07-03-2026, 05:22 AM
JAMES CAGLE: The biggest problem in America
Wednesday, July 1, 2026
By James H. Cagle, Valdosta
“And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel? And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father’s house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the Lord, and thou hast followed Baalim” (1 Kings 18: 17, 18 KJV).
The church has a big part in America’s culture. She was in the fabric of America from the very beginning. Our Constitution shows how deeply the Truth was engrained in the hearts of those who formed her. But the influence of the church and along with her the Truth has waned tremendously since our founding.
The church and the Truth are no longer appreciated, just tolerated. The church with the Truth was in earlier days a power to content with. But the only power she has now, as those politicians who fraternize with her know, is her power at the polls. Simply put, the church no longer has a cutting edge. Instead of abhorring our modern culture the church has absorbed it.
For some time, American society though non-Christian, used the church as a point of reference and subscribed to the Christian thought form and followed the church’s example. But this was when the church used the Bible (KJV) as her only point of reference for her faith and practice and was clearly the light of the world and the salt of the earth. Our churches are now filled with people who don’t even believe the Bible.
Today the church has turned from her one true point of reference, the Bible, and no longer provides for the world a point of reference. Through her rebellion against God the church is encouraging others to rebel and ruining America.
The church can’t solve the many problems that America has. She has not been given that responsibility. But if the church is not right with God, she is the biggest problem in America. She is not doing her part if she is not the light of the world and the salt of the earth. If she is not these things she is literally “good for nothing” (Mt. 5: 13), and not able to help America in her darkest hour.
There is the promise made (2 Chron. 7: 14) that if God’s people got right with God, He would heal their land. The problem of morality must be corrected before anything else is corrected. You don’t set a fire under someone heading off a cliff. Turning back to God begins with the church. And judgment and healing and restoration of a nation must begin with the church (1 Peter 4: 17). The church must lead the way back to God.
Christians are supposedly some of the most patriotic citizens there are. And yet the biggest problem hurting America is a rebellious, stubborn, worldly, and unrepentant church standing in the way of God’s healing our land. If Christians are really that patriotic and really love America as they say they do why aren’t they doing what no one else can do and repenting of their sins so God can heal our land? The church needs to stop pointing her finger at politicians and realize she is the biggest problem in America, and that her repentance can be the start of getting America back on track.
Church history shows us that when true God-sent revival came to the church in any community or country that there was a radical change for the better in that community or country right along with the church.
We’re not waiting on God; He’s waiting on us.
Wednesday, July 1, 2026
By James H. Cagle, Valdosta
“And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel? And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father’s house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the Lord, and thou hast followed Baalim” (1 Kings 18: 17, 18 KJV).
The church has a big part in America’s culture. She was in the fabric of America from the very beginning. Our Constitution shows how deeply the Truth was engrained in the hearts of those who formed her. But the influence of the church and along with her the Truth has waned tremendously since our founding.
The church and the Truth are no longer appreciated, just tolerated. The church with the Truth was in earlier days a power to content with. But the only power she has now, as those politicians who fraternize with her know, is her power at the polls. Simply put, the church no longer has a cutting edge. Instead of abhorring our modern culture the church has absorbed it.
For some time, American society though non-Christian, used the church as a point of reference and subscribed to the Christian thought form and followed the church’s example. But this was when the church used the Bible (KJV) as her only point of reference for her faith and practice and was clearly the light of the world and the salt of the earth. Our churches are now filled with people who don’t even believe the Bible.
Today the church has turned from her one true point of reference, the Bible, and no longer provides for the world a point of reference. Through her rebellion against God the church is encouraging others to rebel and ruining America.
The church can’t solve the many problems that America has. She has not been given that responsibility. But if the church is not right with God, she is the biggest problem in America. She is not doing her part if she is not the light of the world and the salt of the earth. If she is not these things she is literally “good for nothing” (Mt. 5: 13), and not able to help America in her darkest hour.
There is the promise made (2 Chron. 7: 14) that if God’s people got right with God, He would heal their land. The problem of morality must be corrected before anything else is corrected. You don’t set a fire under someone heading off a cliff. Turning back to God begins with the church. And judgment and healing and restoration of a nation must begin with the church (1 Peter 4: 17). The church must lead the way back to God.
Christians are supposedly some of the most patriotic citizens there are. And yet the biggest problem hurting America is a rebellious, stubborn, worldly, and unrepentant church standing in the way of God’s healing our land. If Christians are really that patriotic and really love America as they say they do why aren’t they doing what no one else can do and repenting of their sins so God can heal our land? The church needs to stop pointing her finger at politicians and realize she is the biggest problem in America, and that her repentance can be the start of getting America back on track.
Church history shows us that when true God-sent revival came to the church in any community or country that there was a radical change for the better in that community or country right along with the church.
We’re not waiting on God; He’s waiting on us.
