Defending Christianity
Dr. Michael Youseff addresses the danger of watching America’s faith decline
Dr. Michael Youssef, founding pastor of The Church of The Apostles and Leading the Way global ministry, warned students during Convocation Sept. 30 of the destruction of the Christian principles that serve as a foundation for American society and the need for revival in America.
United — Students worshiped in Convocation while they prepared to listen to Youseff speak about the need for a revival in America. Photo credit: Leah Seavers
Youssef’s message focused around Proverbs 22:28, which warns against the removal of the boundaries and landmarks laid down by forefathers. While the verse was written primarily concerning the boundaries of the Promised Land, Youssef expanded it to describe the moral and spiritual landmarks and boundaries that are a part of American history and serve as the foundation for the Constitution and American society. As the ancient Hebrews considered it to be a high crime to remove the ancient landmarks, so does Youssef see the modification and removal of spiritual landmarks laid down by America’s Founding Fathers.
“Today we are seeing with our own eyes, right now, at this very moment, the moral and spiritual crime of moving these ancient landmarks set by the Founding Fathers,” Youssef said.
“They have been removed far from their place to the point of the landscape being unrecognizable. … Today we have evil forces that are working behind the scene and even in front of the scenes to obliterate these landmarks.”
Among the early landmarks that Youssef referenced was the Mayflower Compact, which placed God at the center of the new government and was the first step towards the creation of the U.S. Constitution. The Declaration of Independence was another landmark, as it depended on the presence of an almighty God declaring that all men are created equal and are given, by their creator, certain unalienable rights. Youssef said this landmark has been destroyed through the shift to society’s dependence on the government so that the people can never come to depend on God.
The beliefs the Founding Fathers included are also listed as moral landmarks in the founding of America. Youssef described how 24 of the 57 signers of the Declaration of Independence had the equivalent of a seminary degree and how many members of the Constitutional Convention saw the Bible as the foundation and the rock upon which to create the Constitution.
Youssef warned that America is seeing these founding principles being destroyed now more than ever as the Christian faith has come under attack.
“In the last 50 years we have had court after court busily removing these ancient landmarks,” Youssef said. “Education department after education department, both sides of the aisle … have been busily rewriting the history of this great nation. The history of America has been distorted by removing these historical ancient landmarks from history books. Schools no longer teach the truth about the Founding Fathers.”
Youssef reminded students that while politicians attempt to offer a solution to the declining state of American society, there is only one solution to stopping America’s decline — redemption through Jesus Christ.
“I know we were promised hope and change by politicians, and that all sounds good, but the only hope and change that they (have) deliver(ed) so far has led to hopelessness and suffering,” Youssef said.
Youseff said that Christ is the only answer.
“The only hope and change that is worthy of these words is the hope in Christ and the change that leads to repentance of sin and the forgiveness of our sins through the shed blood of Jesus Christ,” Youseff said. “… The only change that is worthy of the name is when the hearts of our leaders turn from their selfish ambitions and serve the living God … when we bow not to foreign dignitaries but to the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.”
Youssef left students with a reminder that they are to be champions for Christ, and as members of the church, they are called to start a revival beginning with their own repentance.
“Every awakening that came in this country, it began by God’s people repenting,” Youssef said. “I’m not pointing fingers at others, I’m beginning with me, and I pray to God that it begins with you.”
LAPP is a news reporter.