One of the most ‘thumbed’ Bible verses of the past decade or so is 2 Chronicles 7:14. It is the verse in which God affirms to King Solomon that if the nation of Israel turns from its wicked ways then the Almighty will “forgive their sin and heal their land”.
The one word which describes the aforementioned ‘turning from wicked ways’ is ‘repentance’. Repentance has two components: conviction (of sin) and a turning back to (the ways of) righteousness. It is first a spiritual dynamic (from heaven), outworked in a tangible response (on earth).
Very sadly, within the Christian community and in the context of our wayward nation, there has developed a whole industry around calls for the Church to ‘repent’ for the wickedness in the nation, in the understanding that if this happens enough, God will turn around the fortunes of the United Kingdom. However, this phenomenon, while earnest and well-meant, is much mistaken. It has led to the above-mentioned verse becoming a mantra and perhaps even a talisman.
Vicarious Repentance
The fundamental error here is to believe and teach ‘vicarious repentance’ based on the view that disciples of Christ can and should repent for the actions of others – be it an individual, a group or a nation.
Each and every one of us will be held to account solely for our personal, individual behaviour (2 Cor 5:10). This is the essence of the new covenant in Christ (John 3:18).
If a third party is seen to be behaving in an ungodly way, then one can feel and express sorrow over their actions and should call for repentance from them (Acts 2:38; 26-20). However, in a new covenant context, the detached observer will not be held accountable – either before God or man – for the other’s misdeeds.
Within the Christian community there has developed a whole industry around calls for the Church to ‘repent’ for the wickedness in the nation – but this phenomenon is much mistaken.
So, while the United Kingdom and even significant elements and individuals within the ‘Christian’ Church have very seriously departed from God’s righteous standards on a multitude of issues, there is no way that we as individuals can ‘repent’ on behalf of the nation, the Church, or those within it.
Most recently, prominent intercessors have exhorted present-day believers to repent over historic deeds; of having allowed spirits of empires and colonialism to manipulate and control the minds of the people in the British Isles. But such calls do not have any biblical validity.
Confession vs Repentance
We can, and should, like Daniel (Dan 9), confess the sins of our nation as a whole, but the need and call to ‘repent’ is brought solely by a Holy Spirit conviction of sin to the heart of the individual miscreant. Daniel called Nebuchadnezzar to ‘renounce’ his sin (Dan 4:27) but could not bring conviction upon, force repentance by, nor act as a proxy for the proud monarch.
In like fashion, while Nathan brought challenge to his King over the latter’s ungodly behaviour (2 Sam 12:7), David’s remorse was God-inspired and he had to repent personally over his own actions (Ps 32:5; 51:1-4; Acts 17:30).
History informs us that in times and situations of revival, the dynamic of repentance can impact upon a large number of people, but it is nevertheless and essentially a work of God on a person-by-person basis (cf. Zech 12:10-14; Acts 2:37). To think otherwise is to deny the atoning ‘once for all’ sacrifice on Calvary’s Cross, and to apply old covenant principles in a new covenant context. While an individual, or nation even, may indeed suffer as a result of ungodly actions by forebears, we are not held as being guilty of their sins (Jer 31:29-30) and cannot therefore repent over them.
So, how are we as believers to respond biblically?
Need for Intercession
Our nation is certainly in need of intercession which will involve confession (Dan 9:4) of our corporate sins. We need to continue to petition (plead with) God that there will be a Holy-Spirit-led turning back to his ways. However, we must continually keep in view that conviction is the work of the Holy Spirit in human hearts; repentance is the individual’s response.
In King Solomon’s prayer (2 Chron 6), the earthly monarch was looking for affirmation from the Lord that he would respond positively to righteous behaviour on earth. The response (2 Chron 7:14) was and is an assurance from the Lord - not a formula designed to achieve an end.
So let us shrink from any notion that by assembling enough believers in one place at one time to pray in concert we can somehow exert greater influence in the heavens to achieve our will. Rather, when we do come together, we need to do more listening than speaking (Hab 2:1).
We must continually keep in view that conviction is the work of the Holy Spirit in human hearts; repentance is the individual’s response.
Not Our Will
As we are well aware, we pray in a situation which begs judgment. So we ask of the Lord: “in wrath remember mercy” (Hab 3:2) while realising that the means of bestowing ‘mercy’ could be through the imposition of ‘judgment’.
Ultimately, for our nation and ourselves, we need to pray with clean hands and pure hearts tuned in to what the Spirit is saying to us (Hab 2:1); not ‘our’ will, but “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven”.
