The headlines in a recent statewide publication read: “Many in the U.S. losing faith in religion.” The article stated that the latest Gallup poll showed Americans’ confidence in the church is at a new low.  

In the mid-1970s, 68 percent of Americans had “a great deal” or “quite a lot” of confidence in organized religion. When the poll was taken, that percentage declined to 44 percent, a 24 percent drop in only 35-plus years.

In 1975, the church or organized religion was the highest-rated of the 16 institutions Gallup asked about. Today, the top three institutions Americans have most confidence in are the military, small business and the police, followed by the church.

Recently, I made a statement that America was no longer a Christian nation. The results of the poll are an indication that we are not a God-fearing people. If the blame can be placed on any organization, it would have to be the condition of the church in our once great country.  

How did that happen in such a short period? The biggest reason is that the churches, to attract more members, have discontinued calling sin what it is, sin.

Today, a drunk is called an alcoholic, and his self-inflicted condition is called a disease. Abortion is called a woman’s choice. Homosexuality is referred to as an acceptable lifestyle.  

The majority of Americans who believe in God are religious but want to serve Him on their own terms, not on His teachings.

The last U.S. president to mention sin on the National Day of Prayer was Eisenhower, who borrowed Lincoln’s words from 1863. Lincoln said, “It is the duty of nations as well as of men to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God, to confess their sins and transgressions in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon.”

In 1972, Frederick Fox of Princeton University stated, in an article, “The National Day of Prayer”: “Since 1953, no president has mentioned sin as a national failing. They have skirted the word…I cannot imagine a modern president beating his breast on behalf of the nation and praying, ‘God, be merciful to us sinners.’”

May God bless America and give our spiritual leaders wisdom.  

If you have any questions or comments, please write to Get High on Life, P.O. Drawer U, Reserve, LA, call 985-652-8477, or email hkeller@comcast.net.