Yesterday there was a Prayer March on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Franklin Graham and others called for Christians to pray for America in these strange times.
Alongside Graham, another movement, called The Return, is calling the nation to repent, believing we have turned away from our biblical foundation stone, saying we have not only driven God out of public life, but we call good evil and sin good. There is a war going on against the purposes of God, but we have been given a window of opportunity in these days to return to God.
Yesterday also marked the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower’s sailing in pursuit of religious freedom. Likewise, we are invited to exercise that freedom and join in prayer during these days called The Days of Awe: 10 days committed to repentance based on an ancient Jewish tradition.
According to tradition, God has open 3 books: Life, Death and Intermediate. The Days of Awe are for the majority of “intermediate” people who are given a window of opportunity to repent and return to God. It is a time to ask God for the ability to see one’s sins over the past year and ask for and seek forgiveness from God and those one has wronged.
For The Return, Days of Awe symbolize a call to repent for how we have failed to do God’s will and work in the vineyards of our cities and nation, and pray for changed hearts and minds ready to submit to God’s authority, bringing reconciliation and reformation.
In Matthew 21, Jesus entered the temple courts to teach, but was confronted by religious leaders who questioned his authority. In good Hebrew form, he responded to their question with a question about John the Baptist that they dared not answer. Then Jesus told them this parable of 2 sons, warning them of their failure to see and believe the “way of righteousness” John preached, and repent.
What I find curious about this scripture is the word Jesus used for “repent” as translated in the NIV – the same word used in the parable when the first son “changed his mind” and did what his father asked. The ESV shows it as changing the mind in both instances.
This is not the usual word for “repent” used throughout the gospel– the word John and Jesus normally used that could also mean “change of mind” – that called for “conversion” that seeks forgiveness, turning to God in total obedience and unconditional commitment. But the word Jesus used here for those who did not believe John was like saying: “Not only are you the 2nd son, all talk, no action, you don’t even show regret or remorse for it. Truth is: 2nd sons don’t get it, and don’t get it done!”
These Days of Awe are intended, I believe, to reach out to the 2nd son-types who need to ask: Whose authority holds sway over me? I would venture that it can be a toss-up between God, sports or politics on any given day. They agree with Jesus in theory but not always in action. They say yes to church but do not go. They feel religious, say they’re Christian, and pray when there is need. Problem is, like those Jesus scolded, they don’t see a need to change their mind. Know anybody like that?
A pastor saw two yard-signs: one for a political candidate, the other said, “Jesus 2020.” What a juxtaposition, he said. Jesus is not up for election! His authority is not subject to opinions or popularity votes. This points to the problem: treating God’s will as a personal preference, choosing what we will or will not do for God on a given day. Where’s the awe?
The Days of Awe call to mind early church teaching. The first thing they were told is that there are 2 Ways: The Way of Life and the Way of Death. There is no third option, no Intermediate status. You either do what the Father wants or you don’t. Believe it!
Psalm 145 is read in Days of Awe. I ask you to read it over the next days, and pray for a change in, and even reach out to, 2nd sons who need to return to an awesome God!