Kingdom Causes Torrance

I’ve been thinking about a few things today and talking to God. I’m thinking about America. Our culture. The Church. The elections. Proposition 8, which deals with the issue of marriage.

Dr. Dobson was talking about proposition 8 on the radio today. He started reading a letter about the issue and the call to Americans to fast and pray. As he read the letter he, and I, could hardly hold back the tears. As a response to his letter, he urged his listeners to go to The Call rally in San Diego this Saturday morning to fast and pray. He said people were coming to cry out God for our nation. I think this is so good and needed but I couldn’t get that phrase out of my mind, “cry out to God:.

As I thought about the phrase more I grew concerned. I’ve heard people talk about crying out to God but it struck me today that most people are just using the phrase. When I think of this phrase I think of weeping and travailing. But I’ve been with people as we cried out to God in prayer without one tear being shed. I’m not saying that those who don’t shed tears are insincere, but the lack of tears does make me wonder if we really understand the depths of our brokenness.

I think it’s time to shed some tears. I think it’s time for The Church to take a deep look in the mirror and recognize that we are responsible for the state of our nation. If we don’t like what we see than we need to point our finger no farther than ourselves. We need to take a deep drink of humility. As a whole, it seems to me that we are blind to our responsibility. The state of our nation has everything to do with us. It’s time we really humbled ourselves and shed some serious tears. In this case, we need to cry out to God to open our eyes and hearts so we can shed some tears of repentance. But there won’t be repentance of we don’t take 100% responsibility because there is nothing to weep over when someone else is to blame.

Unfortunately, I’m afraid The Church can’t shed the tears because it doesn’t even know how to or even understand what it means to repent. I wonder how often the word is even used Sunday mornings. When we come to Christ we don’t repent anymore. We don’t cry out to God in recognition that we are sinners in desperate need of a savior. Nowadays, we ask a “little Jesus to come in our heart”. No tears of repentance. No conviction of sin. No wonder we’re in the predicament we are in. We have never come under the conviction or recognized the staggering reality of own wickedness and that we deserve nothing but damnation and hell. In us there is no good. We have not grasped that it is nothing less than an other-worldly love that saves our soul from the eternal fires. It is the love and mercy of the creator of heaven and earth who loved us so much that he shed his own blood for a hostel and evil-hearted people. We are far from understanding how helpless we are without the sacrifice of Jesus. And, without conviction if sin can there be real repentance? When was the last time you saw someone give their lives to Jesus in a pool of tears? We really don’t know how much we’ve been forgiven.

This brings me to my next concern. Scripture says those who have been forgiven much love much. If we really don’t grasp how much we’ve been forgiven than how are we doing on love? I’m going to generalize but I think the people of God are lacking in love and we're in big trouble. This is a serious problem. If we don’t love people, whom Christ died for, do we really love God? Can one really love God but isolate themselves from the very people He shed his blood for? Do we really know God or are we just walking around with a false security trusting we are safe and secure from the fires of hell because we have a little Jesus in our heart? If we say we love God but not our neighbor than we’re liars and the truth is not in us.

It seems to me that The Church is failing at the most basic of all Christian virtues, love. We are seen and rightly so buy the homosexual community as haters. Not because we are spitting in their face but that we treat them as "lepers." Some of it is undeserved but a direct hit for most of us. It seems that our culture is becoming more and more hostile toward Christians and we are to blame and the irony is that we point fingers at everyone else. We blame and condemn the baby killers and the homosexuals. We are playing the victim and lack love. How can we expect those who are not filled with the Spirit of God to lead with love. That’s our job.

Why are so many church programs for church members? I would say that is because we are self centered and lacking in love. Have you heard the saying, “if your church disappeared tomorrow would anyone outside of your congregation notice?” I would have to say the answer for most congregations is a resounding “no!” We’ve separated ourselves from the World. If we’re honest I think we really don’t care and it shows. We are judgmental haters and we need to repent. We need to shed some real big tears and change our thinking and behavior if we really want to see change in America. I think many people have responded in part to 2 Chronicles 7:14. We have humbled ourselves, prayed and sought His face, but we haven’t turned from our wicked ways, repented. Do we even see our ways as wicked? And how do we know if we’ve repented? There is no real repentance unless it followed by real change.

So, the real test will not be at the stadium this Saturday. I’m sure people will fast and cry out to God and this is good. But we must think and be different afterwards. The days after will reveal if we really meant what we professed on Saturday. If we haven’t changed our ways than we are just a resounding gong and will get what we deserve. The evidence of our repentance on Sunday should be humility shown in a new love for our neighbor, God's love. If we do not have love we have nothing.

If proposition 8 passes making our California Constitution state that marriage is between only one man and one woman that is good. But if there is no real repentance then our victory will be short lived. God’s mercy and patience has its limits. God has extended his grace and mercy to our nation because He is giving us more time to repent and get back to the basics of loving God and people. We need to realize that the homosexuality community views their cause as the next civil rights issue of our day and they will be tireless in their fight. They will continue to pound on the doors of our culture until they break in and get all they want. I hate to admit it but from what I’ve witnessed so far, I don’t think we can match their unity and stamina. And if we don’t turn and use the greatest weapon at our disposal we’re doomed. What we need to do is respond with the weapon of love shown in very practical ways.
This is what is missing from The Church. The Church lacks real practical love.

We need to demonstrate to our nation, our state, cities and neighbors that we are people of incredible, live altering, self sacrificing love. This is what turns heads and hearts. I know this sounds hokey but love can turn this nation around. Isn’t the answer to culture in large part changed hearts? So how do hearts change? How did yours change? Mine changed as I encountered the love of Christ. After encountering God’s love for me, I fell in love with God. He has since been helping me love people. Love God and love people. That sums it up.

The Lord does not want us to retreat from cultural battle. We just need to remind ourselves that our culture will not change because of our good arguments and campaigns. Good things can happen through these but we can’t expect those who are not filled with the Holy Spirit to live righteous lives and make righteous decisions. In fact, if I didn’t give my life to Jesus in 94, I would be standing shoulder to shoulder with all my progressive friends right now. And I bet I would be a Christian hater too. We must remember that people won’t change unless they have a heart change and hearts are changed because of love.

Love needs to be practical. What does this love look like? I would imagine that churches all over the nation would begin being creative in how they can love the homosexual community. I would imagine we would be more involved in helping with AIDS. I would also imagine we would come up with some creative ideas to minister to women and their families who have participated in an abortion. We would continue to help women avoid having abortions but also help those who choose to have their child. The Church would become heavily involved in adoption and helping young mothers. We would be more active in serving the poor in our own communities and Lord willing working together. Can you imagine a united Church motivated by love? I dream of it and am praying to the God of heaven for it.