What Happens When Nations Forget God? - podcast episode cover

What Happens When Nations Forget God?

Jan 03, 202328 min
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Episode description

Western culture is changing radically and rapidly. Collective belief in the God of the Bible is clearly waning as shown in numerous surveys. Don Feder, in a March 29, 2022 Washington Times opinion piece, wrote: The study by the prestigious American Enterprise Institute--“Generation Z and the future of faith in America” (released on March 24)--shows a steady erosion of religious affiliation and the corresponding rise of atheism and agnosticism. (“The fatal fall of religion in America will affect everything,” The Washington Times, March 29, 2022). Some may wonder whether this trend is harmful to our modern nations, but Feder warned: This just-published survey of the decline of religion in America should set off alarm bells in our heads. The growth of secularism is one more cause for anxiety about the future of our republic. What happens to individuals and nations when they forget their Creator? I’ll explore that question on today’s Tomorrow’s World program, and I’ll also be offering you an absolutely free resource, Acts of God: Why Natural Disasters? There have always been what we call “natural disasters,” but it seems that in the last few years we have experienced more than normal. The western United States has been in what is called “exceptional drought” for several years. The town of Lytton, British Columbia in Canada saw an unbelievable high temperature of 49.6 Celsius--that’s 121.3 degrees Fahrenheit--in June 2021. And Australia has suffered through alternating droughts and floods for several years. Is this all a matter of coincidence? Or is there more to it? Is God perhaps trying to get our attention? Acts of God: Why Natural Disasters? brings clarity to this question, and it can be yours free of charge. The decline of Christianity in the United States, Britain, Canada, Australia, Europe, and elsewhere should, as Feder warned, set off warning bells and I’ll show you why.

Transcript

♪♪♪

Gerald Weston

Western culture is changing radically and rapidly. Collective belief in the God of the Bible is clearly waning, as shown in numerous surveys. Don Feder in a March 29, 2022, "Washington Times" opinion piece wrote, "The study by the prestigious American Enterprise Institute titled 'Generation Z and the future of faith in America,' which was released on March the 24th, shows a steady erosion of religious affiliation and the corresponding rise of atheism and agnosticism."

Some may question whether this trend is harmful to our modern nations, but Feder warned this "just-published survey of the decline of religion in America should set off alarm bells in our heads. The growth of secularism is one more cause for anxiety about the future of our republic." What happens when nations forget God?

I'll explore that question on today's "Tomorrow's World" program, and I'll also be offering you an absolutely free resource, "Acts of God: Why Natural Disasters?" There have always been what we call natural disasters, but it seems that in the last few years we have experienced more than normal. The western United States has been in what is called exceptional drought for several years. The town of Lytton, British Columbia, in Canada saw an unbelievably high temperature of 49.6 degree Celsius.

That's 121.3 degrees Fahrenheit in June of 2021, and that's in Canada. And Australia has suffered through alternating droughts and floods for several years. Is this all a matter of coincidence, or is there more to it? Is God perhaps trying to get our attention? "Acts of God: Why Natural Disasters?" brings clarity to this question, and it can be yours free of charge.

The decline of Christianity in the United States, Britain, Canada, Australia, Europe, and elsewhere should, as Feder warned, set off alarm bells, and I'll show you why, so stay with me. ♪♪♪ A warm welcome to all of you from "Tomorrow's World," where today I'm discussing what happens when nations forget God. That our Western nations have become less religious and more secular is without doubt.

As Don Feder pointed out in "The Washington Times," "Generation Z, those born between 1997 and 2012, is the least religious in our history." And it's not only the United States. The United Kingdom has been on a long slide away from God for decades. A Religious Media Centre online briefing discussed the early findings of the 2021 census.

"In the UK, the panelists expected that the results of the 2021 Census, which are due to be published in the spring, would show 'significant changes.'" Those significant changes include a decline in religious interest, but panelists pointed out that the decline is not even across the board. According to Bishop Mike Royal, "In many communities," he said, "religion was more important than ever. Sixty per cent of people in church in London, on any given Sunday, were black.

There was a 'huge explosion' of black-majority black-led churches and the Nigerian-led Redeemed Christian Church of God was the fastest growing denomination in the UK." According to this same source, the census is expected to show the following changes over the last decade.

"In 2011, the census showed 59 per cent said they were Christian, 25 per cent no religion, and 5 per cent Muslim," but in 2021, "it is widely expected that the number identifying as Christian may dip below 50 per cent and the number ticking the non-religious box will rise." Overall, whether the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia, Canada, or the United States, secularism is on the rise, and religious, especially organized Christian religion, is in decline.

