How is God using the USA?

"For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, 'For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.' (Romans 9:17)

"Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God." (Romans 13:1)

On my 3 hour drive back home from seeing family over Thanksgiving I listened to an old Matt Chandler sermon on government and institutions. (Listen to sermon here: Government and Institutions) He was going through Romans 9 and Romans 13:1-7, and discussing the way in which God uses governments. This led to me reflecting on these passages in Romans, and I thought I would share my thoughts with you.

All governments, even the bad ones, have been instituted by God. Yes, this includes Pol Pot, Hitler, Saddam, and countless other evil men. Consider Romans 9:17- "...For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, 'For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.' " Pharaoh was a horrible ruler. He's the same ruler that ordered all Hebrew males be killed. He was also the ruler that kept God's people as slaves and used them to build idolatrous monuments to his greatness. Yet we see in Romans that God raised up Pharaoh, and that the authority he had was from God. We don't always know why God allows certain rulers to rise in power, but we can be sure that it will ultimately glorify the name of God, and be used to His glory. One small glimpse we get into how God can use even evil governments is in the case of Rome. By no means was Rome a God-fearing empire, yet Romans 13 tells us that the Roman government was instituted by God. Consider this: Because of the Roman empire, there was a widespread peace that the world had perhaps never seen. This peace allowed the establishment of larger and larger cities where cultural advancements flourished. Rome's cultural influence was felt in previously unreachable areas, in large part due to the development of roads. It was these roads, and this safety, developed by the sinful, evil empire of Rome, that allowed the gospel to spread throughout the world.

It's amazing that when we step back from our immediate human perspective and attempt to see things from an eternal Divine perspective we catch a glimpse of how God uses the power of government for the advancement of His kingdom.

This leads me to the question that titles this post: "How is God using the USA?" Similar to Rome, the United States is the most powerful nation in the world. Also similar to Rome is our influence on culture.I recently read an article that talks about the influence the American military has had on Iraq. Thanks to our military presence, the Iraqi youth will be bumpin Biggie and Tupac for years to come! (http://news.yahoo.com/us-military-legacy-rubs-off-iraqi-youth-165333231.html) Sometimes this cultural influence is more profound, such as the desire for freedom that led to the Berlin wall being torn down. America has been used by God, there is no question about that. But we are not a Christian nation. And we never will be. Being used by God should not be what constitutes a Christian nation, otherwise we could just as easily say that the Roman empire, and the Egyptian kingdom were "Christian" nations. Yet we know that God is using the USA. If he used Egypt to showcase his glory, provision, and power to the Jewish people, and he used the Roman empire to secure His plan of salvation, and further the spread of the gospel, how might he be using the U.S.?

I believe one way God intends to use the U.S., is through the very thing we are so afraid to give up; our finances. We are the richest nation on earth. We have the technological and financial means to advance the gospel throughout all of the world. When I say "gospel" I don't just mean preaching about Jesus, although of course that is included. I am also talking about what I'll call gospel-kingdom advancements such as adoption. Most Americans are in the unique place globally of having the means to adopt children that would otherwise have no concept of love, protection, or grace. What an amazing opportunity to showcase the heart of our Father God through the process of adoption! Additionally, we have the ability for gospel-kingdom advancements in other areas as well, but too often our real god gets in the way. Just look at what has made the headlines in the news over the last several weeks. Arguments about contracts in the NBA, the occupy Wall Street movement, and of course there was the recent Black Friday debacles, where people literally ran over, shot, and pepper sprayed their fellow human beings all in an effort to gain more stuff. Money is the American God, but like all idols money is a good thing that nationally we have made an ultimate thing. I think our false "god" provides a glimpse into how the true God is using the United States.

Our wealth is unprecedented as a nation. But will we see money as, to quote Seattle pastor Mark Driscoll, "god" or "gift"? How is God using the USA? Of course we cannot know for sure how he is ultimately using this country or how he will use the legacy of this nation to glorify his name, but I would submit to you, that God is after our money. I believe this is one way that God is going to, and is using the U.S. at this time in history for the advancement of the gospel and the furtherance of His kingdom. Which kingdom do you bow to? "You cannot serve both God and money" (Luke 16:13). As a nation, I wonder what repentance of our false god would look like? Regardless of whether or not we individually and collectively repent of our idolization of our pocketbooks we can be sure of one thing: God's name will be glorified. The only question for me, is whether it will be through our repentance or our destruction. Soli Deo Gloria.

