"If My People..."

The first Thursday of May each year has been designated as a "National Day of Prayer." Virtually every year Christian churches and leaders focus on this verse from the Bible on that day: "If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and heal their land." (II Corinthians 7:14.) The context of this section is God's message to Solomon on the occasion of the dedication of the temple in Jerusalem. It is a hope or command for people to turn God-ward, in hopes of having all pain, division, and threat lifted.

Whose job is it to lead people in turning God-ward in this way? Is this something the President should do? Is this the responsibility of elected government officials? Should the courts be leading the way in this? Do we hold public schools accountable to make this happen? To hear some church folks and church leaders cry out against these entities, one might assume that the answer is "yes" to all of the above.

The real responsibility rests with we who have yielded to God, who is made known in the crucified and risen Jesus. We are to be the Body of Jesus the Christ, and the hope of the world. It is our responsibility to have impact - changing lives, changing communities, and changing the world. Our nation will not turn God-ward simply by allowing the ten commandments to be posted in courthouses, by having "In God We Trust" on our currency, having "under God" in our pledge of allegiance, or allowing prayer at public school functions. It will happen because followers of Jesus live their lives in ways that draw others to Jesus, that meet the needs of the least among us, and that change lives, communities, and nations for the good. Our land will heal as churches "leave the building," get out in the mission field, and be the hope of the world.

I'll see you around the next bend in the river.