Some think this is a good thing, and the idea is not new. Remember "Imagine," the popular John Lennon song, which is now more than 50 years old? Lists vary, but according to rateyourmusic.com "Imagine" was the number one song of the 20th century. "Imagine there's no heaven. It's easy if you try. No hell below us. Above us only sky. Imagine all the people living for today."

Well, we hardly have to imagine anymore, as each generation seems to outdo the last when it comes to casting off belief in God and living only for today. "Imagine there's no countries. It isn't hard to do. Nothing to kill or die for and no religion too. Imagine all the people living life in peace." Again, it's not hard to imagine because this is becoming more the normal, except for the part about living life in peace.

There's more sentimental foolishness in John Lennon and Yoko Ono's "Imagine," but I think we get the point. While dreamers imagine no religion, the ultimate target of many is the God of the Bible, no God, no afterlife, no hope beyond the grave.

Just live for today and somehow that will bring peace and happiness to all, and don't you just love that line in the song about "Imagine no possessions," coming from one whose net worth, according to celebritynetworth.com, was estimated to be $200 million at the time of his death in 1980? And apparently, Yoko Ono, whose net worth exceeds $700 million, co-wrote "Imagine." Neither were hardly without possessions.

While others dream about a world without God, thinking individuals might well ask, "Is our world getting better or worse as we cast aside our Creator?" The answer is all around us. Crime is skyrocketing in major cities. Freedoms are being infringed upon. There's a major war in continental Europe, one that some fear could once again engulf the continent and the world. China and the West are increasingly at odds. Iran is working on a nuclear weapon. Governments are failing.

Economies are in shambles. Inflation, broken supply chains, empty store shelves, and electrical blackouts are becoming a way of life in some parts of the world. Do you, my friends, feel safer and more prosperous today than you did five years ago?

We'll look at the answer to that question in a moment, but first, I wanna tell you about a resource that can be yours free for the asking, "Acts of God: Why Natural Disaster?" Much of the Western United States has suffered multiple years of exceptional drought. Europe saw a record-high temperature this past summer, and parts of America and Australia have suffered record-breaking floods. Is this the result of man-made climate change, or is there something else at work?

The Bible long ago predicted what would happen to nations who forsake the only true God, embrace heathen ideas, and forget the source of their blessings. So if you'd like to know more about what the Bible says about your future, order your free copy of "Acts of God: Why Natural Disaster?" And when I come back after this short break, we'll look at what happens when nations forget their Creator.

male announcer

For today's free offer, call... or go to TWTV.org/Disasters. This clear and straightforward resource will help you understand this vital truth straight from the pages of the Bible. If you're calling for the first time, you will also receive a free annual subscription to "Tomorrow's World" magazine. Ten inspiring issues discussing news, science and modern culture will help you make sense of your world from a biblical perspective.

Call today and join millions around the world who are turning to "Tomorrow's World" for truth, prophecy, and hope in these confusing times. Call now, or go to TWTV.org/Disasters.

Gerald Weston

Today we're exploring the question of what happens when nations forget and reject their Creator. Malachi, the last book in the Old Testament of the Bible, is an interesting study in self-deception. When confronted about their behaviors, the people responded cynically. For example, he charged them with despising his name, and their response, "In what way have we despised Your name?" God's answer is direct. They were not showing him proper honor and respect.

Kind of like today where people go to church services just as they are. Even in dress, they show less respect for God than they do in the presence of human dignitaries and celebrities. Just as in Malachi's day, people today worship God half-heartedly. God also indicted them for covering his altar with tears and sorrow, but they responded, "For what reason?" God's answer, "Because the LORD has been witness between you and the wife of your youth, with whom you have dealt treacherously.

For the LORD God of Israel says that He hates divorce." God commanded them to return to him, but they responded, "In what way shall we return?" His answer came with a simple question and an explanation. "Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, 'In what way have we robbed you?'" And God's answer, "In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed Me, even this whole nation." Tragically, our Western so-called Christian nations are no different.

Rather than man up for forgetting our Creator, we reject his very existence. Even those who profess to know him have ready excuses why they don't need to obey him. As it was in Jesus's day, so it is today. "But why do you call Me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do the things which I say?" That's from Luke the 6th chapter and verse 46. Let's forget the excuses and take a hard look at our Western nations. We can start with the indictment God gave through Malachi, treachery against one's married partner.

The state of marriage today is disgraceful. Whether it's the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, or other British-descended nations, the overall picture of marriage is one of betrayal. According to FinancesOnline, the three leading causes of divorce in the United States are lack of commitment, 75%; infidelity or extramarital affairs, 59.6%; too much conflict or arguing, 57.5%. The following behaviors also play into the demise of marriages.

