Daniel 2:21 says that God “removes
kings and raises up kings.” Psalm 75:7 says, “God is the Judge: He puts down
one and exalts another.” In Isaiah 45:13, God said of King Cyrus of Persia, “I have raised him up.”
Donald J. Trump was raised up as President of the United States for a specific purpose, which the
American church needs to understand.
Trump was raised up, not to save
America, but to give the American church a window of opportunity to awaken from
its spiritual doldrums and be the instrument of God for cultural change. Unlike
his predecessors, who targeted Bible-believing Christians for harassment and persecution,
Trump has boldly voiced his respect for the Bible and his support for Christians of all denominations.
We must remember, however, that politicians
can change policies and laws but only God can change hearts. If hearts are not changed,
then culture will not be changed. If culture is not changed, then we could immediately
be thrust back into an even worse anti-Christian political climate at the next
election.
The church must, therefore, awaken
and seize this opportune moment that is presented to us by the Trump
administration. It was a sleeping church that allowed our nation to be taken by
radical extremists. Only an awakened church can save America now and I believe
this is her moment to arise.
In John 9:4, Jesus said, I must
work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day. The night is coming when no
man can work. Jesus recognized that
culturally and politically it was an opportune moment that He must maximize. He
realized that changes were coming that would make it difficult or
impossible to accomplish what must be done now.
I believe this is the situation for
the American church with the Trump administration. A window of opportunity has
been given to us, and we must make the most of it. We must seize the moment. We
cannot go on with church as usual.
We can no longer be preoccupied with being
“liked” by contemporary culture. A church that seeks to be “liked” by the culture
can never be the “salt” and “light” that Jesus called us to be in Matthew 5:14.
Only an awakened church can bring about the cultural change that will guarantee
a free and stable country for the next generation.
I am reminded of the 19th
century visitor to America who sought for her greatness in her great commercial
centers, her educational institutions, and her halls of government. Then he
visited the churches of America. It was during the Second Great Awakening and
everything fell into place for him, and he wrote,
Not until I went into the
churches of America and heard her pulpits flame with righteousness did I
understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because America
is good; and if America ever ceases to be good America will cease to be great
(Hyatt, Pilgrims and Patriots – Second Edition, 177).
The American church must awaken and seize this opportune moment that has been given to her. Only an Awakened church, ushering in another Great Awakening, will save America from the malevolent spiritual forces that are seeking to destroy her.
Dr. Eddie Hyatt is an author, Bible teacher and revivalist historian with a passion to see authentic spiritual awakening in the 21st century church. His books, including his just released, The Book that Made America Great, are available from Amazon and his website at http://www.eddiehyatt.com.
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