I’m sure most Christians with internet access have by now come across at least one of the many versions in circulation of a video that begins something like this:

Churches around the UK…

Have come together at this time…

To sing a blessing over the nation…

What then follows is a beautiful-sounding song, based on the words of Numbers 6:24-26, which declares:

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.

These glorious and uplifting words, that we all want for ourselves and our nation, are sung by individuals who have videoed themselves separately (in adherence to social distancing guidelines). All these individual videos have then been skilfully edited together to create a beautiful choir of many voices. The church where each individual singer is a member is stated on the screen as a way of indicating just how everyone has come together in a spirit of unity to participate in this blessing of the nation.

I’ve seen several versions of this from all around the world, all using the same song and same format to ‘sing a blessing over the nation’. The UK version has now had 1.7 million views on YouTube.

Many Christians have embraced this gesture as a wonderful example of the Church coming together, showing much-needed solidarity and expressing God’s love for a world gripped by fear, dread and uncertainty. I certainly don’t question the motives or heart of the people involved. However, no matter how sincere their motives, their actions raise the following important question:

Does God want the Church to sing a blessing over the nation at this time?

Whilst the videos in question generate a warm, fuzzy feeling, I have to conclude that, as well-intentioned as I’m sure the participants are, what they are doing cannot be justified from Scripture, nor does it express the message that God wants to communicate at this time, to either the Church or the nation. I know that makes me sound like a real buzz kill, but then all the Old Testament prophets were regarded likewise, so I’m in pretty good company!

Though well-intentioned, what these singers are doing cannot be justified from Scripture, nor does it express the message that God wants to communicate at this time.

‘Peace, Peace’

The Old Testament prophet Jeremiah had a particular reputation for being the bearer of bad news from God; so much so that he is often referred to as the ‘weeping prophet’. I think Jeremiah provides a good example of what I am trying to say.

Israel had (yet again) rebelled against God, and God used famine and pestilence to try to get his people’s attention, calling them to return to him. But the prophets of Israel were instead telling the people everything was going to be fine – all except poor old Jeremiah, who knew the prophets weren’t conveying the right message:

Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! Behold, the prophets say to them, ‘You shall not see the sword, nor shall you have famine, but I will give you assured peace in this place.’” And the Lord said to me, “The prophets prophesy lies in My name. I have not sent them, commanded them, nor spoken to them; they prophesy to you a false vision, divination, a worthless thing, and the deceit of their heart. (Jeremiah 14:13-14)

Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you. They make you worthless; They speak a vision of their own heart, not from the mouth of the Lord. They continually say to those who despise Me, ‘The Lord has said, “You shall have peace”’; And to everyone who walks according to the dictates of his own heart, they say, ‘No evil shall come upon you.’” (Jeremiah 23:16-17)

Strong words of rebuke from God, who was using famine and pestilence as a way of getting his people’s attention.

In light of that, let’s consider current circumstances to see if there’s any parallel to be drawn. First, let’s look at the nation.

Whilst Israel is the only nation throughout history with which God has had a special covenant relationship, there’s no doubt that the UK has been blessed by the gospel of Jesus Christ as much as – if not more than – any other nation on earth. The more blessing God bestows on a nation (or individual), the more he expects from it (them). Therefore, bearing in mind the current spiritual and moral state of this nation, is God really telling the Church to sing his blessing over it?

I think not.

A Church that does so isn’t listening to what God is trying to say; they’re behaving like the false prophets of Jeremiah’s day, lulling the people into a false sense of peace and security, instead of warning them of the coming judgment.

Blessing or Warning?

God IS speaking, but barely anyone is listening to what he’s saying. A small remnant within the Church is listening, but it is treated by both the world and much of the Church in the same way Jeremiah was: with scorn and contempt. This small but faithful remnant grieves over the state of this country; a nation full of people who’ve hardened their hearts to the voice of God and gone their own way; to the point that they remain deaf even when God shouts.

And God has been shouting for some time!

God has sent fire, floods, earthquakes and famines, and now he’s sent (or allowed, at the very least) a global pandemic. But who wants to hear why God has sent them? And why should the world listen when much of the Church isn’t even listening? All God wants to do is bless, right?

Luke 17:26-30 says:

And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.

Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.

The days of both Noah and Lot were characterised by violence, corruption, rebellion and sexual perversion, and Jesus warned that the days shortly before his return would be likewise. Who can deny that this nation is filled with violence, corruption, rebellion and sexual perversion?

Is that reason for the Church to sing a blessing over the nation – or to warn it?

God is speaking, but barely anyone is listening to what he’s saying.

Unprecedented Days

Just like in the days of Noah, Lot and Jeremiah, God has been watching the iniquity of this nation increase day by day, and he’s raising his voice to warn people of the coming judgment.

He’s tried using his ambassadors – his Church – as his mouthpiece, but the Church isn’t listening. It’s instead singing a blessing over the nation. THIS is why God has allowed churches to be forcibly closed; to try to get the attention of his ambassadors.

The closure of churches in this country is no small thing. It’s the first time it’s happened for 800 years. Shouldn’t that give the Church some pause for thought, instead of it just carrying on ‘business as usual’ via FaceTime, Zoom, Skype and WhatsApp?

Please don’t misinterpret what I’m saying. I’m not saying that technology and remote means of communication cannot and should not be used as a way of keeping in touch with members of our fellowships at a time when we’re not allowed to meet physically. I’ve been greatly blessed and encouraged by messages posted on our own church YouTube channel. What I am saying is that this is not a time for ‘business as usual’, and churches shouldn’t be behaving like it is.

The current forced closure of churches is unprecedented in the Protestant era. What is God trying to say to the Church through it?

Sing a song of blessing over a sinful and rebellious nation?

I think not.

I believe God has allowed churches in this country to be closed because the Church (in general) has failed to be the witness he’s called it to be. Its light has gone dark and its salt has lost its flavour; even to the point that large sections of the Church recently opposed the gospel being preached in this country by campaigning to prevent Franklin Graham from holding his gospel mission. What a disgrace. That should be cause for us all to weep like Jeremiah.

Peter declares:

For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? (1 Peter 4:17)

The current forced closure of churches is unprecedented in the Protestant era. What is God trying to say to the Church through it?

Call to Repent

The Lord is returning soon, but before he does, he wants to discipline and purify his Church and equip it to declare his love to this nation before it’s too late; his true love, not an empty and sentimental excuse for love that sings a vacuous song of blessing over a rebellious nation. Scripture provides no mandate for such behaviour; it’s an unbiblical practice that’s an inevitable consequence of unbiblical doctrine.

God’s true love for this nation is the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ; the saving power of his death and resurrection, available to everyone through repentance and submission to him. No matter how beautiful and melodic the song of blessing may be that the Church chooses to sing over the nation, if it’s not within the will and purposes of the Lord, it will achieve nothing.

More than this, it exposes the Church as being no better than Homer’s Sirens of the sea whose beautiful song lured countless sailors to shipwreck on the rocky island of Anthemoessa.

Are we listening to the Lord and are we prepared to be scorned like Jeremiah was for preaching what God is really saying, or are we behaving like the false prophets of Jeremiah’s day?

I for one, am not singing a blessing over this nation. I weep over this nation, as I believe God does.

I weep for the state of his Church, as I believe God does.

The Church needs to repent before the nation can.