From the Pastor’s Heart OP-ED BY DR. ROBERT KENNEDY
Some time ago, I listened to a Christian album, and one of the songs that resonated with me had lyrics from Kent Henry and Stephen Wolf. The lyrics to which I refer say:
America, when will you bow your knees.
America, come back to God, oh won’t you, please.
America, Land of the Free, Home of the Brave
Oh, America, it is the Christ alone who says
—
We must fulfill our Godly destiny, lifting[?] Mighty God from sea to shining sea It’s righteousness that exalts our humble nation
To the people that remember it’s God who’s their salvation
Wake up, America, it’s not too late, America
—
America, when will you come and bow your knees
America, come back to God, oh won’t you, please
America.
After reflecting on the lyrics and some other songs that struck the same notes, I mused that it is quite evident that America has not been listening. A broad spectrum of individuals is saying America is marching into the pit of destruction. Are they just talking hopelessness, I ask? Is the nation taking the next generation into the pit with its devastation? Former U.S. President Ronald Reagan, who was not considered a churchman, made a significant point when he said, “If we ever forget we are one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under.”
As is now observed by the Director of the FBI and other law enforcement agencies, the seditious actions at the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021, was the after-effect of the seeds of evil that were being sown in the society through the prostitution of reckless political ideology and conspiracy theories for quite a few decades. Instead of admitting such realities, lawmakers pass the blame from side to side. This effort is to shame each other while excusing themselves from any responsibility.
Of course, there is no need to lay all the blame at the lawmakers’ feet, for the news media, of the right and the left, or conservative and liberal, have done a lot to perpetuate the evil. And let us not stop with the lawmakers and news media, for it is quite evident that many church leaders and members alike are caught up in the fray. Instead of proclaiming the gospel of truth, many in the church have been conjoining with political forces to propagandize theories of conspiracies and corruption. And what is tragic is that, as we all can see, God and the Bible are being used to endorse a lot of evil.
It seems that the call to repentance is falling on deaf ears. So, while calling for the nation to repent, let me invite you to recognize that it is not a call for others; it is a call for each of us to take responsibility and share in the repentance. We need to turn back to God with a humble spirit, lest we will all be consumed.
Here are the words of Jesus in the Gospel of Luke to some who tried to hide behind the actions of others so that they would not have to think of their own repentance:
“There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans because they suffered such things? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, no; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.’” (Luke 13:1-5 NKJV, emphasis mine)
Instead of repenting, the people of Israel were most recalcitrant. The Prophet Isaiah had to issue this warning, “This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.” (Isaiah 30:15 NIV, Emphasis mine)
One of my favorite authors takes note of what the apostle Paul states concerning the nation of Israel that was looking for the Messiah’s coming as the consummation and glory of their national existence. The author notes further that the nation had rejected the Messiah who would have given them life and had chosen another leader, whose reign would end in death.
Paul endeavored to bring home to his hearers that repentance alone couldn’t save the Jewish nation from impending ruin. He revealed their ignorance of those Scriptures, which they boasted that they fully understood. He rebuked their worldliness, their love of station, titles, display, and their excessive selfishness. (Acts of the Apostles, 247)
What happened to the nation of Israel in AD 70 will happen to any nation that rejects the message of repentance today. I am therefore making an open call to my readers, as I pray that God will intervene in our nation’s situation. I pray that we will heed the call to repentance before it is too late, for without repentance, there is no salvation.
