Opus 2025-292: Opposite of Replacement

A friend likes to accuse me of being a believer in “replacement theology”.  At first I was like a little boy who didn’t know what the insult was about, and said “No, I’m not.”   The more I study the more I tend to say, “Maybe I am.”  Like me you may wonder what Replacement Theology is.  It seems to involve the idea that the church has replaced Israel as God’s Chosen People.  At its extreme it can evidently become quite anti-Semitic and be more focused on discrediting the Jews than lifting up the church.  

Most of us are familiar with the concept that God chose the children of Abraham to be a blessing to the world.  They were given the law.  The Messiah, Jesus, was to come from the decendents of David.  Is all that unconditional or are their some “if’s” involved?

Consider the following and realize that it is one of many places we see this.  The setting is the final dedication of the Temple and God is addressing Solomon.

2 Chronicles 7:16-20 (KJV) 16 For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there for ever: and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually. 17 And as for thee, if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, and do according to all that I have commanded thee, and shalt observe my statutes and my judgments; 18 Then will I stablish the throne of thy kingdom, according as I have covenanted with David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man to be ruler in Israel. 19 But if ye turn away, and forsake my statutes and my commandments, which I have set before you, and shall go and serve other gods, and worship them; 20 Then will I pluck them up by the roots out of my land which I have given them; and this house, which I have sanctified for my name, will I cast out of my sight, and will make it to be a proverb and a byword among all nations.

Here you have double sets of if/then.  The first was a conditional promise to Solomon for the same covenant that had been offered to David.  The second is the clear statement about what would happen if Solomon turned away from God.  It promised that they would be plucked out by the roots from God’s land if Solomon turned away.  That sounds pretty clear.  If they disobeyed God and turned other gods, they will be removed from the land.  Generally when you pluck something out it dies.  It does not come back at a later date.  What you need to add to the equation is something that most Christians don’t know:  At the end of his life, Solomon did all of the things that God forbid him from doing.

So which time was God speaking literally and which figuratively?  Is God done with Israel?  I am still in process on this.  I am sure there will be more to come.

homo unius libri

Opus 2025-270: Conditional Throne

Most people are familiar with,

2 Chronicles 7:14 (KJV) If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

The same people are not familiar with the context.  Immediately before this is the consecration of the temple and Solomon’s palace.  After that, we have a conditional statement about the throne of David.

2 Chronicles 7:16-20 (KJV) 16 For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there for ever: and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually. 17 And as for thee, if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, and do according to all that I have commanded thee, and shalt observe my statutes and my judgments; 18 Then will I stablish the throne of thy kingdom, according as I have covenanted with David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man to be ruler in Israel. 19 But if ye turn away, and forsake my statutes and my commandments, which I have set before you, and shall go and serve other gods, and worship them; 20 Then will I pluck them up by the roots out of my land which I have given them; and this house, which I have sanctified for my name, will I cast out of my sight, and will make it to be a proverb and a byword among all nations.

This makes the promise of the eternal throne totally dependent on obedience, and specifically rooted out if they follow other gods.  Noticed it extends back to David.

If you take the time to read about the end of Solomon’s life in I Kings 11 you will see that he turned totally away from the Lord.  He checked all the boxes of turning away.  For that reason I question the position of Israel as forever God’s chosen ones.

The Bible has many promises but keep in mind that God is not stupid.  He does not make blind promises that require nothing from us.

homo unius libri

Opus 2025-198: Enduring Promises

The Bible is full of promises that God made to Israel, and by extension, for his people today, which would be the church.  One of the promises that people love the quote is,

2 Chronicles 7:14 (KJV) If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

What is amazing about this is that every time I’ve heard this used in a sermon or a teaching session the context of the passage is totally ignored.  This promise of renewal and revival was given to Solomon right after he dedicated the temple.  In other words, this promise of renewal was given at the high point of Israel’s history.  This was not a call to repentance declared in the midst of apostasy and degeneration.  This was a statement made when God’s house had finally been finished and sanctified for worship.

