There's really only been one change in America in the last forty years

What in the world is happening to America?

I tell you the truth, this is what my face looks like half the time when I read the news or hear the latest story in the media:

I just don't get what's going on half the time.  There are millions of Americans who feel the same way, and it seems as if each of these news stories is unrelated: the advance of same-sex marriage, Bruce Jenner becoming a woman, the church declining in numbers, public schools failing, violence in the cities, anti-cop rhetoric, redefinition of families, etc.

However, all of these stories have one common theme, and it is the great unspoken change that has hit America in the last forty years. It is the foundation for all of what we see going on today, and it is the reason why older Americans don't understand what is happening to our country while younger generations see no problem.

What, pray tell, is this common theme? What is this great, grandiose shift in American culture causing all the mayhem and craziness that we see?

Here it is:  Instead of the individual adapting to the institution, now the institutions have to adapt to the individual.

In previous generations, individuals were called to adapt to the institution.  The institution was king, and society was based on individuals falling in line with what the institution said.  For example, if someone wanted to be married, he or she would marry someone of the opposite sex. The institution said, "Marriage is between a man and a woman, and if you want to be married, adapt to it." So, individuals adapted to the institution.  Nowadays, however, individuals are calling the institution to adapt to them.  "I'm gay, and I want to be married, so marriage must adapt to me," is the new cry in today's society.

In previous generations, it was assumed that the institution would provide bathrooms for men and women. Biological males went into one bathroom, biological females went into another. The individual adapted to the institution.  Now, the individual is calling for legislation to force the institution to adapt to him or her. "Whatever I decide I am, you must accommodate me," is the rallying cry from the gender-fluid crowd.

Or, for instance, take the institution of learning. In previous generations, children went to school and adapted to the rules laid down by the institution.  The school said, "You must study and work hard to achieve A's, and if you don't, you fail." So, children who wanted A's studied hard.  If they brought home F's, students were grounded, punished, and the assumption was- they didn't study. In other words, the individual adapted to the institution. Nowadays, however, if a student fails, parents storm the teacher's office, demanding that the teacher be fired, blaming the principal for not giving an "individualized learning plan" calling the school to adapt to the student to ensure the student's success.  Instead of looking at the school as the given, now the student is the given, and it is the school's job to adapt to the student.

We see this also in law enforcement. In previous generations, it was understood that if you broke the law, you got what you deserved. If you were foolish enough to resist arrest, whatever happened was your own fault. Now, however, people who break the law are the victims, and the arresting officers are the ones who are at fault. Now, I'm sure there are instances of police brutality and those officers need to be arrested and tried like any other criminals, but I think we can all agree that there is a wave of anti-police sentiment calling on the police force to adapt to the individual, instead of the individual adapting to the institution of law enforcement.

The church hasn't escaped this either. In previous generations, churches preached the gospel, and it was the job of the individual to submit his or her sin to the power of God. The person was called to be repentant, to be willing to change, to be willing to surrender his or her life in submission to God for the forgiveness of sins and the joy of eternal life. Biblical Christianity was based on the sovereignty of God, and the church was the bearer of that message.  Now, however, the institution of the church has to adapt to the people. Preachers can't mention hell, or sin, or change, because that offends people. The church must now have all kinds of great fun children's events, neat games and fun trips for youth, flashy smoke machines and intelligent lighting to create fantastic and entertaining Sunday morning experiences. Churches, instead of preaching repentance and change, now have to adapt to individual "felt needs" and deliver motivational lectures on achieving your "best life now" instead of revealing a humanity in rebellion towards God in need of redemption.  Instead of individuals adapting to the institution, now the institution must adapt to the individual.  And if that church is so woefully unready to do so, the churchgoer will happily leave that church and go to one down the street that will tell them what they want to hear.

Where does this all lead?  Nowhere good, I can tell you.

This is simply the fall of man, described in Genesis chapter 3 so well, on full display.

In Genesis 3, Adam and Eve decide they know better than God. They decide to BE God, and therefore commit sin. This new phenomenon in American culture is simply that- the individual deciding that he or she is sovereign, that he or she is the given, and that everything and everyone must adapt to him or her.

I think that this trend is so entrenched in American culture that I don't see it changing.

The net result of this is that the institutions which propped up American society in previous generations will disappear. The church, the family, law enforcement, schools, or any kind of authority will become so compromised that they will not be able to do their jobs. We are already seeing this in education. Teachers can't teach anymore. They are too busy dealing with kids and parents who want the school to adapt to them. We will continue to see this in law enforcement, with increasing lawlessness as people, instead of respecting law enforcement and adapting to what it says, resist and demand that law enforcement let them do what they want.  We will continue to see this in the church, with less and less tolerance for Biblical teaching ("For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear."- 2 Timothy 4:3). 

A society where the institutions are forced to adapt to the individual will not survive. A society with strong institutions- family, church, school, law enforcement, etc- will thrive. America became strong because her institutions were strong. America will become weaker as her institutions grow weaker. Christians, we have a duty to stand against this- we have a duty to strengthen our institutions through commitment to God.

Christians, we should be the first ones to keep our families together.

