Christian, you are the problem, and you are the solution

It seems like the world is getting darker by the day. Cities have been memorialized in our minds by tragedy. Orlando, San Bernardino, Fort Hood, Virginia Tech, Columbine, Sandy Hook, and now Uvalde have all become etched in our hearts because of bloodshed. Christians cry out for a light in the darkness. Americans cry out for change and a better future. However, the decline of the morality and spirituality in this country lies solely at the feet of Christians.

“You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.” (Matthew 5:13-16)

I think we can all agree Christians have certainly lost their salt taste in the United States.

So, what’s the problem you ask? (I am so glad you asked)

You know more about Johnny Depp’s personal life than you do your child’s daily life.

You can recount all the characters and their dilemmas on This Is Us but can’t name two facts about your child’s friends.

You know more about the Supreme Court leaked documents than you do about your child’s homework assignments.

You know more about what kind of gun the Uvalde shooter used than you do what kind of apps are on your child’s smartphone.

You spend more time gossiping about others than you do praying for others.

You spend more time looking at the outside of a person than you do seeing the inside of that person.

You spend more time judging others than you do preparing others for the Final Judgment.

You spend more time talking about society’s violence and hate than you do talking about the Prince of Peace.

You spend more time demanding additional laws but you can’t even obey God’s original 10 laws.

You spend more time demanding change than you do calling for repentance.

You spend more time talking about mental health than you do talking about spiritual health.

You spend more time looking at your phone and computer screen than you do looking in the eyes of your child.

You are left in shock when your child is angry and vengeful, yet you hand them an Xbox instead of a Bible.

You are broken hearted when you hear your child talk about suicide, yet you let the internet raise them.

You talk more about the bloodshed on a school floor than you do the bloodshed on Calvary’s mountain.

You cry more for love and desire less hate, yet you refuse to pray for your enemies.

You can recite more about what politicians say than what the priest preached about Sunday.

You spend more time talking about your social media post than talking across the dinner table.

You spend more energy planning “me time” than you do noticing your child is lonely.

You worry more about finding something that makes you happy than you do noticing your child is depressed.

You spend more time trying to get others to follow your political platform than you do getting others to follow Jesus.

You spend more time paying attention to your bank account than you do paying attention to your spiritual account.

You spend more time preparing for summer vacation than you do preparing for your eternal destination.

You spend more time complaining about rising prices than you do talking about the wages of sin.

You spend more time talking about empty store shelves than you do empty church pews.

You spend more time examining the actions of others than you do examining your own faults.

You spend more effort looking for your next hook up than you do looking for a lifetime spouse.

You spend more time building your investment portfolio than you do building a strong marriage.

You know more about the emails on Hunter Biden’s laptop than you do about the pornography on your husband’s laptop.

You speak about protecting the life of unborn children, while your pastor creates a secret list and organizes a coverup for pedophiles.

You beg God to turn it all around, yet you refuse to get off your sofa and talk to your neighbor.

You cry out “where is God”, yet God is asking “where are you?”

You weep for the lives lost to violence, yet never shed a tear for the souls lost to hell.

You can’t change the world overnight, but you can change you.

When you change you then you change your home.

When you change your home then you change your family.

When you change your family then you change your community.

When you change your community then you change your city.

When you change your city then you change your county.

When you change your county then you change your state.

When you change your state then you change your country.

When you change your country then you change the world.

When you change the world then you change the future.

If you want a better future, it must start with a better you. Christian, it begins with you. Wake up O sleeping child of God, the time to rise and shine is now. It is not Jesus who is asleep in the boat. It’s you.