I had an interesting discussion with a group of people who are fervent, conservative Christians. They
were saying that the United States needed to turn back to God, citing 2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV “if my
people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from
their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” I
asked them when did our nation turn away from God? Of course they couldn’t pinpoint a particular
time, only agreeing that it had been a slow, yet steady, decline.
I asked if they would advocate only electing Christian politicians and governing by the Bible. That’s when
things began to get confusing. What brand of Christianity? Are liberal Christians okay, or should we just
vote for conservative Christians? Would there be a Christian advisor to the president so that he would
correctly interpret scripture and insert it into the political mainstream? And who would choose this
person? Things get sticky when you get down to it.
Remember, also, that Christian leaders were complicit (or at best silent) when Native Americans were
forced onto reservations and when slavery was legal, as well as when segregation was the law. Christian
leaders do not guarantee a Christian nation. While our scriptural beliefs should, indeed, shape our vote,
remember that we are electing people to represent us in our government. Christianity isn’t about God
directing the government. In the past, popes have held more authority than kings. It didn’t work out
that well…for the church or the government.
So…is 2 Chronicles 7:14 instruction for a God-fearing nation turning back to God? No. Absolutely not.
Read the first part slowly: “if my people (the church) who are called by my name (the church)”. God is
calling His church to repentance. I’m not nearly as concerned with a government as I am with God’s
church. In fact, I’d go so far as to say that watered down, people-pleasing, faint-hearted, wishy-washy
doctrine has turned out leaders that are so prevalent in our government today…leading our nation into
the depravity and foolishness we see today.
The nation repent and turn from wicked ways? Not until the church does.
were saying that the United States needed to turn back to God, citing 2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV “if my
people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from
their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” I
asked them when did our nation turn away from God? Of course they couldn’t pinpoint a particular
time, only agreeing that it had been a slow, yet steady, decline.
I asked if they would advocate only electing Christian politicians and governing by the Bible. That’s when
things began to get confusing. What brand of Christianity? Are liberal Christians okay, or should we just
vote for conservative Christians? Would there be a Christian advisor to the president so that he would
correctly interpret scripture and insert it into the political mainstream? And who would choose this
person? Things get sticky when you get down to it.
Remember, also, that Christian leaders were complicit (or at best silent) when Native Americans were
forced onto reservations and when slavery was legal, as well as when segregation was the law. Christian
leaders do not guarantee a Christian nation. While our scriptural beliefs should, indeed, shape our vote,
remember that we are electing people to represent us in our government. Christianity isn’t about God
directing the government. In the past, popes have held more authority than kings. It didn’t work out
that well…for the church or the government.
So…is 2 Chronicles 7:14 instruction for a God-fearing nation turning back to God? No. Absolutely not.
Read the first part slowly: “if my people (the church) who are called by my name (the church)”. God is
calling His church to repentance. I’m not nearly as concerned with a government as I am with God’s
church. In fact, I’d go so far as to say that watered down, people-pleasing, faint-hearted, wishy-washy
doctrine has turned out leaders that are so prevalent in our government today…leading our nation into
the depravity and foolishness we see today.
The nation repent and turn from wicked ways? Not until the church does.