Heal Our Land

I went to bed Tuesday night with every news outlet declaring the Presidential race was too close to call. Wednesday morning I awoke to learn that former President Donald Trump was once again President-elect Trump.

In reading Trump’s Victory speech he promised to “fix everything” that is broken in America. He also pledged to put “divisions” in the rearview mirror. “It’s time to put the divisions of the past four years behind us,” he said. “It’s time to unite.”

He also assured his supporters and the nation, “we are going to help our country heal.

If I was asked for advice on how to heal a nation that has become so partisan and divided not only politically, but also philosophically, culturally, and religiously, I would begin with this Biblical exhortation.

“Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you” (Eph. 4:321-32).

These simple, but powerful words from Paul’s pen, if truly applied, would be a wonderful way to begin a healing process not only by our nation’s leaders, but people of every race, religion, geographical region, and political party. Especially, and specifically, they ought to be employed by those who call themselves Christians, among whom there are some honest and sharp political differences.

The promise of healing also brought to mind a passage from 2 Chronicles 7:14. These are God’s words to King Solomon, following the dedication of the Temple and at the beginning of his reign, when He appeared to him in the night. Although spoken 3,000 years ago, they are appropriate for our time, our nation, and our world.

“If my people 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 forgive their sin and heal their land.”

Of course, America is not God’s nation in the same way as Old Testament Israel. In fact, the fondness many have for calling America a “Christian nation” is neither politically or Biblically correct. While there is an influence of Christian principles in our documents, there is nothing in the Constitution that makes such a claim. The name “Christian” is used in the Bible to refer to individual followers of Christ, not nations.

As God’s people, however, we can apply this ancient, Divine counsel to our lives as we seek to “shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life” (Phil. 2:15-16).

(1) Humble ourselves.

“A man’s pride will bring him low, but the humble in spirit will retain honor” (Prov. 29:23). We need to be reminded that God has blessed us. Our personal and collective affluence, success and greatness is the result of a benevolent Creator. “God Bless America” is more than a slogan or a song, it is a reality that we undeservedly enjoy.

Humility ought to impact our attitude, actions, and words. It applies “The Golden Rule” to treat others as we want to be treated. (Matt. 7:12). To employ the Second Great Commandment to love our neighbor as ourselves” (Matt. 22:39). To imbibe Paul’s exhortation to shed “selfish ambition” and “empty conceit.” To see the significance of our fellow man. And to “look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others” (Phil. 2:3-4)

(2) Pray.

Humility leads to earnest prayer. Pride takes us away from prayer. Paul exhorted that we should pray for those in authority (1 Tim 2:1-2). Would it be too extreme to suggest that prayer might be more effective and efficacious than vitriolic facebook posts ranting and raving against our leaders, as well as those who hold divergent views?

(3) Seek the Face of God.

If our nation is to be healed, we must come to the great Physician for the spiritual balm so badly needed. Our 30th President Calvin Coolidge once said, “We do not need more national development, we need more spiritual development.”

(4) Turn from our Wicked Ways.

It is not enough to know what is right, we must do it. We must turn from both the practice of sin and the approval and tolerance of it.

While it is easy to apply these principles to others, perhaps we all should look within our own hearts to see whether we are really being “the light of the world” and the “salt of the earth” (Matt 5:13-16).

Rather than cursing the darkness and criticizing others for our nation’s ills, let us live for the Lord. Love others. Let our light shine. And lead the way.

Finally, let’s remember that our real problems are not political, social or economic. William Bennett expressed it well, “The real crisis of our time is spiritual.”

May we each do what we can to affect the spiritual healing of our land.

–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman