The Story of 2007: America Distances God It gives me no joy to report on what I think is one of the most prominent stories of 2007. America is the most blessed, prosperous nation on earth. God raised this young nation up for several reasons. We have been a gospel light to the world and that remains. We have been Israel's "off-and-on" ally. Our Christian heritage has made us a compassionate nation. But I see a nation pulling away from the one true God and giving a voice to those who hate God or who have a skewed view of Him. This was personified in 2007. Why would a nation of Judeo-Christian principles give one of the highest honors to the Dalai Lama who received the Congressional Gold Medal of Honor in October? He snowed his adoring admirers, most of them the highest of America's leaders, by saying, "There can be no world peace without first obtaining inner peace." Where's the Prince of Peace and did anyone stand up for Him? In July, a Hindu opened the U.S. Senate with a Hindu prayer. You can hear it here. This same man is opening in prayer at state senates in many places. The first Muslim imam delivered a prayer for the U.S. House of Representatives, even though he is on record saying, "Take my word--if 6-8 million Muslims unite in America, the country will come to us." This year saw an unprecedented push to convince Americans that Jews, Christians, and Muslims celebrate similar roots. Interfaith gatherings have taken place so that in unity all may celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, and the Muslim Hajj Festival. Pulpits filled with men who should know better telling us that God and Allah are one and the same. At the same time, atheists want a pulpit everywhere in America! It's not just Christopher Hitchens and Richard Dawkins. Phillip Pullman's trilogy, The Golden Compass, warranted an expense of $180 million to seduce kids into hating God. The bottom line is that in America, atheism is in. Not since Nietzsche have disbelievers enjoyed such a ready public reception to their godless message--and such royalties. Snaps Christopher Hitchens who wrote God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything (although not, presumably, the pronouncements of atheists), "Many of the teachings of Christianity are, as well as being incredible and mythical, immoral." In the past 12 months, atheist authors, according to The Wall Street Journal, have created a publishing sensation, selling more than 1 million books worldwide. And the great "falling away" fell some more (see II Thess. 2:3). While many churches struggle to hold on to the truth, many more caved to methods of doing church that are not biblical. Willow Creek Pastor Bill Hybels repented for his "seeker-sensitive" approach, calling it an utter failure (although the church appears to now be taking an Emergent turn.) Our own president stated in late 2007 that all religions pray to the same god. This creates confusion and a form of "falling away" again. And the lead story in U.S. News and World Report in late 2007 was that even Protestants are returning to Rome as Catholicism and the one world religion join forces and gain strength. The Bible says, The fool has said in his heart, 'There is no God' (Psalm 53:1). There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death (Prov. 14:12.) Yet our Lord delays His coming so that even these might be saved. Awaiting His return, Jan Markell