The Gilded Age of America describes a time following the Civil War where things looked good from the outside looking in, but was deemed "gilded" (wrapped in gold leaf or paint) which meant looks were deceiving. On the inside, just beneath the surface, there were things that were wrong, unfair, ungodly, and broken.
Jesus curses a fig tree in Matthew 21. The tree was full of leaves, but no figs. It was therefore deemed worthless. It looked good on the outside, but was fruitless. It was a "gilded tree." The church runs the risk of being like this as well. This is a warning to Christians, especially those in America and the west, to avoid becoming a "gilded church."
