America…A Nation Splitting Apart
A Prophetic Word On Missions
By George J. Matranga
“The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.” Ps 9:17
“Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD: and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.” Ps 33:12“Touch down America,” I whispered as I raised my hands and praised Jesus when our plane landed in San Francisco. The mission overseas was accomplished and we were back home safe in America. The velocity of our trip had changed drastically at the outbreak of war in the gulf. This prompted the American Embassy in Bangkok to issue a warning for all Americans to stay off the streets and remain indoors due to terrorist threats.
Now that I was in the comfort zone of America I wanted to relax and evaluate all that had transpired. But deep inside there was a restlessness churning that seemed to expose a false sense of security. I was troubled because my own country was now at war and…separated from God! I knew I had to get alone and pray. I spent about four days on the “mountain” with the Lord. I received a fresh anointing that enabled me to put into perspective all we had undergone while in Southeast Asia.
I recall how I felt on the journey from Saigon’s (Ho Chi Minh City) airport when a huge billboard for Vietnam tourism caught my eye. Vivid reminders played back as I walked through the crowded market places discovering posters of American rock stars. These were signs of American influence on an assailable nation. Vietnam is a hard line Communist country and one of the most impoverished third world countries. The proverbial bait of commercialism and materialism has now hooked a country steeped in idolatry, Buddhism, and ancestral worship. If I was to title the scenario, I would call it “The Fatal Attraction.”
Yet, in the midst of what’s brewing on the surface there is a mighty moving of God’s Spirit among the fellowship of the underground church. Although we had to stealthily sneak out at night, our gathering together was awesome, like a family reunion. Our team was humbled in their presence and these persecuted saints were encouraged by our coming.
After being home for only a few weeks, it was clear to me that as a nation, we are gravitating to a “statist” existence. Vietnam is a Socialist Republic; the established churches – state registered and state controlled – are governed by a religious committee. This communist People’s committee, laced with Marxist thought, regulates what can and cannot be preached from its pulpits. Teaching about the kingdom of God and Jesus, the soon coming king, is prohibited in the established churches. The Bible is a threat to communism. Communists believe that the state has arrived and is king. Those that believe in the Biblical doctrine of Christ are forced to meet underground.
America is spliting apart. The same Marxist leaven of “privatized” religion – keeping God in church and under control – has permeated American society. Our country is off its moral and ethical equilibrium. We appear as a powerful nation having it “together” but in actuality we are spinning out of control. Astronomical statistics in the rise of violence, murder, rape, homosexuality, abortion, drugs, suicide, the occult and sexually transmitted diseases cease to be regarded as valid proof that this nation is out of touch with God. Our national conscience is seared!
“Americanism”, the right to fully express oneself in whatever way one feels is right, is succeeding at mangling the skeletal structure of all normality. This “freedom of expression” is only a misnomer for anarchy (freedom without restrictions and liberty without sanctions). America, once one nation under God, is now many nations serving many gods. A Holy God dethroned for the gods of money and pleasure. We’ve become a syncretic society – a pool of every philosophical thought – a vapid morass of religiosity void of moral absolutes. Why? Because we’ve rejected God’s eternal truths and have adopted our own.
While in communist Vietnam and faced with the threat of danger in Thailand, I coveted the safe and secure canopy of America. But soon after arrival this utopian dream faded into reality. We have degenerated into a culture where rebels are role models and godliness is mocked. Pornography is called “art” and the government funds it. A nation “prays” for peace but outlaws God from its schools. People can be “As Nasty as They Wanna Be,” and society is no longer shocked or ashamed.
In like manner, the nation of Israel also turned from the one true God and split apart. God called Nehemiah to rebuild the broken wall of Jerusalem and to reconstruct its political framework. A great moral and social revival ensued and the Israelites took upon themselves a curse and an oath to walk in God’s law. They were then resettled in Jerusalem and its wall rededicated with much rejoicing. Then Nehemiah left Jerusalem for a season to return to his duties in Babylon. In his absence, the people of God once again fell into corruption: making truces with their enemies, forsaking the house of God, profaning the Sabbath, and marrying pagan women. Can you imagine how Nehemiah must have felt returning to Jerusalem and finding the remnant of God’s people on the verge of total ruin? I can imagine just how he felt after returning home to the U. S. from a godless heathen culture. When Nehemiah pulled out of the social and governmental ranks the people repeated the same fatal mistakes as did their forefathers. They forgot their oath to God. When Christians abandon their social and governmental influences within society they leave it to the godless. How easily they forget their original constitution as their wall of protection. History then repeats itself and the demise of a civilization begins.
God is calling Nehemiahs today, godly men and women of integrity, who are laying down their lives, careers and ambitions to rebuild this nation’s wall of true liberty? This is the hour for the young Joshua’s to lead God’s army in the next millennium?
While in the city of My Tho, Vietnam, I learned something very interesting from an American soldier who was there when it was overtaken. He shared with me that it was the only city during the entire war that was taken by the old World War II conventional warfare method – block by block, house by house. My Tho was not won by a military blitz campaign and firefights. Similarly, as far as America has fallen, we cannot expect to win this nation back by a gospel blitz campaign. But, by the old conventional way, one household at a time.
We are called to go into all the world…the world of America and beyond. “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15 KJV The world is our planet – the globe of nations, peoples, lands, and cultures. The world is each one’s own sphere of influence – your arena of activity. Every Christian may not be called to go around the world. But, if every Christian in America impacts their world then we could win back America one house at a time.
The gospel of Jesus Christ made America great…nothing else! Originally, America was called to be a gospel light to the nations but her light has grown dim. Modern, post-Christian, America is ripe for a great outpouring of God’s Spirit before the coming of the Lord. God has called and endowed each and every believer with special giftings to be the light to the world. For I am a watchman – a voice in the wilderness of delusion and apathy – crying, “Unless we go back to the beginning we will lose in the end.”
Rewritten, original word “America In The Light Of Vietnam” June 1991