The day before I had this dream I was asking the Lord to give me a "groaning of prayer for others." I was answered powerfully that night and shown a longing of God's heart for this nation.
All too often I find that Christians are uncertain of their privilege to release righteousness in the human institution of government. This seems to be a particularly strong area of uncertainty for Christians in our nation where we have the slogan, 'separation of church and state.' It seems that some Christians believe this statement more than they believe the Bible. I believe this dream is the word of the Lord regarding God's heart for America, as well as His heart for every Christian's role regarding human government.
June - 11 - 2009
Yesterday on my drive back from the dentist, I asked the Lord to give me the same groaning of prayer for others that I have for myself. I found a principle from Romans 8:
"In the same way the Spirit also helps our weaknesses; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words." Rom. 8:26
I didn't feel a response when I prayed so I just left it in His hands to accomplish it if He wanted to. I was very tired that night, but I couldn't fall asleep. I began to pray since I couldn't do anything else. A little while later I found myself praying for the nation in my sleep. I had a dream which greatly troubled my spirit for the fate of this country.
Dream:
I was in a poorly lit hallway which looked like a hallway in the Oregon capitol, however it felt to be a building representing all of the government here in America. There was a large crowd of people in the hallway who I began to speak to,
"If the founding fathers of this nation saw the way it has become today (specifically the government), they would be ashamed. They would say, 'Beelzebub is running this nation!' But that's not what this nation was founded on, and that is not what we want! We want to return to the original principles this nation started with!"
It all felt very inspiring. I could see everyone drawing in, their interest was perked and they were pressing in, longing for what I was saying. I continued,
"This nation was founded on Christ and was set up to be a nation for the spreading of the Gospel. I believe there is a whole lot more than two people in this nation who want to see it change!"
Now when I proclaimed that this nation was founded on Christ, people began to shrink back. They seemed to be looking around awkwardly not wanting a nation built on Christ. Almost everyone left & returned to the business of the capitol. They were attending committee hearings and talking to legislators. I knew they were trying to change laws based on their own wants, not God's desires. I responded to this unexpected decline in support with a dismayed, "Oh. . ." I looked out and there was just a handful of people left. ". . . I guess there is only two." This was the only thing I could think to say. However, all of the few people seemed very interested in what I was saying. There faces seemed to glow from a deep inner light. I changed my messaged a little,
"You are the light and the salt. You must not give up. Keep speaking and doing what you are doing!"
It felt like a desperate charge to stay at it, specifically to pursue changing the government through natural methods like lobbying, petitions and introducing righteous laws. So this small squad of freedom fighters went back into the committee rooms to speak up in spite of all the other voices.
Thoughts:
When I woke up, I was still praying for the nation. I found myself weeping for the sake of this nation's destiny and for the people, because their hearts have chosen a way that is against God. A soberness came over me that if things did not change, judgment against America would come. I realized that the barrier of mercy holding back judgment is not as big as I thought. (Ezekiel 22:30)
Many people say, "things are supposed to get bad at the end of the age, so why restrain the evil? Why pray for a failing system? Why change laws that are prophesied to be evil at the end of the age?" But Jesus said that we are called to be salt and light.
"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:13-16
Should we who are called to be the only source of flavor and illumination of the darkness, stop shining because of what Jesus said at the end of Matthew (Chapter 24) and deny what he began His teachings with in Chapters 5-7? I believe many well meaning and sincere Christians have abdicated their role as salt and light. This has led to them being trampled by men. They have allowed the evil influence of the world to trample down their witness and influence, instead of letting "the God of peace trample Satan under their feet" where he belongs! We are the light of the world. The world around us, including the government needs our light to shine into it and release the kingdom of God.
Since so many people question the Bible's stance on Christians having much to do with the world besides evangelism, I want to make a strong case for this. (Despite the stance I am taking in this entry, I believe the best way to accomplish this change in law and culture is through prayer, fasting, and evangelism. I am only addressing an error that I have encountered with many people I have met.)
