The Patriot Post® · The Welfare of the City

“God is not happy with America!” You might ask how I can say that. I can say that because God’s Word addresses every life situation that concerns man. Let me start with this: “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness” (Isaiah 5:20 ESV). God, speaking through Isaiah, was calling a sinful nation, Israel, to repentance. For those who have read the Bible, we know they did not repent, and subsequently, the nation was destroyed, and its people went into captivity.

As professing Christians, we need to heed God’s Word. “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare” (Jeremiah 29:4-7 ESV). Jeremiah was addressing the children of Israel who were taken to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar. I want to emphasize His instruction to “seek the welfare of the city” because He followed that command with a promise. “For in its welfare you will find your welfare.”

Which brings me to my point. An October 14, 2024, Arizona Capitol Times article cites a survey conducted by the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University that is alarming, to say the least. The survey led by prominent polling expert Dr. George Barna delivered these findings. “A new study by a researcher at Arizona Christian University says 32 million Christians who are regular churchgoers are likely to stay home this election. … As to why they’re not voting, the reports says two thirds said they lacked interest in politics and elections. Other reasons cited include a dislike of all the major candidates, a feeling that none of the candidates reflect their most important views, and that the election has become too controversial for their liking.” Another finding was that people felt that their vote wouldn’t make a difference.

What this survey tells us is that millions of professing Christians have no Christian worldview and are biblically illiterate. Jeremiah conveys God’s command to His exiled people to “seek the welfare of the city” even though they couldn’t vote in a new king. As Christians, what is our excuse for not doing the same? We “can” vote, and we can make a difference, but regardless of whether it makes a difference, we are called to be obedient.

Let me ask you child of God, how is the welfare of your city? Your nation? If you think rampant crime, drug use, human trafficking, gross immorality, pornography, and the breakdown of the family (just to name but a few) are nothing to be concerned about, you need to rethink your position. Like the children of Israel, we are exiles in a foreign land. We were made for heaven, not earth, and as exiles, we should be seeking “the welfare of the city” and the nation. It doesn’t matter how you feel about the people running for office. There has only been one perfect man to visit planet earth — the Son of Man, King Jesus. It is about the policies they will implement when they are in the office.

Humans will never bring about perfect righteousness but know this — God will only act on behalf of His children when they are walking in obedience to Him. Far too many “professing” Christians are missing in action when it comes to seeking the welfare of the city. My prayer for this election year is that millions of God’s people will vote for values that promote the welfare of the city and the nation. This is not a political message — this is an exhortation to believers to live out our Christian responsibility in the midst of a nation needing Jesus more than ever.

What say ye, Man of Valor?

Semper Fidelis!