God gives promises.  His promises are not limited to the time in which they are offered.  His promises are looking down through history, based on knowing what people are like, and how we live our lives.  In the previous verses, God points out His awareness of what will probably come.  In the verse just before this, He lays out the possibility that He might be forced to put Israel in time out.  He might be forced to send pestilence and disease and weakness.  And the promise is that when that happens God is waiting for our repentance and is ready to restore.

I think of other promises given that extend over millennium.  I think of Genesis 3:15 where God promises to send the seed of Adam to crush the head of Satan.  I think of the promises in the prophets of a new covenant and a new heart.

Some promises are more quickly fulfilled, but also have an extended lifespan.  I think of the promise of the Holy Spirit, and how He was to come at Pentecost.  Although that was the birth of the church and a new age in spiritual life, the promise of the filling of the spirit is still extend it to us today.  So you have the promise then that is still alive today.

Then you have promises that are just almost perpetual motion machine.  I think of I John 1:9 and how we are promised forgiveness for confessing our sins.

Promises abound.  Check out the expectations for application and rejoice.

homo unius libri

Opus 2024-368: Is God a Literalist?

Does God always speak literally?  Does He ever use figures of speech?  I’m referring to such things as the words “never”, “always,” “forever” and such expressions.

In my every day life my wife likes to say that I “never wipe the counter”.  She likes to say that I “always forget ______.”  I think you get the idea.  Just because I didn’t do it in the five minutes before she gets excited, that means I never did it.  

We all do this.  For some of us hyperbole is a way of life.  That itself is possible hyperbole.

So the question is, “Does God speak this way?”  When He says to David, that the covenant will be forever, does He mean literally forever or figuratively forever?  Take this as one example,

(2Sa 7:16-7 KJV)  And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.  According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.

That would seem straightforward.  What complicates the issue is other places where He seems to put “if” statements into the proclamation.  Here God is talking to Solomon.

(2Ch 7:17-21 KJV)  And as for thee, if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, and do according to all that I have commanded thee, and shalt observe my statutes and my judgments; Then will I stablish the throne of thy kingdom, according as I have covenanted with David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man to be ruler in Israel.  But if ye turn away, and forsake my statutes and my commandments, which I have set before you, and shall go and serve other gods, and worship them; Then will I pluck them up by the roots out of my land which I have given them; and this house, which I have sanctified for my name, will I cast out of my sight, and will make it to be a proverb and a byword among all nations.  And this house, which is high, shall be an astonishment to every one that passeth by it; so that he shall say, Why hath the LORD done thus unto this land, and unto this house?  And it shall be answered, Because they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, and laid hold on other gods, and worshipped them, and served them: therefore hath he brought all this evil upon them.

Solomon is the direct descendant of David.  He is the one to whom the throne must pass.  Notice, though, that with David the “shall be established forever” becomes an “if” statement.  Is God confused?  Does He change His mind?  Or is it simply a figure of speech that everyone who was not committed to a theological position could understand?

Of course this could be another one of those both/and situations rather than either/or.  I don’t have an easy answer but I am aware of the question.

homo unius libri

Opus 2024-342: Election 2024: A Corner on Hope

In just a few weeks, we will have another national election.  We’ve done this many times before.  We’ve had a lot of anger and hostility before.  We’ve had division before.  I was just reading about the hostility between John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, it was very real, very deep and bitter.  The country survived.

You can go down through our history and see many occasions like this.  If you have access to any of the sites that look at the attacks on Abraham Lincoln in the press and in any other way of communication, you could almost substitute Donald Trump and see the same types of things.  All of this is nothing new in American politics.

So what is different this time?

The difference used to be on numerous corners in every town.  It used to be that everywhere you drove you would see church steeples, and those church steeples would represent the attitudes of the people who lived in that area.  The odds were those steeples would represent churches that were full of people that actually believe what the Bible said, and who had their hope resting in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  They were called the salt of the Earth.  They were never a majority but they were a significant segment.