Romans 13 is one of the best examples. In reference to governing authorities, Paul says they are "a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil." Romans 13:4
How, if God doesn't care about the 'worldly institution' we call government, does He call it a minister of God? I have heard some say that government will be evil if the people are evil and good if they are good, thus people get what they deserve. This thinking is somewhat true, but that just reaffirms the role of Government as a 'God ordained institution.' Since there is truth in this, what could be more evil than for righteous men and women to do nothing when their 'government' is slaying the innocent and oppressing the poor (or making laws that say it is okay for the citizens to do the same)? As it says in Romans 13 it ". . . brings wrath on the one who practices evil." How can the government punish evil if it does not know what evil is? How can it know what evil is, if the light and salt of the world doesn't make it known?
To say God doesn't want to influence government would be to say that God doesn't want to influence your family, that it doesn't matter if the father of a family rules as a Godly leader, and it doesn't matter if the mother partners alongside him as a uniquely designed helper who brings order and direction to the home. After all, the "world is in the power of the evil one," why should we be alarmed when the devil snatches our children from the protective nest of our own home? Doesn't Jesus himself say this will happen to our families in Matthew 10:34-36? Why resist what Jesus said would happen? I am writing this from the perspective of human reasoning. However, family also is an institution which has been set up by God for the teaching of our children about the Lord and His ways (Genesis 18:19). In the same way, government is meant to accomplish this role, only it primarily accomplishes it through the "sword" which God gave it to bear against the "one who practices unrighteousness."
Let's go back to the example of the family. What parent in their right mind would not cry out to God if their children began to run from their childhood faith. After being taught what is right and wrong their whole lives, they began to see that the government doesn't have the same values as their parents. Let's say they begin unashamedly looking at pornography as soon as they turn 18. What if they begin having sex outside of marriage with someone they met but hardly know. They choose to abort their children which they conceived out of marriage, but never tell you about it (because they don't have to). Or what if they start drinking until they are drunk every night as soon as they turn 21. Or enter into a homosexual relationship claiming they were born that way, and if you judge them, then you are racist and they will take you to court.
What if you lived in Thailand, where the legal prostitution age is 15 years old and your child ran away to work in the well paying 'legal' business. Would your heart be broken? Would you pray for them? Would you weep when you found out? Would you be upset if the police wouldn't get your son or daughter and return them home because it's not against the law. Would you seek to change the laws through any means possible so that this type of thing would be stopped before your child destroyed their whole life!?
Most people are saying at this point, "of course we would pray for them!" If this is so, then why would people claim, it is not a Christian's role to influence the government's blessing on these activities, which it deems safe and proper at the appropriate age. Sure some of the things I listed are 'personal choices' that seem to only hurt the person who commits the sin. But is there really a sin that doesn't hurt more people than the one who sins? However, sins like abortion, are terrifying sins which murder the most innocent, weak, and helpless humans on the earth. This is a people group which has no ability to even speak in their own defense. Unless you consider the report of an ultrasound recording the child in the process of an abortion as an attempt to call for help. The 'fetus' tries to run to the other side of the womb and escape the ripping force of suction being thrust toward it and avoid the painful death that it is legally experiencing. For the sake of proof that they feel pain, click here. If you are a skeptic there is also a video of a doctor who did an abortion at 12 weeks and shows the ultrasound here (graphic).
I'm not trying to be sensational. I am serious; the unbelief of the church regarding this truth may soon lead to the downfall of America and our beloved 'freedom of religion' we now enjoy. If you study communist Russia and China where 20 million and 77 million people died through cultural cleansing and mismanagement, you will have an object lesson in religion free government. I believe this will be the fate of those who opt out of the sacred duty of bringing Godly accountability to our government.
"First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." 1 Timothy 2:1-4
So Again I say to all Christians, pray for America to have Godly leaders and laws. Vote based on the word of God and His standards of righteousness. To those God leads, get involved and make your voice heard in the legislative process. As one who spent a session working at a state legislature, I know they listen.
If you are interested in praying for then nation , here is a great resource.
