitist liars and a pastor, and it seems we'd rather have an elitist liar. We shall reap what we've sown.
"It's not a matter of what man thinks, but what God thinks," he said. "If we would believe God and do what we're supposed to do, God would be with us and we would prevail."
what he is really saying.............ITS NOT A MATTER OF WHAT MAN THINKS, BUT IWHAT I THINK GOD THINKS.
consider........... that what one believes........i believe this, i dont believe that IS ALL CENTERED ON THE CONCEPT OF "I"
that it is only thru fellowship in christ, in the sharing our relationship with christ with each other, that our "i" center is transposed by "christ" being our center.
that is why it is written ..........."if we walk in the light as he walks in the light we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of christ purifies us from all sin."
if we walk in christ we live in fellowship.
in fellowship the blood of christ covers us and protects us from all sin.
how is it that, let alone fellowship with non believers, we treat fellow believers with whom we share the same inheritance with so much distain and accusation, throw labels at each other with impunity and total disregard.
romans 12:9 "Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. "
how is it that as believers we think we can achieve those things of the spirit by stepping outside of the spirit. we disrespect each other and each others life experiences that have led each of us to the place of our present understanding.
yes the church is suffering. it is suffering because having had to face conflict its members have resorted to the same practices as non believers and much worse.
jesus said all truth would come thru the holy spirit. if 1 john1 is right our access to the truth is thru fellowship.
is the truth, in spite of all we know in christ.................................. we love our discord, name calling, labeling, accusation, division, and distrust. ...........we love it.
I agree on the "lesser of two eveils" point. And I cannot think of anything More evil than planning to continue the death toll of war for "maybe 100" more years.
It's not about the party a candidate comes; it's about the person and how they show themselves to God people. We are suppose to follow example. How can we have a book of Kings and not be about to find a leader. God shows us characters of people to follow, and those we should not. But Christians want to says I cannot decide on who to vote for. So God has left us with out an answer...I think not. God always leads His people setting the example. If Jesus followed the example, who are we that we should not? Let us not be like Israel in 1st Samuel and they rejected God.
matt3297,
Thank God for your conversion. Itotally agree with you and your comments remind me of the atheist scientist that commited his life to taking the Bible and his scientific studies to prove there was no God. After 20 years at this attempt he himself was converted to Christianity as he had set to prove that God did not exist but in the end actually proved he did. Goods words my brother. Thanks
"Isaac Asimov once said: “The bible, properly read, is the finest proponent of atheism ever devised,” and he was right."
Like I said, I used to be an atheist, and no one used more "critical thinking" and set oneself up against Scripture more than I, but I found that as a member of the secular fundamentalist left I was more steeped in denial than any Christian I've ever met.