A few weeks ago, I made the following provocative statement:

God is not going to judge America for her rampant immorality (e.g., abortion, homosexuality, etc.).

Some of the responses I received came very close to what I was leaving unsaid.

First, I should clarify what kind of judgment I am talking about here. God has said he will judge according to deeds (Matthew 16:27, Romans 2:6). But I’m not thinking of an eschatological judgment, I’m thinking of judgment here and now (or yet to come, but in this world), which is what is meant when people say that God will judge America for immorality.

Second — and this may be disputable — I’m not so sure God will ever judge America for any reason. I think that idea comes from the inflated sense of importance with which American evangelicals view their nation. They reason that since America is so important on earth, she must be important in heaven, too. And there is no denying that a certain segment of evangelicalism considers America to be God’s nation, like a new Israel. Therefore, surely God will deal with an ungodly America the same as he did with Israel. I don’t think so. In God’s eyes, America is no more important than, say, Liechtenstein. God is interested in people, not in political structures. Of course, when enough of a population is under judgment, the social and civil structures will crumble. But that, as I see it, is a consequence of judgment, not the judgment itself.

That is one reason I could say that God will not judge America; but that is not the main point I was getting at. The point is this: God is not going to judge, his is judging.; and he is not judging for immorality, he is judging with immorality. Abortion, homosexuality, etc. are not the cause of judgment; the are the judgment. Which leaves the question yet unanswered: What is provoking God’s judgment?

Romans 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. 21 For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. 24 Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. 25 For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. 26 For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, 27 and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error. 28 And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; 32 and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.

“The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men . . .” Which men? Those who knew the truth as plainly revealed by God and suppressed it. They knew God but — here’s their crime — “they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.” Their sin was nothing but a failure to worship God. They were idolaters, so God said, If you will not worship me, I will remove the restraints I have placed upon your depraved flesh and let you sink as low as you will go. That is my judgment upon you (Remember Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel 4:30–33).

God is not going to judge for sodomy or abortion. He is judging for idolatry. He is causing idolaters to commit perverse acts upon one another, and he is causing them to murder their children, or simply to choose preemptive measures against them. The next generation is being killed in the womb while the present generation is dying of “the due penalty of their error.” That is God’s judgment.