What happens to a country when its salt loses its savor?  I’m sure you are familiar with at least part of this verse,

Matthew 5:13 (KJV) Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

It is perfectly clear to anyone who is serious about serving Jesus that the church has lost its savor, or savour as the KJV would put it.  That doesn’t mean there isn’t any life in the old girl yet but it does mean that it has lost the influence that it had.  That influence is vital in the coming election.  And it’s not just a matter of Christians not voting.  It’s a matter of so many people who call themselves Christians ignoring what they believe when they vote.  They have allow themselves to be brainwashed by the anti-God forces in our culture.  Many of those forces are in charge of the denominations of the churches they attend.  The recent action in the United Methodist Church is a good example of how the so-called churches have abandoned the standards of God.

There is still hope.  And that hope is in you if you acknowledge Jesus Christ is Lord.  Can you see if you acknowledge Jesus as Lord then that means that you are a part of that group of people that are called by His name.  At this point, let me bring forth a verse, which is so often quoted and quoted incorrectly.

2 Chronicles 7:14 (KJV) If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

This is a message of hope.  But you need to understand that hope which is in Almighty God is dependent upon a small group of people, the ones who are “called by My name”.  Now this originally applied to Israel.  It still applies to Israel in specifics, but the principle applies to the church today.

It’s not going to do any good if people who deny God call upon his name.  It won’t do them any good to pray.  God is not listening to the prayers of his enemies.

If the country is to be saved, we need to vote, yes.  We need to pray, yes.  But above all that small group of people who are still faithful need to focus on turning from their wicked ways, and calling upon God.

The country can be pulled out of its nose dive.  It can be pulled out of his nose dive no matter who wins the election.  The key is being salt, and pepper has never been able to replace salt.

So vote. Pray. But above all turn from your wicked ways. The country is counting on you.

homo unius libri

Opus 2024-074: Has the Other Shoe Dropped?

Last night as I was getting ready to go to bed, I saw the reports of drone attacks on Israel.  They say that elections have consequences.  For anyone who has voted for any Democrat in the past eight years I would say, “Welcome to consequences.”  I would also include a lot of Rinos who are part of the Uniparty.  There is enough guilt to go around.

We don’t know how far the consequences will go.  Is this the beginning of World War III?  Is it just time for another Trump indictment?  In 1914 it took time to mobilize and nothing happened to bring sanity.  In the late 30's there were many chances to head off the Nazi onslaught but none were taken.  With the leadership we have I would suggest that prayer and repentance would be good ideas.  Don’t wait until things go nuclear or the drones start hitting us from Cuba, Mexico or container ships.  

Prayer is always a good place to start and a weak place to finish.  Hand in hand is the second thing I mentioned.  Many are familiar with a Bible verse,

(2Ch 7:14 KJV)  If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

This was addressed to Israel when they were at the top of their game.  The Temple had just been finished and Solomon lead in its dedication.  What a strange time to offer this warning.

We are not Israel.  We are not at the top of our game.  Instead of a Solomon we have an empty suit.  I think the principle still applies if we have enough people who are faithful to God’s calling.  Two parts of this we don’t like are to “humble ourselves” and to “turn from out wicked ways.”  Keep in mind that God would have spared Sodom if there had been ten righteous.  Do we have enough in the world, let alone America.

It may just be another fire drill.  Let us hope so.  That doesn’t mean we can ignore it.  Eventually the other shoe will drop.

Be salt.  Be light.  Give God a reason to spare us.

homo unius libri

Opus 2023-057: Critical Mass: Ignoring the Obvious

The average American has a hard time understanding the existence of real evil.  We have gotten so used to routine unrighteousness that the depravity being initiated around us goes unnoticed.  It is like being inside a well insulated house when it begins to rain.  The storm builds and sometimes it isn’t until a bolt of lighting takes out the electricity that they look out and say, “My, it is raining hard.”

What kind of evil is going on?  Abortion is obvious.  You don’t need to dig too deep to see how medical doctors reach into a womb with metal instruments and begin to tear the baby inside limb from limb.  Trafficking in children for all kinds of insidious uses is going on under our noses.  It is ignored.  The surgeries being done on children too young to even know what gender is all about are an abomination.  The killing of thousands from hidden side effects on a chemical injection called a vaccination is lied about and covered up.  The catch and release program of the legal system which is often don’t even catch.  

