Josh February 3rd, 2008
It is of utmost importance, Brethren, that we be quick to acknowledge, confess, and repent of our personal sins against our longsuffering, patient, but just God. However, I fear that while we are mindful of such things, we forget to confess the corporate sins of the Church (particularly within its sphere of influence–whether it be a city, town, or nation), and pray for God’s revival to be brought replacing the apathy of the Church at large.
Since I am in America, I am reminded of the Church’s laxity in dealing with all the moral and social ills. I am most reminded of how said ills have drastically worsened due to the Church’s withdrawal from nearly all realms of society (Social charity–widows, orphans, etc; Art; Music; Education) and a retreat into a fallacious mode of Sacred vs. Secular mentality (Forgive any broad brushing, I’m just meaning the Church at large, not all Churches without exception).
In our withdrawal from these things, we’ve allowed the godless state to take over and chaos has ensued. Ought it not burden the Church’s conscience that godless men see the Church’s inactivity in taking care of the poor etc, and are so incensed thereby that they become active in planning to put an end to such things (although their plans fail miserably in accomplishing such goals)? Shame on us. May it not be so any longer! We, of course, have the only viable (and the most perfect!) answer. It is the Gospel. It is speaking the truth in love, while acting according to that truth toward those Whom we’re seeking to win.
Now, of course, we’re not just speaking of social involvement, but social outcries as well. How long will the Church stand by uninvolved while pseudo-legislation advocates the murder of the unborn? How long will She tolerate such madness? We should be on our faces before God and be zealously decrying these things in the public forum (note: speaking the truth in love). We have become accepting of the fact that it exists in our culture to the point that we’re not zealous enough to see it be gone. This is also true of homosexuality, illicit heterosexuality, ___________ (fill in the blank with whatever abomination). We need repentance starting with the Church.
This Lord’s day, while in prayer individually, with families, and their corporate local churches, may Christians see the need for the Church to turn from her contentedness, and die to themselves, praying on behalf of the Church as Daniel prayed on behalf of Israel:
Daniel 9:3 Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes. 4 I prayed to the Lord my God and made confession, saying, “O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, 5 we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules. 6 We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land. 7 To you, O Lord, belongs righteousness, but to us open shame, as at this day, to the men of Judah, to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to all Israel, those who are near and those who are far away, in all the lands to which you have driven them, because of the treachery that they have committed against you.
8 To us, O Lord, belongs open shame, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against you. 9 To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against him 10 and have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God by walking in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets. 11 All Israel has transgressed your law and turned aside, refusing to obey your voice. And the curse and oath that are written in the Law of Moses the servant of God have been poured out upon us, because we have sinned against him. 12 He has confirmed his words, which he spoke against us and against our rulers who ruled us, by bringing upon us a great calamity. For under the whole heaven there has not been done anything like what has been done against Jerusalem.
13 As it is written in the Law of Moses, all this calamity has come upon us; yet we have not entreated the favor of the Lord our God, turning from our iniquities and gaining insight by your truth. 14 Therefore the Lord has kept ready the calamity and has brought it upon us, for the Lord our God is righteous in all the works that he has done, and we have not obeyed his voice. 15 And now, O Lord our God, who brought your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and have made a name for yourself, as at this day, we have sinned, we have done wickedly.
16 “O Lord, according to all your righteous acts, let your anger and your wrath turn away from your city Jerusalem, your holy hill, because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and your people have become a byword among all who are around us. 17 Now therefore, O our God, listen to the prayer of your servant and to his pleas for mercy, and for your own sake, O Lord, make your face to shine upon your sanctuary, which is desolate. 18 O my God, incline your ear and hear. Open your eyes and see our desolations, and the city that is called by your name. For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy.
19 O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive. O Lord, pay attention and act. Delay not, for your own sake, O my God, because your city and your people are called by your name.”
May it be so. Blessings to each of God’s elect this Lord’s Day.
I am about to partake of the bread and wine at the Lord’s Table. I have been struck anew at the privilege of being called a son of God. I am so thankful that He’s a friend to sinners (some), for I feel like I’m much more classified as a sinner than a son. 
