“Which Type of Person Are You?: My Thoughts About the National Day of Prayer"”

TThe 70s  version of the Dog-centered cartoon series Scooby-Doo features an episode where, on one of their many escapades, two of the characters are captured by an evil "man" who has created some kind of sophisticated contraption capable of forcing those under its power to do whatever he commands.  Sadly, the otherwise good-natured cartoon characters of the Scooby-Doo clan are suddenly turned into brain-washed individuals who exhibit no control over their actions or behavior.  At first, the remaining characters who have thus far successfully evaded the evil man's “spell” start to fall into the man's trap and get angry with the members of their group who suddenly start trying to get the remaining members to do things normally totally out of character for anyone in the group.  At first, the two remaining unaffected members fail to realize that their friends are under some kind of power, and chaos initially ensues.  Finally, one of them has enough insight to realize what has happened.  Their programmed friends are trying to get them to do crazy things because they have fallen under the control of the grand, evil, programmer who has taken control of their  friends’ minds.  The remainder of the show features an adventurous tale of daring risks that Scooby and their otherwise chicken-hearted friends must undertake to stop the bad guy and ensure the freedom of their currently programmed-controlled friends. 

In Ephesians 6:12, the apostle Paul warns against misidentifying our real enemy.  He writes:

^“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

Paul wanted his readers to understand two distinct points.  First, Paul wanted his readers to realize that as believers they were in a real battle.  It wasn't necessarily a battle they chose, but a battle we are called to fight nonetheless.  We are in a real war, to choose not to engage or to retreat is to give the Enemy a foothold in our lives he does not deserve.  The second equally- important point is that our enemies are not other people.  Even the people who fight vehemently against the message of the gospel are not to be viewed as enemies.  According to Paul, these people are under the influence of the great evil Programmer.  Our goal is, through the power of the Holy Spirit, to live our lives in such a way that God is able to use us to disable the sophisticated machinery of the evil programmer.  The evil Programmer would like nothing more than for us to become entangled in a battle with other people and see them as our big problem while he continues to use his remote control behind the scenes.  Or, equally as bad, we simply allow people to stay under the influence of the evil programmer by avoiding at any cost any potential issues of conflict and believing we have no personal responsibility in helping others find their way out from under his influence.

Today is the National Day of Prayer.  Its observance reminds me of the three basic options Christians have when it comes to addressing the moral climate of our culture.  The first option is to feel basically indifferent and accept things the way they are.  These people probably see observances like today a waste of time and have no real vision or belief that life can be any different than what it is right now. 

The second option is to engage the culture in a hostile manner, choosing to see those who disagree with us, especially politically, as an enemy that needs to be dealt with.  These people will likely support days like today with the attitude of "taking our country back" as if those who disagree with us are the real problem.  These people will spend much of their time praying about political realities and little if anything more. Yes; there are people who hold views that, if implemented, will be harmful to the freedom and future of our nation.  However, no matter how strongly some people support these views, we must resist the strong temptation to view them as our enemy.  Unfortunately, many who participate in the National Day of Prayer will view it as little more than a rally to energize them against their "enemies."  Sadly, these "enemies" are the very people we are called to help free from the evil "man’s” programming.  No, we are not called to be passive about sinful behaviors and choices of others, or compromise our own values in the name of “getting along”, but at the same time we are called to build positive relationships with unbelievers (2 Cor.  4). Satan wants nothing more than for us to live in a virtual 24-hour attack mode making enemies of the very people for whom Christ died.  Our goal is not to destroy the unrighteous but to win them!   More than ever, we need to pray for each other that we will not succumb to the trap of seeing other human beings as our enemy.  It is Satan the master programmer himself who is our true enemy! 

There is one more preferred option when it comes to days like today.  We could have the spirit of like Daniel and choose to repent for our attitudes and actions that have not represented the heart of God.  What is the potential if God really breaks our heart and we begin to weep over our sins and the sin of our nation much the way Daniel did:

Daniel prayed to the Lord my God and confessed:

“Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, we have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws.  We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes and our ancestors, and to all the people of the land."