Almost 50% of couples with one alcoholic partner end up divorcing. Couples who have been living together prior to marriage face a 40% increase in the likelihood of divorce, and 56% of couples cited addiction to pornography as a contributor to divorce. What is the common denominator in all these causes for failure? The violation of God's laws. And what's the effect? Pain, heartache, and confused and hurting children.

The American and British-descended peoples have come to prominence in the last two centuries. There's far more to this story than most realize, but here's the point. Consider where we were 150 years ago and where we are today. Our nations have come to enjoy unparalleled prosperity. We once were nations that professed belief in God, the God of the Bible, not that we were ever truly righteous nations, but we at least had a consciousness of God.

Whatever our relationship was before with him, it has fallen dramatically. In this light, is not the warning God gave ancient Israel appropriate for the American and British-descended peoples?

"When you have eaten and are full, beware that you do not forget the LORD your God by not keeping His commandments, His judgments, and His statutes which I command you today, lest--when you have eaten and are full and have built beautiful houses and dwell in them; and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and your gold are multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied; when your heart is lifted up, and you forget the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of

Egypt from the house of bondage." God has much more to say about those who forget him, and in the next portion of the program, we'll see why God would use unprecedented natural disasters to gain our attention, and that's why we're offering you our free resource, "Acts of God: Why Natural Disasters?" God sometimes uses weather, volcanoes, and other natural means to humble us and bring us back to reality.

This resource mentions past disasters such as the Noachian flood, the destructions of Sodom and Gomorrah, and other plagues and famines to deal with rebellious mankind. "Acts of God: Why Natural Disasters?" also shows what the Bible says about our future, and it can be yours free for the asking.

So pick up the phone and call the number on your screen, or go to TWTV.org/Disasters, and when I come back in 15 seconds, I'll show you why God will use unprecedented natural disasters to gain our attention because we have forgotten him.

announcer

This clear and straightforward resource will help you understand this vital truth straight from the pages of the Bible. Call now, or go to TWTV.org/Disasters.

Gerald Weston

On today's "Tomorrow's World" program, I'm showing you what the Bible reveals about the future for those who forget their God.

America, Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand were once considered Christian nations, not that they ever truly followed the God of the Bible, but there was at least a token effort on the part of most, and there were and still are many very sincere people, even if deceived, who strive to live in harmony with God, but our world has changed dramatically in the last several years.

What a sad state of affairs when a nominee to the United States Supreme Court could not answer a simple question during her confirmation hearing. Here's the short exchange between Senator Blackburn and Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson. Marsha Blackburn: Can you provide a definition for the word "woman"?

Ketanji Jackson

Can I provide a definition? No, I can't.

Marsha Blackburn

You can't?

Ketanji Jackson

Not in this context, no. I'm not a biologist.

Marsha Blackburn

The meaning of the world "woman" is so unclear and controversial that you can't give me a definition?

Gerald Weston

That, dear friends, is how far we have strayed from reality. Why? Many fail to realize that it is biblical values that are under attack, and I must agree with outspoken Piers Morgan, who called Judge Jackson's response ridiculous. How can you have women's rights when you cannot determine what is a woman? I'm personally at a loss for words to describe the insanity afflicting our nations.

Women, whatever they are, must compete in sports against men, whatever they are, who think they're, well, I think you get the point, and they use the same locker rooms. Mothers take their toddlers to libraries where drag queens read stories to them. Man, woman, mother, father, husband, wife-- all these terms are under attack.

Universities and businesses require students and employees to refer to others by a list of preferred pronouns, the length of which is so long that only a memory expert could remember them all. Cancel culture is reserved for any who refuse to enter a person's delusions and fantasy world. The insensitive are sometimes required to go to the corporate gulags for sensitivity training. This is America, Canada, and Australia, countries whose citizens are increasingly rejecting the God who created them.

The degree to which biblical norms of male and female are being rejected is shocking, but this was predicted long ago. Jesus tells us in Luke the 17th chapter, beginning in verse 26, "And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man. Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone form heaven and destroyed them all.

Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed." The days of Noah are summed up in Genesis the 6th chapter. Notice what it says in verse 5. "Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." We read in verse 11 the result of man's wickedness, "And the earth was filled with violence." The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were known for gross sexual immortality.

God inspired the apostle Paul to record for all time the consequences of man rejecting his creator. After explaining this rejection, the suppression of truth, he explains, "And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness."