How do these things start?  Often slowly and step by step.  I was accosted by a young man bun in the parking lot.  He was very dramatic.  He wanted a donation for some anti-bullying program.  How can you say “no” to such a noble cause?  Having been a public school teacher and seen what the last lessons in the program were, it was not hard.  They are smoke screens for advancing the homosexual agenda.  After I retired they started bringing in the pronoun of choice nonsense and that proceeded to identifying as and finally to destructive surgery.  Yes it is a slippery slope.  And they will be coming for your children if you don’t stay off the radar.

Evil exists.  It is all around us.  It feeds on our naivety.  The only antidote in most of the world through most of history has been the sword.  In cultures that have been saturated with righteousness then people serving the Light, God, are a natural protection from the deeds of darkness.  The problem is that too many people have abandoned the light and think that they can get away with it.  It does not work that way.  

There is a critical mass necessary for civil society.  We have crossed the line and continue to move into the world of the satanic.  Society will not recover unless we as individuals take the steps to recover.  I think God is going to let us decline until enough people feel enough pain to repent.

(2Ch 7:13-4 KJV)  If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people;  If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

This was written to Israel but I believe the principle applies to any nation where enough people call upon the Lord.

homo unius libri

Opus 2022-192: Hang It

I put out my flag today.  I had a moment of wondering if I should bother.  The way things are going you wonder if we will soon need one with fewer stars.  The Progressives* are out to destroy the country by aggressive acts of power usurpation which destroy our liberties and opportunities.  Of the three branches of the federal government only the Supreme Court has any glimmer of being on the side of historic America and that is an undependable majority when you consider how Roberts waffles and weaves.

I put my flag out today.  Ultimately I am an American and historically I am proud of that.  It was, of course, only an act of God that had me born here instead of a refugee camp somewhere in the third world.  Even then I could have emigrated and become an American.  I am grateful.  We have our problems but if there were a balance of history we would be overwhelmingly in the good guy column.  The only thing that would keep you from believing that is believing the lies that are being perpetuated by our elites.  

I put my flag out today.  It is a sign of hope for the future.  It is an expression of hope in the American people, the silent masses.  We could take that phrase from the Statue of Liberty, “huddled masses yearning to breathe free,” and apply it to the workers and families that now live here.  Ultimately my hope is based on a belief that God is not through with us yet.  It is time to remind ourselves of the promise given to ancient Israel,

(2Ch 7:14 KJV)  If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

We are not Israel but the principle remains the same.  Keep in mind the key parts we don’t like to remember:  humbling ourselves and turning from our evil ways.

As you put out your flag remember that there is hope.

homo unius libri

Opus 2022-058: Problems and Solutions

America has problems.  At the root of all that is coming apart is a rejection of spiritual values.  I lay the blame mainly on the church.  The church has refused to be the church.  They have been busy being accepted by the pagan world and looking for ways to water down the message.

If America faces the kind of oppression and violence that I see coming it will not be because we did not get involved in politics.  It will because we have rejected the demands of a holy God.  It will be because of millions of abortions.  It will be because pornography has gone mainstream.  It will be because we now accept all the different versions of homosexual behavior and will soon be accepting even more.  It will be because pedophilia is coming close to being accepted.  

These are spiritual issues and there are spiritual solutions.  We could have revival.  In the Bible you have the example of Nineveh responding to Jonah.  God would have spared Sodom if only a few righteous could be found.  The preaching of John Wesley kept England from disintegrating like the French did.  Societies can be changed but they won’t be changed until individuals are changed.  

Get involved politically.  Vote.  Speak up.  But most important humble yourself before the God of the universe and repent.  The principle was presented to Israel,

(2Ch 7:14 KJV)  If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

We are not Israel.  We are not the chosen people, but God has blessed us and used us to be a blessing.  The principle still applies if you are one of those who follows Jesus and lives a life of obedience.

It is not too late.

homo unius libri

Opus 2021-123: Reminders: #3, Blind Spots

There are certain topics I have written about.  They are worth repeating.  I need to revisit them to refresh my memory and enhance my thinking.  Others need to be reminded.  There is a constant bombardment of ideas that clutter our minds.

It happened again last week.  Someone quoted II Chronicles 7:14 and left out the most important part, the part no one wants to remember.

(2Ch 7:14 KJV) If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Guess which phrase is usually overlooked:  “Turn from your wicked ways”.

Up until that little statement most people can be on board.  We find the idea of being God’s people and being called by His name as potentially beneficial.  If you think about the bloodiest wars, such as the American Civil War, both sides seem to think God is on their side.  It is possible to humble ourselves without actually doing so.  Again, we can feel good about that.  Most people pray even if they don’t know the difference between prayer, thinking good thoughts and cursing.  They can even seek God’s face because most people’s conception of God is pagan and is based on a mirror image.

The following promises are all good.  God will hear us.  God will forgive.  God will heal.  Who could have any problem with that, accept the part about us being sinners needing forgiveness.

The problem is with the in-between, the sandwich filling, the turning.  Turning means change.  Change is inconvenient.  Change makes demands if we do it the way the verse implies.  A word that brings it home is “repent”.  Do a quick run down of the Ten Commandments and ask yourself which ones you are up to date with.

America is at a cross-road.  In a sense that is nothing new.  Each generation needs to make the decision of whether they are going to turn from their wicked ways or go for same-o same-o.  In the past we have had enough people turn that we have not come apart at the seams.  The turning has to take place one at a time.  No one can do it for anyone else.  God will be the one to decide if He just honors us as individuals or as a people.

Are you part of the problem or part of the solution?

homo unius libri

Opus 2021-052: Reflection on Day Two, Part 2 of 2, The Concern

God is in charge.  I find comfort in that.

At the same time I am not sanguine about our future.  In Psalm 81 the author, Asaph, spends a number of verses reviewing all the things God did for His people and then gets to the part that concerns me,

(Psa 81:11-12 KJV) But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me.  So I gave them up unto their own hearts' lust: and they walked in their own counsels.

First, we cannot expect the blessings of God when we spend our time spitting in His face.  Do you really see out leaders doing what is right or lining their own pockets.  Their interest is power.  To achieve that power they first turned on God on their way to turning on the American people.  It you don’t see it then you might want to ask what counsel you are following.  This is not something that suddenly emerged from nowhere like the universe at Creation.  It has been in the shadows and on the screens for years.  

Second, “my people” historically was the Jews.  Today it could be used to refer to Christians who are sincere believers in and followers of Jesus.  Historically the result of not harkening was the approach of disaster.  The same it true for us today.  

The answer to the problems of violence and decay that we see everywhere is right in front of us.  It is available.  It involves repentance and a change of how we live.  God is waiting but He is not willing to give you an advance on an unsecured loan.  It gets repeated until our ears are dull, but let me give it to you again,

(2Ch 7:14 KJV) If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

The part of this we refuse is the “turn from their wicked ways”.  That is hard to do when we live in a world that denies sin and the church that is responsible to call us to repentance also refusing to denounce sin.

It starts with me but don’t think that lets you off the hook.

homo unius libri

Opus 2020-292: Should-a-Beens: Is the Pope a Catholic?

Most of us can remember when this question was a reminder that someone had asked a stupid question.  There were some things that we considered as certain as death and taxes.  Now the question of the Catholicism of the Pope is open to question.

I am not a Catholic so my opinion is unimportant, but over the last few years I have made inquiry of people who were devout in the faith.  They are having the same doubts.  He seems to feel that Muslims are brothers in Christ and that godless socialism is the way to go.  There are times when he seems to be as good a Catholic as Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi.  On reflection, I think he is.

The church of Jesus Christ needs revival.  The leadership in Protestant denominations have long been siding with the devil.  There has always been an element in the Catholic church that was rotten and now it seems that the rot has Peter Principled the oldest denomination.

Now we can be even more inclusive when we pray for revival.  My opinion is that the current disintegration of the United States is taking place because the pulpits of American have abandoned their calling to preach against sin.  Politics can take us nowhere if the hearts of the people are not right with God.  It is always right to recall the words that are often quoted and always ignored,

(2Ch 7:14 KJV) If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Never quote this without that phrase, “turn from their wicked ways”.

homo unius libri

Opus 2020-191: On the Street: Truth in Advertising

As I was driving along the highway I saw one of those electronic billboard signs and it was giving the message, “If my people will pray...”, “I will heal their land, (II Chron. 7:14)”.  It is a good message and needs to be repeated but it needs to be repeated as a complete statement.  As presented it gives a false impression of whom God is and how He works.  He is not a vending machine that accepts our quarters and gives us a prize.

Here is the complete verse.

(2Ch 7:14 KJV) If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Notice a couple of things.  First, this is not addressed as a cure-all for everyone driving by.  It specifically is addressed to “my people”.  When it was written that meant the children of Abraham which we would call the Jews today.  Most Christians would extend the coverage to devout believers in Jesus also.  So if you are a garden variety pagan, you might make a great neighbor and even a member of the school board but this promise of God is not a promise to you.  When we first moved to Texas I could not walk into any library and check out a book.  I had to apply for the card first.  And the card was not good at other libraries. 

Second is a series of things.  Notice the expectations of those to whom this applies:  Humbling, prayer, seeking and the one no one wants to hear.  That which often remains nameless is repentance.  Repentance is defined in this verse.  It means turning from your wicked ways.

Then God will hear.  Then God will forgive.  Then God will heal. 

If you are a pagan or a pseudo-Christian then, sorry, this is not a promise for you.  However the good news is that if God heals the land of the believer and you live next door, there will be some great side effects. 

So if you are a serious Christian, get with the program.  If you are a pagan, encourage them to get with the program.  After all, what have you got to lose?

homo unius libri

Opus 2013-307: Revival or Decay?

The Third Great Awakening.  Is it coming?  Is it here?  This came to mind because in passing Alistair Begg said, “If there is a Third Great Awakening...”  My mind went in tangent mode.

If you didn’t pay attention or if it was not covered when you went to school, the First Great Awakening took place in the early 1700's in the American colonies.  It started in New England and is associated with names such as Jonathan Edwards.  It was a spiritual revival that spread through the churches and molded the culture.  What is called the Second Great Awakening took place around 100 years later with similar results.  I have heard different people talk about the need for revival in America.  I personally think it is the only hope for the country.  I have heard different people mention a Third Great Awakening.  I have heard some who feel it is going on now.  I do not see any evidence of that, but I don’t get out much.

Be careful what you pray for.  The First Great Awakening came one generation before the American Revolution.  The Second Great Awakening came one generation before the American Civil War.  If we have a third it might lead to that kind of upheaval.

Each revival brought to a head cultural stresses that were major issues of the times.  The first revival had to do with the idea of liberty from the mother country.  Were we capable of governing ourselves or had God placed special people, royalty and nobles, in a position to tell us what to do?  It was not resolved and lead to war.  The second revival had to do with the issue of slavery.  If God had created all men and we were all created equal as the Declaration of Independence said, how could slavery continue?  Eventually this lead to the most devastating war we have experienced.  Currently we have a number of stresses.  One has to do with abortion and whether a baby in the womb has any rights.  The other has to do with the definition of marriage and the propriety of homosexuality.  The government keeps pushing in to tell people what to believe.  How will it be resolved?  With violence?  I hope not.

At least once a religious revival changed a country without violence.  I speak of the Methodist revival brought about by the teaching of John Wesley.  Large numbers of people were brought into contact with God and had their lives changed.  This took place when Great Britain was on pins and needles over the same issues that caused the French Revolution.  It also lead to the end of the slave trade in the British Empire.  The Methodist revival kept a war from happening.

What does the future hold?  Revival or decay.  At present it looks like decay is winning but if enough of God’s people will turn to Him in repentance, there is hope.  Remember the important verse about this.

(2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV)  If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

The ball is in our court.

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