This particular thread has two lines running side-by-side. One is what Jane intended, and that is a call to repentance. As I implied in my last post, I think it would have been better for her to give her own call for repentance. Make her own statements concerning what it is that we need to repent of.
The other is the Christian Nation rhetoric introduced by the linked video.
And since that was the only solid thing at the beginning, it is what I responded to. And I did so with a bit (??) of heat. To the extent that I seemed to be attacking Jane or anyone else, I repent of it. To the extent that I actually did attack, I repent. My tone was quite harsh at times. For that, I repent.
Now, I think it is worthwhile to consider how we view ourselves as Christians in this country. The nation did begin with honest men who claimed to believe in God in some form or fashion. Some were clearly Christian and others not so clear.
But no matter who they were, we are living in 2013 in the country they founded. It was never something to which God gave special blessing. Rather, it was always, and still is, a country of people of moral conviction that stand ready to do the "right thing" as far as they see it. We argue about what the "right thing" is all the time. Should it have included going to war in Afghanistan and Iraq or not. Should it as a secular government allow homosexuals to live in peace like everyone else — and even join in civil unions (contracts) that society calls marriage? I have an opinion that I am not going to express. It is irrelevant. It is a civil matter, not a religious matter.
And at this particular time, so many now "march" under the banner of the cross to demand their say on how the secular government should rule. We would quickly disavow those among us who bomb abortion clinics in the name of God. But we all but scream near obscenities at the people who work at them.
Then we wonder why the rest of society is not happy with us. That we find ourselves being shunned in the marketplace of opinion.
Someone comes along and tells us we need to repent. For what? For our behavior toward our fellow man when we shout those obscenities? No. For being a nation that allows abortions.
And once again, we set ourselves up as better and more holy, even demanding that everyone else measure up right now, with or without believing in God.
And we wonder why the world hates us. Why they think we are bigoted. Maybe we really are. We may not (hopefully not) be bigoted based on race. But we are bigoted based on so many things. Many even are certain the God votes Republican.
I do not want there to be another abortion. I would that everyone who engages in the homosexual lifestyle would see it through God's eyes and change. But it is not mine to repent for.
But there is much for each of us to repent for daily. Better to change our pattern of repentance to daily than some revival. Revivals generally push people way to one extreme where they cannot sustain things and then, rather than falling back to a "normal" condition, they revert to the other extreme. We wear out.
But it is right that we mostly have not been repenting. We are far from worn out on it. We like glory and blessing and joy. We want to be spiritual.
Blessed are the poor in spirit.
We want to make an impact.
Blessed are the meek.
We want everyone else around us to straighten up.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. (Not for others — for ourselves.)
Repent today. Repent that you were slothful at work. Repent that you get so aggravated at those jerks on the road. Repent that you think the other people on the road are jerks. Repent that you spoke harshly to a coworker or family member (and repent to them as well). Repent that you try to avoid any contact with that gay coworker. And that your constant thoughts are how to get the chance to get him straight about homosexuality and get him to God. (God's kindness leads us to repentance. Maybe God's kindness to them is through us.) Say in English what the Catholics and others do in Latin: "kyrie eleison" Lord have mercy. We need mercy constantly.
(I know we were told that mercy was strictly Old Testament. That it is too low for the best Christians. But mercy is not so rare in the New Testament, being found 55 times in a currently popular translation. 11 times in Romans. Only 21 in the gospels, so not just before the crucifixion.)
Then pray. Pray for guidance in all you do. Pray for peace on the road. Pray for harmony in the workplace. Pray for diligence to do what you should do at any particular time. Pray for the peace of the nation, for its leaders and even for its enemies. Pray for your daily needs. Pray for forgiveness and pray to be able to forgive others. Pray to hold up under temptation.
To rename a movie: Repent. Pray. Love.
Then live a life that is Jesus. That dines with sinners rather than shouting at them. That helps even the unclean Roman centurion. That is honest in the marketplace. That is hospitable with the drivers around you.
And I confess that much of the need for repentance in all of these areas is mine. If it is also yours, that is your decision. But I'm pretty sure that "you" are like me. Great intentions. Talk a good talk. Not so good at the walk.
Lord have mercy on us. May our walk match our talk. May we walk worthy of your Name. May we walk as the Spirit would walk in/with us.