Who’s Fault?

post 096

A reader asked the question along the lines; “Are you saying everyone must repent or we are all doomed?”
This is a very good question from the angle of who’s fault is it, therefore who has the responsibility to fix it?

Honestly it is a pretty easy answer on the surface, with a bit of typical rabbit trails as you look seriously.

As you recall, all Nineveh repented, from the king down to the actual cattle. Jonah 3:5-8
This shows absolutely without question they were serious regarding their appeal to God.
They wanted to make sure God didn’t miss the effort!
But do we suppose that just because the king made a decree requiring it, that virtually everyone in the city had a broken heart toward God?
Not likely.
But from a birds-eye-view, or rather a general overall perspective, it can be boldly said, The City of Nineveh repented. And God accepted that. God really does not want to punish us.
But one rabbit trail that we cannot leave un-traveled, is the fact that Nineveh was a pagan city. And God has always shown a different set of rules for the ignorant than he has for His people who know better.

We find the answer to the question in II Chronicles 7:14 “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 not sweet poetry, this is a sure promise from God himself.
The requirement says nothing regarding the strangers living among them (meaning those who live there but are not believers)
But again a slight rabbit trail leads us to understand the Jews are God’s people by nationality. So identifying just who is God’s people there is very clear.

As Americans we have always understood that we too are God’s people by adoption into the faith of God which was originally a Jewish faith. Romans 9:3-5, Matthew 15:27
Not long ago it was almost a common mentality that, “I am a Christian because I am American.” Of course this was a misunderstanding of the reality but it makes the point that most all Americans considered themselves a Christian nation as a whole even up to very recently.
So now, because America is a melting pot of races and nationalities, it is not as easily identified just who would be considered “God’s people, called by his name” which should take action in the above verse. Everybody?

We then need to understand the concept and intent of the verse as it would apply to us.
America finds itself in two generic camps; people professing to be Believers in God, and Others.
Note I do not suggest a further division identifying faithful and unfaithful believers, because clearly the verse would be useless unless our nation was in trouble, and logically the trouble does not come as a result of the faithful.
We know the faithful will already be in the practice of humility, and prayer, and beseeching God, and repentance from wickedness.
So the actual problem must lie with those believers who are failing this practice.
And because America is in trouble, means there are far too few faithful!
This is simply logical by reading the passage.

So we then must question the standing of all the believers since all of them will claim obedience, just as many polls in all categories show that about 70-90% of Americans feel they are above average!
Not long ago, I was among those who figured I was on the faithful side. In my mind I honestly was, though there were many signs indicating otherwise. Now that I look back I am shocked I could have been so blinded, the signs were everywhere!

America would not be in the trouble it is in, if there were even a small percentage of actual faithful among us. II Chronicles 14:11, Genesis 18:20, 23-32, 19:13
To validate this concept turn off the light in your room at night. How much of the room is dark? All of it.
Turn on just one light.
Now how much of the room is dark?
Uh… none of it?
Even if it is a small light, the room might be dim, and it may need more light, but just a single light has unbelievable power to drive out darkness with no effort at all from the light bulb.
Now what can we know for sure if the room has 53 light bulbs, but the room is still dark?
We can know for sure that they are not doing their job! But if you asked for a show of hands, they would all proudly claim to be lights.
A light bulb only works if the Power is running through it, and if it is not broken. Interestingly Jesus already came up with this analogy for us. What might not be so clear is that God is the Power, producing light through the light bulb.
Matthew 5:13-16
The fact that America is in very grave shape, the fact that Obama, and Peloci, and Harry Reid, and etc etc are in office, is because the light bulbs in America are not working right!

But wait, don’t non-believers get to vote too?
Ahhhh another rabbit trail.
Why yes they do. But all the polls, all the numbers, both sides of the issue have shown that there are FAR more professing Christians in America than any other group. *1 This means those bulbs are not doing their job. And even if you disagree with this angle, refer to the previous concept. One bulb lights your room, and only a few light the whole street.
Not every light in the city is on at one time, but just look at America at night from space *2

God has created the nation of America for the Christians. The non-Christians are allowed to live among us, but it was made for us because it had a purpose.
It has been said; “America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter, and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.”

This is the same spirit regarding Christianity; This is your country; it will always be Christian unless you choose to give it away.
How did we apparently give it away?
By failing our own faith, by not allowing the light to shine through us, by not being salt.

Look, to be crass; Sinners are supposed to sin, that is their job.
It is our job to share the good news with them, convincing them of the better way.
So how have we failed to do our job in letting things get to this state of disrepair?
Because we ourselves have become confused about who we are and what our job is.

If the light bulb is focused on itself, it will not be pleased with the Power flowing through it because the bulb will not be seen. Try reading the label on the top with the light on!
If the light is on, we do not see the shapely silhouette, we do not see the curly filament, or that cool birthmark on top, we do not see the nice white paintjob… we just see the light produced through it, and we live in the light, and find the light extremely useful. In fact we pay virtually no attention to the bulb until it stops working. This is the job of a light bulb.
And frankly, as a Christian you take offence at such an idea!
Hmmmm

On one hand we are all good Christians On the other hand America is a real mess.

Any relationship here between the two?
Somebody’s scale is apparently not working…
Or maybe God is a liar.

Who’s fault is it?

* * * * * * *

*1 US Christian census http://www.adherents.com/rel_USA.html

*2 http://www.flickr.com/photos/wwworks/2712986388/ (in case the link doesn’t work)