Paul also warns those who "Approve of those who practice them," that is, these ungodly behaviors that he mentioned. These are the one who cowardly go along with this foolishness. Sadly, corporations and individuals are only too eager to jump on the bandwagon, but the consequences of our forgetting our Creator will be catastrophic. Jesus warned that the world would come to the brink of universal destruction, noted in Matthew the 24th chapter, beginning in verse 21.

"For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened." We've read this passage many times on this program, but do we really get it? Do we understand what it is saying? Do we understand the consequences of our behaviors?

I'm going to take a short break to give you an opportunity to take down our contact information to order our free resource "Acts of God: Why Natural Disasters?" before giving you more specifics from the Bible of what is ahead because our nations are rejecting our Creator. Some of the consequences involve weather, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and other natural disasters on a scale and frequency never known by man. All of this is recorded in the Bible for the end of the age.

The warnings have been there for anyone willing to open the Bible and read it. "Acts of God: Why Natural Disasters?" brings clarity to what we see, what we see now, and what is in our future, and it can be yours free of charge. It has already been paid for by members of the Living Church of God and our co-workers.

So pick up the phone or go to our website TWTV.org/Disasters and order your free copy today, and when I come back, I'll give you more specifics of what to expect in the very near future.

announcer

For today's free offer, call... or go to TWTV.org/Disasters. This clear and straightforward resource will help you understand this vital truth straight from the pages of the Bible. If you're calling for the first time, you will also receive a free annual subscription to "Tomorrow's World" magazine. Ten inspiring issues discussing news, science and modern culture will help you make sense of your world from a biblical perspective.

Call today and join millions around the world who are turning to "Tomorrow's World" for truth, prophecy, and hope in these confusing times. Call now, or go to TWTV.org/Disasters.

Gerald Weston

What happens when people forget God and reject his commands? I've touched on this question in the previous portions of this program, but let's look at more specifics as recorded in the Bible. When people no longer understand the difference between male and female and when every intent of the thoughts of their hearts are only evil continually, disaster is on the way.

Life for those of us living today in Western nations is better physically than at any time in the history of man, but God gave this warning to ancient Israel when they would experience a similar time.

"Beware that you do not forget the LORD your God by not keeping His commandments, lest--when you have eaten and are full, and have built beautiful houses and dwell in them; and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and your gold are multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied; when your heart is lifted up, and you forget the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt from the house of bondage."

He goes on to warn against thinking we have all these blessings because of our own doing. "When you say in your heart, 'My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.' And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.

Then it shall be, if you by any means forget the LORD your God, and follow other gods, and serve them and worship them, I testify against you this day that you shall surely perish." God promises people good weather, power against enemies, the fruitful womb, and so much more if they would obey him, but notice the flip side to this in Leviticus 26, beginning in verse 19. "I will break the pride of your power; I will make your heavens like iron and your earth like bronze.

And your strength shall be spent in vain; for your land shall not yield its produce, nor shall the trees of the land yield their fruit." Yes, among other consequences, natural disasters such as severe, exceptional drought would be the result, and as the prophet Amos explained in how God dealt with his people at an earlier time, rainfall would not be equal--just as we see some areas today suffering massive flooding, while other areas have no rain.

"I also withheld rain from you, when there were still three months to the harvest. I made it rain on one city, I withheld rain from another city. One part was rained upon, and where it did not rain the part withered." God gives us a choice, and we will live by the consequences of our choices. Sadly, only after we suffer the results of our bad choices will we turn to God.

This is spelled out in Deuteronomy the 4th chapter, but notice that it's not for ancient Israel alone but for the nations God has blessed in the latter day at the end of the age. Begin with verse 26. "I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that you will soon utterly perish from the land which you cross over the Jordan to possess; you will not prolong your days in it, but will be utterly destroyed.

But from there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul. When you are in distress, and all these things come upon you in the latter days, when you turn to the LORD your God and obey His voice, He will not utterly forsake you nor destroy you." Be sure to order your free copy of "Acts

of God

Why Natural Disasters?" And if the line is busy, wait five or ten minutes and try again. This eye-opening resource explains from the pages of the Bible what to expect in the years ahead, and be sure to come back next week when Richard Ames, Wallace Smith, Rod McNair and I will share with you the revelation of Jesus Christ, the good news of the coming kingdom of God, and the exciting end-time prophecies and their meaning.

announcer

For today's free offer, call... or go to TWTV.org/Disasters. Call today and join millions around the world who are turning to "Tomorrow's World" for truth, prophecy, and hope in these confusing times. The preceding program is produced by the Living Church of God.

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