YOU ARE HERE:   Home >  Archives >  Updates >  2004 >  July 2004

First Thoughts

Has America lost its moral compass?

It was the night of Paul Revere’s famous ride—the eve of the Revolutionary War. At dinner that night, John Hancock and Samuel Adams—two great patriots and founders of the United States—asked a local pastor named Jonas Clark this question: “Pastor, if war came, would the men of Lexington fight?” Jonas Clark answered, ”I have trained them for that very hour!”

The next day, “the shot heard round the world” was fired in the yard of Pastor Clark’s church. Most of the people killed that day were from his congregation, and as he looked down on the slain with a heavy heart, he declared, “From this day will be measured the liberty of the world.” As Americans, we should never forget these words.

Pastor Clark, with other Christian clergy, formed the Black Regiment, named for the black robes they wore. These men traveled throughout New England, preaching from Scripture the message of freedom from tyranny. They set the stage for liberty in America and many other nations throughout the world.

As Americans, we have just celebrated the 228th anniversary of the freedom bought by the resolve and blood of brave men and women—many of them Christians—not afraid to stand for right against wrong, knowing where their moral compass pointed.

From the founding of our nation and through the two centuries that followed, American morality and freedom was grounded on a biblical Christian worldview: the equality and dignity of all men under the just rule of the Heavenly Judge. And because of the liberties “measured from that day,” our great country has truly become the melting pot of the world.

But from our melting pot come a multitude of dissonant voices: voices not grounded on the principles of God’s Word. Many voices of deception and error have gained prominence in the mainstream of our culture—even into many of our churches. The ethical views of Americans are an indication of this shift in values: in a 2002 Barna poll, 64% of adults and 83% of teens said that morality is relative and may change depending on circumstances and the individuals involved. Clearly the moral clarity of our nation’s founders is being lost in our current generation.

As a ministry of Christian discernment, it is our mission to preach the message of freedom and liberty—freedom from the tyranny of false teachers, cults and religions and the liberty found only in Jesus Christ through His sacrifice on the cross for our sin. If you have not experienced this freedom, we urge you to contact us, or someone in a local church to discover God’s free offer of forgiveness through His Son Jesus Christ.

In a nation that has lost its way spiritually, our task is to continue to point to the unchanging truth of God and His Word. As Jesus said, "If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”John 8:31-32 It is our hope that all who know Jesus will join with us in standing for the truth.

It is my prayer that this issue of the Update will be helpful to you. I also invite you to visit us on the world-wide-web (www.wfial.org) for vital information to help you understand and engage our culture. You can also call or write us at anytime for free information on thousands of groups, cults, false teachers and religions.

Pointing to Jesus,

Bob

Rev. Bob Waldrep, MRE, serves as State Director—Alabama at Watchman Fellowship’s Birmingham, AL office. Bob is also an ordained Southern Baptist Minister and serves as Lay Pastor for the Church at Brook Hills. You can email Bob by clicking here.