The recent Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization essentially reversed Roe v. Wade (1973) and pulled the rug out from under Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992) – but not conclusively. Even so, those who care about people before and after they are born are over-the-moon delirious with JOY! This is an important answer to prayer because it marks the beginning of the end for the anti-Christ spirit in this nation! It is the fist-shaped cloud on the horizon… but, in this case, winning the battle does not win the war.
To understand these times, we need to look at the natural progression of our history with an eye to the spiritual world all around us…
America is a nation that has been founded on Judeo-Christian principles for freedom – from tyranny and for religion. These were the motives of many who came here to settle this land. Yes, some came to get rich by exploiting it – but those with higher motives and God-given courage dedicated it to HIM at Plymouth and at Virginia Beach. As a result, this has been a land that has preached the gospel around the world, sending missionaries and benevolence. America has been associated with the Lord, blessed by Him, and used by Him – because that dedication has been continually reinforced at every crossroad in our history… until recently.
In our rebellion and pride, we have officially denied God through passing laws against His laws and confirming them through Supreme Court decisions. Basically, we have said that God is not welcome in our schools, government, and public sector. These are not “a few missteps;” they are official pronouncements that have chartered a course that has led us away from God’s national blessing and protection. In the process, a great gulf has grown between the nation founded upon God’s Word and God, Himself – and in the gap, the enemy has seduced us.
Our actions have consequences – in the natural world and in the spiritual world. As a nation, when we made God irrelevant to our decisions, we opened the door to a flood of evil, allowing the enemy to rush in with his values and perversions. The abortion issue is just one symptom – but the one we are considering in this blog post.
There are many reasons women feel they need/want abortions – and nothing in this article should suggest that we do not understand their plight or have compassion for their circumstances. Nevertheless, the spiritual ramification of our lifestyles, decisions, and corruption impact our lives spiritually. As a nation, our sexual sins have mixed with our greed to stain our hands with idol worship. As was the case with ancient Israel, we have sinned greatly. Realizing it or not, on the spiritual side of things, our national obsession with abortion (over 63 million since 1973!) has actually been an updated version of worship at the altar of Molech.
In ancient Israel’s day, the worship of Molech involved human sacrifice. Babies were burned alive in the arms of a large hollow statue filled with fire. Called to worship Yahweh, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, they also participated in the “abomination of Ammon” – incurring God’s wrath. (Leviticus 18:21) To God, this was a serious issue (Leviticus 20) and actually remained a problem throughout their history. It was one of the reasons they were expelled from the Promised Land. (1 Kings 11:7; 2 Kings 23:10; Jeremiah 32:35)
Even so, God’s forbearance amazes me, as I consider their history and ours…
After the Revolution, our fledgling nation grew and gained strength. Then, the “great experiment” was sorely tested – but we survived the Civil War. Afterward, we rose in economic power during the Industrial Age and then achieved world power military status after World War 2. As the “guardians of freedom” throughout the world, we continued to do good – but became haughty in the process. Then our proud generation, in the idealistic naiveté of our youth, ushered in unprecedented wickedness with drugs and “free love” in the rebellious 60s. In our zeal to right the wrongs of our fathers, rebellion ruled and we became ripe for anti-Christian ideals. Our capitalism corrupted, we became enamored with the promises of the godless ideologies of socialism and communism – the antitheses of the freedoms we were founded upon! So, we should not be surprised by our current difficulties. We’re reaping what we have sown…
The nagging question is this: Where were GOD’S PEOPLE during this time of social decline?
