Good Monday morning (3-22-10),

I recently read an email which called for a time of national prayer for our country. Almost everyone can quote the scripture they used, 2^nd Chronicles 7:14. This is how the email quoted this passage, “If my people, which are called by my name, will humble themselves, seek my face, and pray, then will I hear from Heaven and heal their land.”

It’s amazing how often 2^nd Chronicles 7:14 is misquoted. This email left out these very important words: “And turn from their wicked ways,” and, “I will forgive their sin.”

Apparently, as this scripture points out, God’s people are capable of wickedness, and God demands from His people obedience in turning back to Him. This is a prerequisite for Him to heal a country which is diseased from the crippling effects of its sin.

That email (and others like it) is addressing the concerns many share about a life changing law which was close to being passed and imposed. Today, those concerns are now law, much to the astonishment and alarm of many Christians I know. “God, how can this be? We’ve prayed; we’ve sought your face. What’s happening to our nation?”

“If my people…. Will turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” Might I suggest that failing to totally obey this scripture in God’s Law has allowed the devil to take our society captive? We must turn from our wicked ways.

“It’s Old Testament thinking,” I once heard a preacher say, as he responded to a question about a Christian’s requirement to routinely keep God’s commandments. Turning from wickedness in not exclusively Old Covenant, it’s completely within the commandments of Jesus Christ and simply does apply to every Christian.

In Revelation, chapters 2 and 3, Jesus makes it crystal clear as to how He viewed the lifestyles of some churches located in today’s western-most part of modern Turkey. Keep in mind, this message to the churches was given after Jesus had resurrected. It was an after the cross message. It was given during the Church age, to the Church age. It applies to all churches, including every church in existence today. Consider what Jesus had to say as very, very important, and Christ’s message trumps every single modern preacher’s interpretation and perspectives into New Testament scripture.

In every church He addressed, Jesus stated that He, “Knows your works.” He also indicated that it was His foremost concern that the “works” line up with His will. All were commended (some more than others) and admonished to fight on. Yet most of the churches were also strongly rebuked for their love of devilish things.

Many scholars look at the seventh church, the Laodicean church, as being the best representative of today’s Western churches. Some even go so far as to teach that this particular Church prophetically addresses today’s Western Christianity and its culture of greed and consumerism.

The resurrected Jesus strongly rebuked this church for its lukewarm commitments toward Him. Some would say that lukewarm commitments are the same as having no commitment at all.

Being neither hot nor cold for God, those Jesus addressed in this church are smugly tolerant of their culture and that culture’s attempt to transform His Church, His body if you will. The Laodicians imagined themselves free to live a life unfettered from all constrictions of doctrine which taught them to, “Crucify the flesh and its desires.” To them sin and worldliness is confined only to the sinner, those who were not part of the church.

Jesus pointed out that our wealth will not save us. As the Western Church has applied prosperity principles, it has indeed grown rich. Therefore, we would be wise to ask ourselves if Jesus is also speaking to the Western Christian when He told the Laodicians, “Because you say, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and know not that you are miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.”

Jesus went on to say, “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.”

And “repent?” Repent from what? A nation whose population still generally calls itself “Christian” but who in reality practices a “do what thou wilt” doctrine, this is the nation Jesus is now commanding to repent.

I too am standing in bewilderment as I acknowledge the breathtaking changes in our culture’s policies, laws, and perspectives, as well as the obvious encroachments the mystery of lawlessness has made in to many Churches. Therefore, I too will take liberties with 2^nd Chronicles 7:14, but in a different way.

What if we looked at this scripture from another perspective, stating it this way, “If my people, which are called by my name, will [first] turn from their wicked ways, and [then] humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, then I will hear from Heaven, and I will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

We must not forget that God is now calling us to turn from our wicked ways.

There’s a lot praying and seeking going on. But the fuel feeding this out of control cultural fire is most definitely the unbridled and unanswered wickedness which is deeply rooting itself into our society. Let’s not forget to stand ready to repent, which means to turn around and go God’s way.

Remember. Lawmakers are the conscience of the people. We are still a nation of representation; we vote. A nation’s commitment to righteousness is always represented by those it puts and allows to remain in office.

Biblically, our nation must now heed the words of Jesus, including these words found in Revelation 2:16, “Repent; or else I will come unto you and fight against them with the sword of my mouth.”

Wayne Witcher

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches. Revelation 3:20-22