“Baseball, hotdogs, apple pie, and Chevrolet, they go together in the good ol’ USA!” That jingle first appeared in a television commercial for Chevrolet in the 1970’s. It went on to become an iconic phrase that to many, was descriptive of our American culture. Fifty or so years ago that may have been true as the prevailing culture was patriotism, family, hard work, community, God, and church. Culture is the “shared attitudes, values, goals, behavior, and practices that characterize an institution, country, city, or other group of people.” It is what defines them. American culture today is better defined as entertainment, holidays, sports, disunity, anti-Christian, political upheaval, and anti- authority, none of which is ideal. In Acts 17, Paul was very disturbed by a similar culture that he confronted in Athens. The Grecian culture at that time could be described as one of education, philosophy, and the worship of numerous idols. “Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry” (Acts 17:16). Paul saw a godless people headed into eternity with no hope, and he did something about it. Acts 17:22-34 records the sermon he preached to the people on Mars Hill. The result? “Some joined Him and believed.”
Take time to step back for a moment and take in the culture around you. What do you see, or are you so absorbed in it that you can’t see it! Look closer! It’s not that different from what Paul saw in Athens, people worshipping gods made by hands. Americans worship the gods of sports, entertainment, and every kind of pleasure possible. Can you see it now? Sin is rampant, people are “lovers of self, more than lovers of God,” Christians are conforming instead of transforming, and people all around us are headed to an eternal damnation while we apathetically go on our way. IN GOD WE TRUST is not something we just say, it’s not passive, it’s action oriented. We need to be stirred as Paul was, and tell the world about the true and living God that can satisfy the longing of any heart and soul! We need to fast, we need to pray, and we need to “go and tell.” This world is not our home, so don’t get comfortable in it; make a difference today by voting for Biblical principles, by fasting and praying, and by telling someone about Jesus!
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.” (Romans 1:16)
Are you DISTURBED by what you see around you! Or are you so ABSORBED in it that you don’t see it?
“They that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee. Sing praises to the Lord, which dwelleth in Zion: declare among the people his doings” (Psalms 9:10-11).