Even though we experienced great visitation in the 20th Century (Azusa, Healing Revivals, Latter Rain, and the Charismatic Movement), the Church as a whole was strangely silent. We were, however, busy trying to grow… By the 1980s many had swung wide the door to the world in an effort to become “relevant” to our rebellious society. The Church Growth movement had seduced us into imitating the world to win the lost. In the process, many churches became not just “seeker sensitive” but “seeker targeted” – abandoning the movement of God’s Spirit in our midst, discipleship in our ranks, and the equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry. The gospel was watered down to appeal to the masses, and we filled our pews with unconverted converts. In so doing, however, it seems like we may have succumbed to a temptation that Jesus resisted…
Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND HIM ONLY YOU SHALL SERVE.’ “ (Matthew 4:8-10 NKJV)
Instead of God’s magnanimous offer in Psalm 2:8, “ASK OF ME, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance and the ends of the earth for Your possession,” we launched out on our own – “not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase THAT IS FROM GOD.” (Col 2:19 NKJV)
By the 1990s, a virtually decapitated church was marginalized in our society. We discovered that we could “do church” without Him – and we did. In our pride and independence, we became prayerless and jettisoned the fear of God for a greasy grace that tickled the ears. In so doing, we were no longer “the pillar and ground of the truth.” (1Ti 3:15 NKJV) As to be expected, shortly thereafter, we were rejected from the public square. It stands to reason: If the CHURCH didn’t need God, certainly the larger society didn’t either… From my perspective, that was about the time God’s hand of protection began to withdraw, and we have been hurling headlong toward becoming a post-Christian society ever since.
And so, here we are – trapped in our indifference, a lukewarm Church in an apostate nation. And yet, there is an ever-increasing remnant that has not lost their first love! There are passionate people… in twosies and threesies, small groups – and even congregations of them here and there – who have spoken out against Molech and have not bowed the knee to Baal. These are those who have clean hands and pure hearts, who pray and intercede for the Church and this nation.
And in God’s mercy, He has listened! A growing number of God’s people have listened, too, because it is HIS PEOPLE called by HIS NAME who must turn the tide through prayer and repentance. By God’s mercy, more are humbling themselves and praying and seeking His face and parting from their wicked ways. In His mercy, He has not left us without a witness in America! And so, God has begun to answer our prayers. There is a fist-shaped cloud on the horizon in the overthrow of Roe v. Wade!
Oh Father, let it rain! Thank you for the BEGINNING of our national repentance from the horrible sin of idolatry that has brought shame and judgment upon our nation. Please forgive us and cleanse us from all iniquity. Wash the blood from our hands with the Blood of the Lamb!
Lord, teach us to pray – and to play offense when we do: “…The kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.” (Matthew 11:12 NKJV) Send laborers onto your harvest field; enlist the warriors and deploy them into the battle! The anti-Christ spirit has had a BIG STRONGHOLD in our nation. It took nearly 50 years to get this far with our Gideon’s band. (Truly, ALL glory goes to YOU, Jesus!) However now, we need many, many more to press the advantage. Just as there were three waves in the resettlement of the Promised Land after the Diaspora, Lord, we need those who will be part of the next wave to come and build! I can see it now, Lord: The Church in America will become a House of Prayer, according to Isaiah 56:7 and YOUR WORD of prophecy in Matthew 21:13a: “… ‘MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER.'” It must, if we are to be the Church without spot or wrinkle!
Spirit of God, we submit to YOU; lead us onward in the battle! Help us to co-labor with YOU in the spiritual battle to tear down the high places of Molech and overthrow the anti-Christ spirit in this land. Teach us to follow YOU as we pray and accelerate the progress toward godliness in our land. Help us to actually be “one nation UNDER God!” We desperately need YOU to teach us to pray! “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” (Rom 8:26 NKJV)
The reversal of Roe v. Wade is an amazing step in the right direction, not only because it gives us a chance to protect the babies – but also because it has the potential to reverse the spiritual course of a nation in free-fall! Church, this is the time to act, not to rest on our laurels. We dare not make the mistake of many in the past who achieve a degree of success in getting what they pray for – and then stop praying. The fight for the babies is not over; it just moves to the states. That means one fight has now become 50! It also means that the Church in each locality will be responsible for bringing about the victory. The enemy knows his time is short and will pull out all the stops to make sure America stumbles and falls. He is ruthless – but God will give us the victory if we press in to receive it.
