90% of America Believes in God! Good News?

The news is out! Fox News reported today that in spite of the incredible increase in atheistic books that are making the best seller lists, America is still a nation that believes in God. Shouldn't Christians celebrate? I don't think so.

What exactly does it mean to believe in God? Some folks are like Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson. They believed in God, but were deists. They believed in a god that never intervened in the universe. They probably would have been proponents of the new alternative to evolutionary theory, "intelligent design". The seeds of the destruction of the Christian nation concept here in America were sown by the likes of these fellows when they helped pen the Constitution. Make no mistake, the letter that Thomas Jefferson penned to that Bible Society in Connecticut in 1800 was the source of the phrase, "wall of separation between church and state." That phrase has come to haunt those who try to put some context in the interpretation of the First Amendment.

Other god believers are the folks that say they don't attend church, because it's so full of hypocrites. (Yes, indeed it is, in the same way that a hospital is full of icky sick people!) These folks say they can commune with God through nature. That is a nice sentiment, and there may be some backing for that position in Romans Chapter 1 verses 18-25 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

Yes God CAN be known through His creation, but not salvifically. In this passage we can clearly see that those who know God in this way ARE held accountable, but without exception, "suppress the truth in unrighteousness." God's word states clearly that He gives these folks over to their own lusts.

Another group of people that would say they believe in God are the church attenders. Now don't get me wrong. There is nothing wrong with church attendance. In fact the scriptures encourage it in Hebrews 10:25 . . . not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. The problem is the compartmentalized life that some folks are practicing. You know the type. He's yelling at her and the kids on the way to church, gets out of the car an with a broad smile and a firm handshake, it's "amen" and "Jesus loves you" at the door of the sanctuary. On Monday he fashions some way to manipulate some poor soul out of his money in the name of "well that's just good business"!

The last group that believes in God and in fact knows Him better than practically anyone in America are the demons! James 2:19 You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. OK, I know that's not fair! The demons aren't American citizens. (Maybe I ought to comment on the illegal alien problem in another post!)

Allow me to posit this statement. In spite of the Fox News declaration, there are very few that truly believe in the God of the Bible. In light of the James passage above, it's obvious that the belief spoken of in John 3:16 MUST be something different than an acknowledgement of some set a facts about Jesus. (“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.")

I would encourage all of my readers to find out who the God of the Bible is and give your heart and life to Him. I would pray that you NOT fashion a god to worship that you are comfortable with. Frankly, in the end that god can't save you.

His servant,

D. L. Culiver