A Theology of Abandonment

I heard a message last Wednesday from John MacArthur which he preached in May of 2007. The message had been recommended by a friend. While the content of the message was not shocking, it was rather shocking to hear a major pastor lay it on the line.

MacArthur announced that he believed that America has been abandoned by God. He then went on and developed an extremely compelling theology of abandonment using Romans 1 as the linchpin of his argument.

He noted that among all the nations that God had abandoned in the Bible, that America has surpassed all of them in the breadth of its iniquity.

There are certain practical and personal implications for Christians in the United States if God has abandoned us. How should we rear our children? What should we expect to happen to American media in the next ten years? Of the influences that currently shape us, how will these influences begin to falter? What is our role as proclaimers of the Gospel? Should we separate? How can we escape from inclusion in God's wrath? How do we help others to escape?

In ages past, heroes of Biblical proportions were faced with hard choices in light of God's abandonment of their cultures. We live in no less momentous times if MacArthur is right. For my part, I came to the same conclusion almost ten years ago.

While America has likely been abandoned, there is always an opportunity to forestall God's wrath.

Psalm 81:13-14

"If my people would but listen to me,
how quickly would I subdue their enemies
and turn my hand against their foes!"

Note: For a transcript of MacArthur's sermon, visit http://www.gty.org/Resources/transcripts/80-184.