 “Lord, you are righteous, but this day we are covered with shame —the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and all Israel, both near and far, in all the countries where you have scattered us because of our unfaithfulness to you.  We and our kings, our princes and our ancestors are covered with shame, Lord, because we have sinned against you.  The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him; we have not obeyed the Lord our God or kept the laws he gave us through his servants the prophets.  All Israel has transgressed your law and turned away, refusing to obey you."

“Therefore the curses and sworn judgments written in the Law of Moses, the servant of God, have been poured out on us, because we have sinned against you.  You have fulfilled the words spoken against us and against our rulers by bringing on us great disaster. Under the whole heaven nothing has ever been done like what has been done to Jerusalem.  Just as it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come on us, yet we have not sought the favor of the Lord our God by turning from our sins and giving attention to your truth.  The Lord did not hesitate to bring the disaster on us, for the Lord our God is righteous in everything he does; yet we have not obeyed him." 

 “Now, Lord our God, who brought your people out of Egypt with a mighty hand and who made or yourself a name that endures to this day, we have sinned, we have done wrong.  Lord, in keeping with all your righteous acts, turn away your anger and your wrath from Jerusalem, your city, your holy hill. Our sins and the iniquities of our ancestors have made Jerusalem and your people an object of scorn to all those around us."

 “Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For your sake, Lord, look with favor on your desolate sanctuary.  Give ear, our God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy.  Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear and act! For your sake, my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name.” (Daniel 9: 3-12).

Notice the constant use of the term "we" in the passage.  Even though Daniel was a righteous man by all accounts, he saw himself as one in need of repentance.  No, Daniel was not oblivious to the sins of others, but he never exhibited the self-righteous attitude by separating himself from his people.  Instead he repented on behalf of the whole.  He allowed his heart to be broken on behalf of the needs of his people.  Moreover, this time of repentance became the backdrop that led to the return of the people of Israel back to their homeland.

Even Jesus exhibited the same attitude as he wept for Jerusalem just days prior to his crucifixion:

“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.  Look, your house is left to you desolate. I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’(Lu. 13:34).

I must be the first to confess that it is so easy to want to view everything in terms of winning or losing.  God does care about leaders we elect for ourselves.  However, we do ourselves and others a tremendous disservice when we begin to view people through a purely political lens.  I know there will be those who will be tempted to challenge me by turning to passages where Jesus offered strong rebukes to people.  However, I offer one word of caution.  Nearly every harsh rebuke Jesus offered was directed at "righteous” individuals who showed little or no concern for the lost, destitute, and desperate.  I believe many of the very people who most viciously attack Christ followers are the very ones Jesus has the heart to reach.  Ouch, four fingers are pointing at me right now!

In closing, would you consider joining me in a moment of prayer modeling the hearts of Daniel and Jesus above?  "Lord, we ask in your name for your forgiveness as we come before you today."  We ask that you will forgive us.  We admit, God, that in our well-intentioned but sometimes misguided zeal, we have made enemies of people that you called us to reach.  We ask on this special day that you would not only cleanse our hearts, but also give us favor with those who despise us.  Grant the same kind of heart you have toward those who treat you as their enemy.  Lord, will you teach us how to live in such a way that people will genuinely desire the life you have given us.  Help us to realize when our eyes are being diverted from our real enemy.  Even more Lord, we ask that you will protect us from an attitude of haughtiness and pride that leads us to focus on the sins of others more than on your love for them.  We know there are times when you call us to address sin.  Help us, Lord, in those times to never lose sight of the right reasons to do so.  Help us to never lose sight of your love for those who are lost and without you, regardless of how they treat us or what they say about us. Help us to follow your command to Love our enemies and pray for those who despitefully use us” Even when called to confront, O Lord, help us to do so in a way that is both bold and yet coupled with such love that people will see your heart for them even in troubling times. When retaliated against, teach us not to respond in kind.  Finally, we ask that you will remember our nation and do by your Spirit what we can never do for ourselves.  We ask for a divine outpouring of the Spirit of repentance on this nation.  We ask that you will help us to live out the dreams of our ancestors that we may truly become as a people like a city set on a hill filled with your glory.  We submit this prayer, humbly, in Jesus’ name, Amen.