First Peter Four Seventeen

For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

The Judgement of God is being levied against America for a variety of sins, They tell us. Katrina was sent by God against the gulf coast, New Orleans in particular because of its gambling, it's voodoo roots, it's openly permissive society, Bourbon Street. Biloxi Mississippi - gambling. Gay marriage has caused all sorts of impending doom from the Creator - too much rain, not enough rain, public shootings, hurricanes, whatever else distasteful comes our way.

We read in the scriptures, the fate of Sodom and Ghomorra and think to our righteouse selves - they deserved it. Look how evil they were and homosexuality was at the core of what turned God against them. But that is only reading on the surface. Perhaps God's judgement of S and G was not as much the evil taking place in the town but the lack of righteous influence in the town. Perhaps, left to their own devices, without the influence of a small few, S and G became without hope of redemption. Afterall, God did give them an out. Find me 1 righteous person and they will be spared, He says.

If taken from that perspective, 1 Peter 4:17 then points the finger at an altogether different source of doom - the church.

The judgement of God is falling on America:

Not because of gays getting married, but because the church blames gays getting married for hurricanes.

Not because the world is full of adulterers but because their are adulterers in the choir.

Not because America is full of hate mongerers but because a hateful man is at the pulpit.

Not because America's leaders lie, but because church leaders misquote the unrighteous.
Not because Americans kill babies but because Christians won't adopt.
Not because Americans drink and do drugs, because our congregations fail to consider biscuits and gravy a drug.
Not because the world is in disharmony, but because the church is not A Church, the church are churches.
Not because the world is full of chaos, but because the church is a cacophany.

Not because businesses seek money, but because churches are run like businesses.

Not because Americans have lost touch with a special idealistic past, because the church has become plastic and lacks roots.

Not because the world is like the world, but because the church is like the world.

God is judging America -Not because of Them. Because of me....