Is America In Decline?

Is America In Decline?

Is America In Decline"Is America in decline?"

Here are ten evidences that America is in decline, and the solution to reverse the trend.

1.  Destruction of the family

In 1960, 1 in 19 American children (5.3%) were born out of wedlock. A generation later in 1990, that ratio had quintupled to 1 in 4 (28%). A generation later still, nearly 1 in 2 children (43%) are being born out of wedlock, including 7 in 10 black children, over half of Hispanic children, and over a quarter of white children, almost double from 1990:

Out of Wedlock Births in America

Even though children born out of wedlock are more likely to end up poor, under-educated and in prison than those born to married parents, single motherhood, once pitied, is now portrayed as a badge of honor.

2.  Rising poverty

From the 1970s to today, the number of Americans receiving food stamps has risen 10 fold, from about 4 million to 40 million. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 146 million Americans - almost half of the country - are now either "poor" or "low income."

3.  Normalization of narcotics

In the 1972 movie The Godfather, a mafia boss refuses to deal in narcotics because it is below his sense of morality. What a gangster once refused to touch is now legal in most U.S. states, and drug dealers are now CEOs of narcotics corporations lauded by Wall Street. Today, 25% of American adults, including 39% of 18-25 year olds, report having used an illicit drug within the past year. In the past two decades, the number Americans dying from drug overdose has risen 10 fold, from about 10,000 in 2000 to over 100,000 today.

Drug Overdose Deaths in USA

4.  Soaring number of (ex-)convicts

From 1980 to 2010, the number of Americans in prisons and jails rose over 400%, from 0.55 million to 2.3 million, while the US population rose 37%, from 227 million to 310 million. In other words, the number of imprisoned Americans grew more than 10 times faster than the U.S. population, which accounts for 4.4% of the world population but holds 24% of the world's prison population. 1 in 11 American men today are ex-convicts who have served time in federal prison.

5.  Normalization of theft

In increasing number of American cities, thieves who steal property valued up to $1,000 are either not arrested or not prosecuted, looters are called "protesters," and law enforcement officers are discouraged, even prohibited, from arresting criminals.

6.  Soaring national debt

In 1980, America's national debt was $2 trillion. Today, it is $30 trillion. When unfunded Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security and other obligations are also included, America's current total debt obligation actually exceeds $180 trillion, which is more than 3 times the combined debt of the rest of the world and 9 times the U.S. GDP of $21 trillion. Every American man, woman and child owes over $540,000 of this debt. As the pie chart below shows, about 80% of the federal government's total revenue of 3.472 trillion is spent on its mandatory obligations to Social Security, Health and Human Services (Medicare & Medicaid), and Interest on Debt which total $2,706 trillion, while the Department of Defense gets most of the remainder. In other words, Our federal government has no way to repay our national debt of $30 trillion, let alone its total obligations of $180 trillion.

US Budget Deficit

7.  Military defeats

We failed to win the Korean War, lost the Vietnam War, withdrew from Iraq, which is now controlled by Iran, and lost to the Taliban in Afghanistan. Despite having the world's largest budget that spends more money than the next 10 largest military budgets in the world, our military, which promotes homosexuality and prohibits sharing the Gospel, hasn't won a war in 75 years.

8.  Normalization of pornography

No longer a source of shame as it was a generation ago, pornography is ubiquitous today and continues to destroy minds, bodies, marriages, and fuel sexual assaults, including against children, whose average age of first exposure to pornography is 11 years. Children 9 years old or younger now consume 23% of all porn consumed by under 18 year olds.

9.  Normalization of homosexuality

In 1987, 75% of Americans said homosexual relations are "always wrong." Just 23 years later in 2010, only 44% felt that way, and a 2013 poll found that 58% of Americans support of homosexual "marriage" (72% of Democrats, 62% of Independents, 34% of Republicans). Today, 70% of Americans support it. America has turned into a "civil right" what the Bible calls an "abomination."

US Budget Deficit

10.  Continuing genocide

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What is the solution?

Four centuries ago, a boatload of people left the comforts of Europe to worship God Biblically in a new land, and God blessed their descendants into a mighty nation. At the height of our prosperity, we turned away from God, who is withdrawing the prosperity and security that always were and are His to give or to take away.

Israel was in a similar situation after the prosperity of Solomon’s reign when it turned away from God and ignored repeated warnings to turn back. God eventually destroyed Israel and sent its people into exile, not out of hate but out of love because they wouldn’t have turned back to Him - whom they needed more than prosperity or even freedom - without the exile.

But a destructive outcome doesn't have to be. The Bible also speaks of Nineveh, a great power in its day that like Israel was about to be destroyed. But unlike Israel, the Ninevites heeded God's warning and led by its leader, humbled themselves before God in time.

A Christian president matters because for us to be spared as well, we need to humble ourselves before the God of Justice, and cry out to Him for His forgiveness and help.

"If ... My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land" (2 Chronicles 7:13-14).