Standing in the Gap

I found this quote this morning while preparing for today’s class. It fits very well with the direction I’ve taken lately.

“The story of all of history is the story of Christians understanding that God enables them to change things. The story of all of history is the story of Christians either standing in the gap and remarkably changing their societies for good, or Christians walking away from their responsibilities and seeing havoc wreaked throughout all of culture. That is history. And so, if we understand anything about that at all, we know this: There is great hope for the future. This nation is not lost. We don’t have to turn back the clock in order to turn back the tide. Instead, all we have to do is do our job.”

— George Grant

Kettler, S. C. (1993). Biblical counsel : Resources for renewal : An annotated topical bibliography of works containing biblical counsel for persons seeking lasting solutions to life’s problems. Includes indexes. (561). Newark, Del.: Lettermen Associates.

And that direction stems from these two passages of scripture. I’ve been meditating on them night and day for weeks.

^{Isaiah 1:10} Jerusalem, your rulers and your people are like those of Sodom and Gomorrah. Listen to what the Lord is saying to you. Pay attention to what our God is teaching you. ¹¹ He says, “Do you think I want all these sacrifices you keep offering to me? I have had more than enough of the sheep you burn as sacrifices and of the fat of your fine animals. I am tired of the blood of bulls and sheep and goats. ¹² Who asked you to bring me all this when you come to worship me? Who asked you to do all this tramping about in my Temple? ¹³ It’s useless to bring your offerings. I am disgusted with the smell of the incense you burn. I cannot stand your New Moon Festivals, your Sabbaths, and your religious gatherings; they are all corrupted by your sins. ¹⁴ I hate your New Moon Festivals and holy days; they are a burden that I am tired of bearing. ^15 “When you lift your hands in prayer, I will not look at you. No matter how much you pray, I will not listen, for your hands are covered with blood. ^16 Wash yourselves clean. Stop all this evil that I see you doing. Yes, stop doing evil ^17 and learn to do right. See that justice is done—help those who are oppressed, give orphans their rights, and defend widows.”

^{Ezekiel 22:30} “I looked for a man from among them who would repair the wall and stand in the gap before me on behalf of the land, so that I would not destroy it, but I found no one.