Jeremiah was a Jewish Prophet chosen by God to share God's message with his fellow countrymen in the 6th Century B.C.E. He was known as the weeping prophet because he was so deeply saddened to see that his fellow Israelites would not heed the word's of God to repent or be overthrown by a foreign power. Slowly but surely Jeremiah watched on as his people ignored God's warnings and warning signs of the coming end and he wept at their demise.

The United States of America has been one of the greatest political experiments in the history of humankind. The fact that power has peacefully passed from president to president over 40 times in more than 230 years is remarkable. And, despite the diversity of cultures and ideals, it has been a minor miracle that the citizens of 50 states have accepted the voice of the ballot box and seen this new country climb from rag tag confederation to the most powerful nation on earth.

Nothing has ever been perfect about America; from the get go there have been inherent contradictions which had to be overcome to make it a more perfect union. One by one wisdom prevailed and the Constitution stood supreme to see slavery abolished, women receive the right to vote, and people of color were allowed to exercise their own right to vote. When challenged by the clamoring swords of tyranny, America's armed forces remained steadfast to protect its great freedoms.

But as has often happened to other grand empires and nations, the people have begun to reject the principles upon which America was founded. The Declaration of Independence claims inalienable rights from the Creator, from God. But now we want to dictate to God what is fair and what isn't; what is acceptable behavior and what is not. As in the days of Noah the citizens go about their daily lives buying and selling; eating and drinking with no reference to God at all. As in the days of Sodom and Gomorrah we celebrate alternative lifestyles and give or not give our children in marriage without reference to God. The Sons of God (those who claim to follow God) are marrying or not marrying whomever they want whenever they want without any thought of God. Sexual relationships are defined by the need of the moment and STDs are rampant throughout the society from mid-teens and up. Like the days of Jeremiah, the people of America have turned their backs on God and his standard and now we are reaping the rewards. One Bible writer wrote: "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; what you sow that you will also reap; for those who sow good they will reap eternal life; for those who sow unrighteousness, they will reap destruction."

Today, August 21, 2009, another denomination of Christian churches became "enlightened" and voted to accept openly practicing gays and lesbians as pastors of congregations. Are not the troubles we see in the country of biblical proportions? Take California for instance; is it not telling that at the same time as gay and lesbian couples are fighting for the right to have the word "marriage" stamped on top of their relationships, the state is enduring its darkest economic hour since the Great Depression? Is it only coincidental that there are little beetles eating away at California's grand forests causing them to become fodder for annual fires reaping increasingly more destruction than the year before. Not too long ago the authorities traded Easter and Christmas break for spring and winter break, but now we want to establish a holiday in the name of Harvey Milk. More and more the people of America are turning their backs on God and his ideals. Jeremiah is weeping in his grave.

It is not just those who do not know God who are ignoring him. A large percentage of those who identify themselves as Christians and disciples of Jesus Christ are settling for the lesser of two evils, if not altogether giving in to the worse of all evils. I confess that I too have fallen prey to this mentality. I have idolized ungodly people like super athletes because of their extraordinary talents. I have gone to Movies that have sex and excessive violence in them, thinking they are not so bad. Like the great empires and societies before us, America is losing its understanding of who God is and what he requires. We are compromising standards because of blind sentimentalism that has decided anything goes as long as it doesn't hurt somebody else.

I am not saying America is not without hope. I am not saying that America is absolutely and totally depraved. There are still many who are genuinely dedicated to God and living for him. There are still many who are benevolent and reaching out to their neighbors with God's unconditional love. But, the rest of us need to turn around or this experiment is going to end and Jeremiah is not going to be the only one weeping in his grave.

Repent America!

These were Jesus first recorded words of his public ministry. "Repent for the kingdom of heaven is near." Repent means to turnaround and go the other way. It means to turn back to God and his ways. Don't interpret this as meaning that God is a killjoy. Jesus came to give you and I an abundant life. He wants the absolute best for each man, woman, and child on the earth. Jesus himself said he did not come to condemn the world but to save it.