Repenting not just for what we've done, but failed to do

I've said numerous times that we failed to preach against racism as much as we should have. One major example I use is that evolution is a racist theory, whereas the Bible says we are all one race and all equal before God, there are no differences between us. So, we could have used that fact to refute evolution. Instead, some selfishly used evolution to support unbiblical, ungodly thinking.

That, however is only one of the things we have failed to preach, and while one could debate which is worse, it may not be the worst. So, whereas before I have spoken of how we as human beings are sinners and need to repent for the things we have done, this post talks about how there are things we have neglected through our history, and that neglect has caused us to need to repent and call on Jesus Christ to forgive us and save us.

Of course, the important thing is to share that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. God provided Himself the Lamb to be the ultimate sacrifice for our sins, because only a perfect, sinless sacrifice could take away our sins. There is no other name given under Heaven by which man must be saved, except Jesus Christ.

One must still, when talking with someone one on one, try to understand what they have been going through, just like Jesus did with the woman at the well. Even when preaching, one must speak the truth in love and not consistently attack people. There is enough of that from the terrorists like those who attacked Paris, and we must show that God is different. He is a God of love. He gained followers by giving his life. Giving it for all of us.

One is to preach the whole counsel of God, indeed we are all to go into sllthe world and share the Gospel. And yet, while people denounce violence and terror by others, and some work on their own to protect the weak, there has been little preaching that I have ever heard which blasts domestic violence.

Yes, you will hear ministers declare that Eve came from Adam's side, not from his head or foot. But, we fail miserably to proclaim that the fruits of the spirit - including gentleness, goodness, temperance (self control) and so on - apply within the family, to, and in fact it is even more vital with those one loves to exercise kindness and tender heartedness. Yes, one of the requirements of a deacon or pastor is that he be no striker, that he not be the kind to hit someone in anger. But this should be true of everyone.

We have failed in other areas too. Often, we get so worried about things like jobs we fail to notice immigrants are here and need Jesus. Are some here illegally? Yes, but you know what? We have all sinned and come short of the glory of God. We are all guilty of breaking God's law. We deserve hell, but God and His mercy came to this world to save us from our sins by dying on the cross to take our punishment, then he rose victoriously from the dead. 

We must reach these people in our Samaria, and do so humbly. Then - as someone who gets saved is a new creature and then becomes discipled and grows in Christ, choosing to do away with the old ways - those who are here illegally, once saved, may choose to go about things in a legal way.

Are there problems?  Yes, problems exist everywhere. We are each accountable for our own sins once we reach the age of accountability. That is, when we can understand that our sin causes to fall short of the glory of God and that we need to trust that He took punishment for our sins, calling on Him by faith to forgive us and save us.

However, we are also responsible for reaching out to others in saving them from a lost and dying world. We should also be trying to make the world a better place. That is not to be a priority above getting people saved from there sin. It is still important to God, though.

That is why so many Christians throughout history have been building hospitals, working to help the poor, and so on. Not because they are working their way to heaven, because they are doing good works to glorify God.

The purpose for this has been twofold.

First there are no doubt many things I left out as far as things that we, as Christians, should have been doing. Our identity as Christians should not be simply that we stand for certain things and don't believe in others. It should be that we are followers of Jesus Christ. We just choose to avoid sin out of thankfulness for what he has done for us.

The second purpose is to demonstrate that, because we have failed the Lord, we must repent of our sins not only in the things we have done, but what we have not done. And, we should do those things that we have failed to do, such as standing against domestic violence. And, I'll grant that I haven't been in every church so perhaps this has been preached against more than I think. (While others might say that the people in church wouldn't *need* it preached against, they generally shouldn't need drunkenness, as one example, preached against either, but many powerful sermons have been preached against the dangers of alcohol. Women and youth must be empowered to follow the Lord and be used of Him to change things, as noted in this blogged book, just as the Shunemmite woman was when her husband was emotionally absent while physically there.)

We must impress upon people that the fake manliness of our society is built on pride. Remember, God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. A leader must not be egotistical, thinking they are better than others, but a leader must instead be loving and compassionate and always putting others first, and realizing that because they have power they must exercise responsibility and not use it in a mean way. After all, that's what meekness is, power under control. There is never any reason to use power to use threats, intimidation, etc. to force lover, spouse, girlfriend, or anyone else to do something, and even discipline of children must be in love, with tenderness, mercy, gentleness, etc. - again those fruits of the Spirit.

God doesn't force us to love Him - He loves us and shows it so we will choose to love Him.

So, what I share with others the need to repent of our sins not only for those we have committed, but for our feelings as a people. And God promises that if we repent and turn back to Him, and plead for our nation to be healed, and turn from their wicked ways, He will heal our land.