The United States of Sodom

WARNING: I have A.D.D. and it may show in this article as I hop from Hunger Games to the United States to Sodom.  #ADDstrikesagain.

I’m a fan.  An avid fan of the Hunger Games movies.  I saw Mocking Jay 2 this past week with my niece, nephew and sister.  Over the next day or so I was thinking of the similarities between the United States and the capitol of Panam.  I mentioned this to my niece and nephew, to which my 10 year old "take everything at face value" niece said, "No it isn't, we don't dress like that or wear make up that looks like that".  My introspective 15 year old nephew on the other hand quietly said, "That's true".  As an example, I sited to both my niece and nephew the fact that in America we take a day marked for thankfulness and turn the whole weekend into a quest for getting more.  I further explained to my niece as best as I could that I wasn't referring to the way they look, so much as their extravagance, pride, abundance, lack of concern for what's going on outside of their realm, and hunger for entertainment at any cost.  While reflecting, I couldn't help but think of the following scripture:

"Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had arrogance, abundant food and careless ease, but she did not help the poor and needy."
Ezekiel 16:49 NASB

So, wait a minute, is this scripture actually saying that the main sin of Sodom wasn't homosexuality?  God didn't destroy Sodom because of "them gays"?  I believe that's exactly what it's saying.  (The heart attitude in this verse, however, does lead to all types of lusts and sexual sins, inclusive of homosexuality).  Of course in the United States we are seeing homosexuality run rampant.  However, that is not the root cause of our problem. The root cause is "arrogance, abundant food, and careless ease".  God has been dealing with me on all of these areas.  I have pride in that I think I can at times make it on my own without consulting God.  I have abundance of bread, and abuse the food I'm given by engaging in addictive eating and gluttony while others starve.  I often am idle and craving to be entertained.  God help me.  God help us.  Next time we are tempted to judge the homosexuals around us, and point to them as the cause of the demise of our nation, let's take a hard look at ourselves and the church and consider the ways in which we can purge ourselves from the scriptural guilt of Sodom.  After all: "For the time has come for judgment, and it must begin with God's household" I Peter 4:17 NIV.  .