An Article of Faith

What would happen if God removed His hand of protection from us?
We remember the tragedy of 9/11. While God did not cause this moment, it reveals the removal of His protecting hand on America. In our arrogance we have paid little attention to this warning. Killing a million babies a year, breaking our marriage covenants through divorce, endorsing and applauding all kinds of sexual immorality, abusing the stewardship of the finances God has entrusted to us as we spend it all on ourselves and plunge into personal and national debt, and most tragically, being a church that misrepresents the holiness of God through spiritual mediocrity are all overwhelming indictments. Pride and prejudice abound. Worst of all, Christ’s bride, the church, is ignoring His call to repentance.
If we understand the Bible and the holiness of God, how could we not expect judgment? Could it be that 9/11 was God allowing us to see what full-blown evil looks like when we reject Him? When we fail to live under the Lordship of Christ and the leadership of the Holy Spirit in favor of our own selfish agenda? When our greatest concern is the economy and not His righteousness and glory?
The great tragedy of 9/11 is not only the horrific loss of life, but that there was only a momentary flurry of spiritual response. The churches were filled the month following the tragedy. But all too quickly church attendance dropped to levels even lower than before the tragedy.
During a Forum on Revival at the 2011 Moody Pastors’ Conference, a visiting pastor from Uganda asked if he could share a comment and then ask a question. He told of the godly people of Uganda who had prayed for revival. God sent it in dramatic fashion, but it required devastation first. Their nation suffered horrible atrocities.
After describing the amazing results of revival, he said they have now turned their prayers toward America. They are asking God to send an outpouring of His Spirit to our land, knowing it would impact the world. He said the leaders know that God will send revival ... and that it will either come through desperation or devastation.
Then came the question: “What are you, as Christian leaders in America, going to do to foster a spirit of desperation so it does not require devastation?” (Taken and adapted from: OneCry: A Nationwide Call for Spiritual Awakening. Visit www.onecry.com.)
“As the deer longs for streams of water,” prays the psalmist, “so I long for you, O God. I thirst for God, the living God. When can I go and stand before Him? Day and night I have only tears for food, while my enemies continually taunt me, saying, ‘Where is this God of yours?’ My heart is breaking as I remember how it used to be: I walked among the crowds of worshipers, leading a great procession to the house of God, singing for joy and giving thanks amid the sound of a great celebration!” (Psa. 42:1-4 NLT.)
“If My people,” declares the LORD, “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 will forgive their sin and heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14 NKJV.)

Jessie J. Charpentier Sr. is pastor of Jenkins Memorial Baptist Church in St. Martinville.