Slip-Sliding Away
Almost fifty years ago now,
my daughter and I took part in America’s 200th
Birthday with our church at the time, St. Jacob’s United Church of
Christ. Lorrie was only eleven months old and not walking. So, when we marched in Salem,
Ohio’s parade down State Street, you guessed it, I carried her the whole way.
But at age 23, that wasn’t a problem for me.
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Lorrie and I sported matching
1776 dresses and bonnets I had made, which remain hanging in my closet (I can’t
bear to part with them). Before the parade, the women’s group at St. Jacob’s held
a fashion show. All who were participating had the privilege of modeling their
dresses. It was so fun, and I felt honored to be a part of my country’s
celebration.
In 1976, it never
occurred to me I would be able to celebrate America’s
250th Birthday, yet here I am, much older, and I hope,
wiser. Today, May 15, 2026, marks fifty days until this second monumental celebration
of our nation’s birth.
But our country is very
different from the one I celebrated in 1976. Things I could never have imagined,
and worse, have become issues of contention to divide this nation. It’s almost
as though America, built by the LORD Almighty and preserved by our
Constitution, has been caught in a mudslide. We’re slipping and tumbling down a
mountain toward the pit, and no one but God can slow or halt the slide.
By this, I’m reminded
of the Ephesians. In AD 60-61, the LORD, through Paul, wrote a letter “to
the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus.”[1]
Paul reminded them how blessed they were “with every spiritual blessing in
the heavenly places in Christ.”[2]
How the exceeding greatness of Christ’s power was working in them, and by
grace they were saved, through faith.[3] He wrote of the mystery of
Christ, where Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and how marriage, between a man
and woman, represents Jesus’s relationship with the church.[4] Paul ended his letter
explaining that true believers, indwelt by God’s Holy Spirit, are in a battle
with Satan and his minions. Therefore, they needed to put on the full armor of
God so they could stand and fight in the evil day, praying always.[5]
Yet a mere thirty-five
years later in AD 95, Jesus had John also write to Ephesus. Why? The Ephesians were
so busy doing good works that they had left their first love—Jesus Christ Himself.[6] It’s mind-blowing this
could happen to such a vibrant, faithful church, but it did.
While America is not a
church per se, it’s clear the many of its citizens who think they’re doing good
work, have left our founding principles, our Christians heritage, and turned away
from Jesus Christ. But what can we do?
Jesus spoke the remedy.
“Remember therefore from where you
have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you
quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.”[7]
The lampstand represents the church, which is to shine the light of Jesus into
the dark world. The question: Is Jesus in the process of removing our
lampstand? He might be.
In America, it seems our
light is being swallowed up by spiritual darkness, and we’ve left our first
love. But Church, since Jesus told us to occupy until He comes, and we know the
remedy, let’s repent for our sin, our nation’s sin, and do the work God gave us
to do: Stop the slip-sliding away.
I challenge you to unite
in prayer with President Trump, who has called for the Rededication of America to God. This event will be held on the National
Mall in Washington, D.C. – the Main Stage at 12th Street, on Sunday,
May 17, 2026, from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm. Join the festivities in person or online
at https://freedom250.org/ AND be sure
to post a prayer at https://americaprays.com/.
Love in Christ,
Anita
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