Random

Occasionally, when I'm reading, my brain wants to stop concentrating. The most recent form this has taken is for my brain to begin pondering random questions most of which I am sure are utterly pointless. However, once in a while I am actually pleasantly surprised by the randomness and it develops into somewhat of a conversation piece with co-workers and friends. Sometimes it causes us to think more deeply about scripture, and sometimes they're just setups for fun debate. I thought I would post a few of these random thoughts that go through my head for your enjoyment. Let me know which ones you thought were particularly interesting. If you think of any thoughts or questions that would fit this form please feel free to add them to the comment stream.

1.) Why did Jesus say "Father forgive them..."? Did this make them forgiven? Also the rest of that quote is "...FOR (emphasis mine) they know not what they do." Is their ignorance connected to the reason they should be forgiven?

2.) Were Adam and Eve saved before they fell? (No sin nature, perfect harmony with God) If so, would that constitute "losing" one's salvation?

3.) Sin existed before the fall of Adam and Eve. (Lucifer's rebellion) Satan was given some degree of authority over the earth or at the very least was already existing there... 1.) When in the Biblical timeline was he cast out? (Prior to the creation of Man? Animals? Must have been after the earth was created because God declared everything on the earth "good". 2.) Would not Satan's prior sin and exile to earth indicate earth was already "cursed" to some degree? Might the garden have been protected in some way from the cursed earth?

4.) Why do we pray over a meal, but not usually over a single drink? (Starbucks for example)

5.) Does sin (the curse) only effect the earth? If it effects the whole universe doesn't that exclude the possibility of extra-terrestrial life? If other objects or beings in the solar system are not cursed, why should they ever die?

6.) Jesus could not/cannot sin, angels cannot currently sin, human beings in heaven cannot sin; why then do we think that "free will" is a necessary component of loving God? (1 Cor 15:52)

7.) Was Jesus inerrant (did not err) or was he infallible (could not err)?

8.) Did/do angels die in battle with demons. Where would they go when they die?

9.) Why does Paul say Jesus is our only intercessor yet the Holy Spirit is also given this title (1 Timothy 2:5)

10.) Why did Jesus need to "prepare a place" for us in heaven when heaven already existed?

11.) Why did Jesus have to be conceived of by the Holy Spirit? Couldn't he have conceived himself?

12.) Adam and Eve didn't have a sinful nature yet they sinned. Do we necessarily need to have a sinful nature to sin?

13.) Jesus had to learn perfection!? What does this tell us about his early life? Did he have to learn to be a good speaker, kind, humorous?; Did he at one point make mistakes as a carpenter? (Hebrews 5:8-9)

14.) Little kids can be possesed!? Couldn't this be an argument for sinful nature from birth? (Matt 15:22, 9:17-27)

15.) Why does Jesus spit on the handicapped to heal them? (Mark 7:32-35, Mark 8:22-25, John 9:1-7)

16.) Why did Jesus tell people not to say what he had done? (Matt 8:1-4) Why did he not allow demons to testify to who he was? (Mark 1:34) Why did he not allow his disciples to share that he was the Messiah? (Matt 16:20)

17.) Talk about redemption and God choosing the wicked! Joseph would seem the likely pick for the lineage of Jesus yet it is his murderous jerk older brother Judah that receives this blessing!

18.) Jesus was given a pep talk by an angel in the garden. That's amazing to think about. (Luke 22:43)

19.) Who are the offspring of Satan? (Gen 3:15)

20.) If Jesus was indeed virgin born, why didn't Mary immediately recognize him as God? Such as when her and Jesus' brothers came out to seize him because they thought him out of his mind. (Mark 3:20-21)

Hope you found these as thought provoking as I did! Thanks for reading.