Wicked Ways

We have had more prayer meetings and prophetic declaration concerning 2 Chron. 7: 14 then you could imagine with little to show for it.  Yes, we might be in much worse condition as a nation if it had not been for these pockets of intercessions that stand in the gap and vicariously repent for our nation.  But I think it is time for us to reevaluate what we are doing in the American Church because I am convinced that God intended for the Church to experience much more lasting fruit than what we are presently experiencing.

 2Ch 7:13 "When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, 14  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 will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

In this passage, God clearly states that He WILL hear, forgive and heal us when we meet the proper conditions.  If we have prayed and humbled ourselves, maybe the problem is found in the fact that we have not turned from our wicked ways?  And maybe, we have not turned from our wicked ways because we do not recognize which of our ways are truly wicked?

I would propose that we Christians in America are more American than we are Christian; and that many of our ways are based more upon American principles and the American way, than on God’s principles and God’s ways.  I would further challenge that “Any way that is not God’s way is a wicked way!”  It may appear good and acceptable by our society and culture, but is it biblical?

 For example, If we do finances like the average American then we are overly committed to years of financial debt.  Financial debt is full accepted and expected in our nation.  Yet the bible declares that the “The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.” (Pro 22:7)  Because we are often not willing to wait and save up for a possession we sign a loan and receive it immediately not thinking about the fact that we are selling ourselves into servant hood or slavery to the lending institution.

The Bible also teaches us that our bodies are the temple of God and we should exercise and eat right.  We should rest and care for our bodies.  But the average American is stressed out, does not get enough rest, eats too much junk food and despises any form of exercise.  We are over medicated and unhealthy which is not God’s way. 

And the list could go on and on and on; Marriages, parent child relationships, education, entitlement spirit, unhealthy romantic relationships, greed, lust, overly entertained, etc.

If God’s people would turn from the acceptable wicked ways of our nation and begin to obey God’s Word in every area of their life, God would use them to bring quick and complete healing to our nation.  But we do not want to obey God; we would rather continue to live lazy mediocre wicked lives while having an “appearance of godliness” and pray for God to heal our land.

May God’s people turn from their wicked ways and begin to live according to God’s ways.  Solomon prayed, "then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your servants, your people Israel. Teach them the right way to live, and send rain on the land you gave your people for an inheritance.” (2Ch 6:27)  Lord teach us the Right Way to Live!