How cool would it be if our national leaders went on the air and admitted that they are helpless sinners and needed God, rather than trying to defend and excuse their past? What if the mega church pastors of our nation stressed that we are sinners in need of forgiveness, rather than promising blessings and wealth?

I was browsing through a magazine at Costco yesterday with the name of a mega church pastor as the title of the magazine (like Oprah’s O magazine). It had pictures of good looking young people having a great time in nature and in gatherings. It also had a picture of his stadium style church in it as a sign of God’s blessing. I browsed through the whole magazine in about 10 minutes, and it was filled with promises, blessings, and testimonies of success.

But not a single word on the cross or sin. Not anything on repenting and asking for forgiveness. The magazine’s premise was that what we lack is information. We simply needed to know that there is a God that loves us and wants to bless us, and therefore ask for it!

Listen to Daniel’s prayer. He was in the position equivalent to the Secret of State for the most powerful nation of that time.  “… We have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules…To us, O Lord, belongs open shame, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against you.” Daniel 9:8

Can you imagine Donald Trump praying like that? So that you won’t think I’m against the republicans, can you imagine Barrack Obama praying like that? In public?

Our sins are great. We are not only poisoning ourselves but also the world as the most powerful and influential nation in the world. As Christians, we should not only ask for forgiveness for ourselves but also for our nation. We are on the chopping block. God will judge us if we do not repent and turn.

PH