Christians, we should be the first ones to emphasize the importance of education and discipline in our schools, calling for respect for teachers, principals, and authorities in the classroom.

Christians, we should be the first ones to support law enforcement, calling for the punishment of bad cops but respecting and honoring the ones who keep us safe.

Christians, we should be the first to strengthen our churches by our attendance, financial support, and commitment to ministry. We should be the first to pray for our leaders, support our pastors, and actively engage in repentance and life change.

Christians, we should stand against the tide of culturally suicide that America is committing right now. Be aware of how you live in this day and age. True Christians will stand out like a sore thumb in this society, and we should be ready in each and every situation to speak of the grace and truth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Changing your church by guarding your Sunday mornings

I was talking with a friend of mine who is an elder in his church (in Christian church circles, an elder is a layperson who overseas the spiritual health of the church. It is different from a Methodist or Baptist understanding of an elder- for my Baptist friends, think deacon) and he described to me what his Sunday mornings were like:

"I get to church and within five minutes someone is complaining to me about a program that went wrong. I try to deal with that person, then within thirty seconds someone is asking me about a water bill being paid, then someone tells me what went wrong on the youth trip and how they are probably leaving the church because of it, then someone comes up to me with some pressing problem about a fundraising dinner in two weeks and how so-and-so is messing it up, and so on. I'm usually late to the service, fifteen minutes or so, and I'm in such a bad mood that I can't worship. I hate Sunday mornings."

How sad.

How many of us could say the same thing?  I can remember being at one church where we had an elder meeting every Sunday morning before church. I was requested to be there, and usually received a grilling about someone who didn't like the way youth group was going. I could completely relate to that elder. I hated Sunday mornings. I was always in a bad mood after those meetings, and in no way was I ready to worship God. The good news is- it doesn't have to be that way. As a matter of fact, I can't believe we've let it become that way.

Pastors and leaders, guard your Sunday mornings.

I challenge every one of you who is a pastor or leader to make a new policy. Write it in huge letters in the church bulletin, put it up on the screen, put it on the marquee outside:  "Sunday is for worship only."

Sunday is for worship only.

In my church, we tell people, "Unless the church is on fire or someone is getting murdered in the parking lot, it doesn't need to be dealt with today. Call me tomorrow."

In other words, we guard our Sunday mornings.

I have never seen anything brought to me on Sunday morning that can't be dealt with on Monday. The problem is simply that Sunday morning is when the church is together, and that's sometimes the only time people see their leaders. People have become accustomed to bringing every problem, issue, and concern to leaders on Sunday mornings.  While that may be the only time they see them, that turns Sunday morning into a gripe-fest filled with issues and problems instead of a worship service.

Church members, your pastors and leaders need to worship. Believe it or not, when you bring issues and concerns and problems to them on Sunday, it affects them. They are not able to focus on God, on worship, on being renewed in the Spirit. They are troubled, in a bad mood, distracted, and unable to focus on the primary purpose of Sunday morning.

Your churches are affected by it. Your leaders approach Sunday morning the way that you approach a "we need to meet immediately" summons from your boss at work. They approach Sunday mornings expecting to get an earful of every little thing that is wrong, every problem that needs immediate fixing, every little argument that has happened during the week. Believe me, it affects your church. Worship is merely an afterthought in many churches, because everyone is in a sour mood due to the drama.

Guard your Sunday mornings.  Pastors and leaders, announce this Sunday that from this point forward, unless someone is getting murdered in the parking lot or the church is on fire, no problems or concerns or issues will be dealt with on Sunday morning. Sunday will be for worship only. If there are problems, the church office is open Monday-Friday, and we will deal with them then.

Learn these words and repeat them often: "Sunday is for worship only."

Church members, do not bring issues and problems to your leaders on Sunday mornings. Most of the time, they are not pressing. There is nothing that you want to deal with on Sunday morning that can't be dealt with on Monday. I know it is convenient, because that is when you see them, but resist this urge. Let your leaders worship. Let them enjoy church. Let them connect with their Lord and Savior. Let them be part of the church for that hour.

You will see an new excitement invade your church as Sunday morning takes on a whole new life. People will be genuinely happy to be at church. You will see a new enthusiasm, a new breath of fresh air, a new life growing in your church. Your gatherings will be joyful, not sour. Do not allow your Sunday meetings to be affected by anything other than worship.

Pastors and leaders, by not dealing with issues on Sunday mornings, you allow yourself to focus completely on worship.  Church members, by not bringing issues and problems to leaders on Sunday mornings, you are more focused on the purpose of Sunday mornings.  Please, for the health of your church, guard your Sunday mornings.

Look at complaints, issues, concerns, and anything else as intruders bent on destroying the church. Pastors, battle these intruders. Do not let them in. Do not give them an ear. Constantly say, "Sunday is for worship only," when someone attempts to bring an issue to you. Guard your flock. Guard your Sunday morning. Like I said before, there is nothing that needs to be dealt with that day. Deal with it on Monday.

By guarding our Sunday mornings, we keep our focus on what Sunday morning truly is- a celebration of the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Guard it. Honor it. Protect it. Love it. Be watchful. Be consistent. Be firm. Sunday is for worship only.