There is much blame to go around these days for the decay of our nation. While one could make a great argument that for the most part, politicians have utterly made a mockery of our country, the level of intelligence which has been exhibited by this country’s leaders as of late makes one wonder if we did in fact evolve from lesser life forms as their level of decision making may prove that the “missing link” has been found---in Washington, D.C. All joking aside, our nation is a mess. And while we could place the blame on the democrats, republicans, libertarians, tea party members, or whoever else we would like to criticize, I believe that those responsible are less conspicuous and unknowing of their damning deeds that have caused the erosion of America.
I have heard many people make the claim that this current president is “narcissistic.” While there may be some truth to that, I also believe that in America there is a place that is much more self-centered, self-promoting, and self-indulgent than the White House----it’s called the church! We have created an organization in this country which exists to meet the needs of its adherents. We have our one hour and fifteen minute service so that no one has to be inconvenienced; after all, people have lives outside of church and we especially never want people to feel as if they need to “commit” to something which would cost them their free time. Furthermore, we had better entertain the congregants; otherwise, they’ll find other things to do on Sunday morning that will suit their interest. As long as we can give people what they want and speak what they want to hear, the church can remain “alive and well.”
I realize I may be somewhat harsh, but let me prove my thoughts with two simple words: prayer meeting! Where is it? Why aren’t churches doing it? Why won’t people come out to it? Someone once said (to the effect of) “The life of the church is measured by its prayer meeting.” If that is the case, I believe that we are in trouble. And yet, prayer is the foundational element to worship. The general attitude concerning prayer in the church today is one of drudgery, disinterest, and derelict. Yet, it was the “prayer meeting” that empowered the church (Acts 2). Today, we’ve come to believe in our program driven agenda based on a George Barna, Rick Warren, or Willow Creek paradigm. While prayer may be suggested as a part of implementing these programs, the emphasis centers upon the need to become a more “relevant” church to the world around us. After all, the world certainly cannot relate to the prayer meeting.
Ezekiel 21 begins with a warning to God’s people that His wrath was about to be executed upon their nation. It states, “Son of man, set your face against Jerusalem and preach against the sanctuary” (v.1). Why would the prophet begin to “preach against the sanctuary?” The answer is simple: this is where the greatest offense has taken place against the Lord. It wasn’t the “secular” aspect of life which was destroying their nation but it was the worshiping community which was responsible for the coming judgment. How could that be so? The reason I believe is the same reason for what is transpiring in our country today. Ezekiel 22: 30-31 states “I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none. So I will pour out my wrath on them and consume them with my fiery anger, bringing down on their own heads all they have done, declares the Sovereign Lord.”
While the church is too focused upon on how we can make “church better” we have failed to focus on how to make the influence of the church in the world “more powerful” which can only come through the people of God “standing in the gap.” For some reason, we are too concerned with “church growth” strategies rather than the only strategies which will make a church grow----prayer! Rather than painfully interceding on behalf of the sin and lostness of men in our nation, it is much more enjoyable to simply relish in the commentaries of Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, and other such conservative voices as in their “wisdom,” they can tell what needs to be done to save our nation. Their voices echo with the same rhetoric “If we could only get a new president…if we could only get conservatives in the senate….if we could only get more conservatives in the House, then we could get this nation back on track!” While all along, a voice echoes from heaven saying, “If I could only get a church to stand in the gap…if I could only get people to believe in the power of prayer…if I could only get the Body of Christ to care less about their “freedoms” and more about their “sacrifice” as disciples, then I would ‘…hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land’ (2 Chronicles 7:14).
Let’s be honest at this point. Prayer is the least important aspect of worship in the church today but it is the most necessary. Why are we so negligent towards prayer? The honest answer is the most humbling---we’re simply not that interested in God. God doesn’t care about the size of our churches or whether or not we have a top-notch youth ministry. He doesn’t care about whether or not the world is even interested in entering the doors of your sanctuary. He’s not the One giving us all of the “ideas” to “grow our churches” in finding ways to “connect” better with those in the world. How can I make such claims? Because there is a nation in which we live in that is about to experience the wrath of God in ways we have never seen in this country, and while we are worried about building our little kingdoms and mega-churches, God weeps over the lost and grieves over the apathetic church which would rather be entertained in their worship instead of travailing through the pain of intercession. Judgment will begin with the house of God. My only prayer is that when it does, perhaps a few of us will stand in the gap when the foundational walls of this nation comes crumbling down. So the next time you’re tempted to point the finger at the president, senate, or congress, you had better do so knowing that there are fingers pointing back at you accusing you of putting our country in this mess for the lack of a zealous prayer life!
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