There are times in my life as a Christian and pastor when I sit, observe, think and take in the state of our world. Frankly, it is disturbing. It saddens me to see so many people (in the church and out of the church) gripped by the perishing values of this world. It grieves me to see men made in the image of God behaving as though he is not there watching everything they are doing. It saddens me to witness the rebellion, wickedness, and the exercise of their depravity. The name of God is being trampled underfoot by wicked men, and it seems that nothing is happening to stop it.
It further saddens me to see how little I progress in the Christian life. The effects of sin are not a stranger to this pastor. I feel the weight of my own failures even as I lament the church’s failures in general.
I am reminded of the words of Habakkuk:
O Lord, how long shall I cry for help,
and you will not hear?
Or cry to you “Violence!”
and you will not save?
3 Why do you make me see iniquity,
and why do you idly look at wrong?
Destruction and violence are before me;
strife and contention arise.
4 So the law is paralyzed,
and justice never goes forth.
For the wicked surround the righteous;
so justice goes forth perverted.
5 “Look among the nations, and see;
wonder and be astounded.
For I am doing a work in your days
that you would not believe if told. (Hab. 1:2-5, emphasis added)
Theologically we know that God is working, and he is accomplishing his purposes. We also know that those purposes are designed for the good of his people, the church. We also know that Christians are not disembodied spirits. Sometimes we feel like the prophet. Sometimes we wonder what is going on and when God will break through and end this misery that sin has accomplished in people’s lives (WSC 17). We look around and see rioting, tyranny, wicked and rebellious leaders, the plague of abortion, and homosexuality. We look around and take notice of depraved men seemingly exercising it without restraint. We look around and cry out, “how long, O Lord?” (Ps. 13). As Christians, we don’t live in an ethereal place with little or no connection emotionally to these things. They grieve us because we are not merely intellectual creatures, but we are emotional ones as well. Frankly, it hurts the soul to watch.
When we read through the Psalms, we take notice of the laments of God’s people. Perhaps that is something the church needs to do. Perhaps they need to lament their own sin and then lament with deep-seated agony the sin of our culture. Perhaps the church needs to stop building its own kingdom and resolve to seek first the kingdom of God (Matt. 6:33). God’s Word is clear, and it tells us that this life is passing away (1 John 2:15-17). A brief survey of the church results in the following grievous things: a low view of the Lord’s Day resulting in one worship service. A low view of prayer resulting in the loss of corporate prayer meetings. A low view of holiness resulting in a church that is not much different from the culture they bemoan. A low view of God’s Word and its preaching resulting in weak-minded Christians who are unchanged Sunday to Sunday because they do not take advantage of this primary means of grace. The result of these disastrous actions leads to the mess of our world. The church is salt and light (and that is not optional — the Lord states it as a fact “Ὑμεῖς ἐστε τὸ ἅλας τῆς γῆς· Matt. 5:13 BGT). Yet, the church appears to be very weak because it has not labored to seek God’s kingdom before its own. The church needs to conduct a deep, internal survey and heal itself. The church needs to cry out to the Lord for the grace it needs to accomplish its mission in this world. What’s the mission: To glorify God, proclaiming the hope of the gospel to a dying and perishing world.
Prayer: Our God in heaven, the one true God who is alone sovereign and true, we bend our knee before your majesty and cry out to you, lamenting the sins of your people. Just as the people of old perished in the wilderness because they would not heed your voice, pursue your righteousness, follow your will, uniting with people who hate you, we also will face your rod of discipline if we do the same. We mourn our own failures and sin. We look at ourselves, and we confess that though we have received an abundance from your hand, we use it for our own selfish gain. We confess that we fail to spend our time and efforts to exalt you and your Son. We confess that we do not pray nearly enough. Instead, we spend our days arguing on social media instead of seeking your face. We confess that we are often hearers only and not doers of your Word. We confess that we do not pursue your kingdom and righteousness, and we are ashamed because you have given us all we need to do so. Forgive your church, Lord. We know that you are the King and head of the church, and we know that you are leading her and guiding her. We also know that we have wandered from what you have commanded us. Therefore we pray that you would cleanse your church, removing the chaff from the wheat, perfecting her from the evils of this world and the tendency of our own hearts to wander from your Word.
We also lament the state of our world. We look around, not as blind people, but as people who have been given eyes to see through the blessed work of your Spirit. What we observe shocks us, and it grieves us. We see wicked men trampling underfoot your holy name. We witness media that is abominable and wicked. We see a nation that murders the unborn in the place you made to be safe. We see men promoting and parading the evil of homosexuality (and we see it making inroads in our churches). We see rioting and lawlessness in our streets. All of these things drive us to distraction emotionally. You made us that way. Like the prophet, we sometimes wonder what you are doing. We know you are working for your people and your glory. We plead with you, Father, to penetrate the dark hearts of wicked people with the glorious truth of the gospel. We beg you to vindicate your name if men will not repent of their wicked behavior. We desire revival, but you must be just and punish evil if you are not pleased to grant it. Please, Lord, open the eyes of our leaders. Cause them to see that they will have to give an account for their actions. Please bring them to a place where they understand that they will bow the knee to the true King. We pray for the unrest in our cities that you would bring calm and protect those you have placed in authority over evil people. We ask that you would restrain evil and promote good as offered in your Word.
Most importantly, we pray that you would be glorified and that your name would be exalted. We know that you are our refuge and strength, and we ask that you would watch over your people with a ready sword to defend them from the evil one. We pray these things in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
[Featured image by Janez Podnar from Pexels]
