Tonight I read a post that came up on my newsfeed on Facebook about reasons why a person shouldn't attend TheCall in Detroit on 11-11-11. My first emotion was disappointment then along came frustration. Let me begin by saying that I did not and do not agree with anything this post has to say, and I wanted to take a moment to clarify some things regarding TheCall, Lou Engle, The International House of Prayer (IHOP), etc.
The first point that is brought up in this post is that Lou Engle has been saying the exact same message since 2000. Well, if a person did any research or sat under a message by Lou Engle, they would soon find out that The Call is a movement. So, yes Lou Engle has been, essentially, pressing in for similar things as he goes from city to city. Lou Engle’s dream is based on “how can we, as followers of Christ, turn America back go God?” His vision is to see a generation, a nation of Nazarites.
Okay, well you might be thinking, what are Nazarites? Nazarite originates from the Hebrew word “nazir,” which means to be separate or consecrated. In Numbers 6:2 Moses writes that the Nazarites would “separate themselves unto the Lord.” We should want to see a holy generation, a generation wanting to bring justice.
Now if you’re one of those people who believe that Jesus came to abolish the law (which I’ll get into that later), well you might be thinking, “that’s only referencing the Old Testament.” Well, yes, but here is what is says in 2 Corinthians 6:17: “Therefore, come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.” So even in the New Testament, we, as Christians, are called to separate ourselves unto God. We need to have a desire to be holy and acceptable in His sight.
In regards to being a generation that wants to bring justice, this is clearly listed in a couple places in the New Testament.
- “Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord.” (Romans 12:19)
- “For we know Him who said, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord. And again, ‘The LORD will judge His people.’” (Hebrews 10:30)
How do you know that the Lord will judge His people? Well, He says so, as read above. It’s also important to note that those who walk in a relationship with Christ are considered the just. It says in Hebrews 10:38 that “the just live by faith.” So let’s dig a little deeper, what is faith? “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Okay, let me bring this back to how it relates to TheCall.
TheCall is about seeing a nation turn back to its first love, Jesus. It is about a nation getting on its knees in prayer and fasting and repenting for all the sins that have been committed, with a big emphasis being on abortion. Read what is says in Revelation 2:4-5: “Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.” Going a little further, we’ll look at two scriptures that address the lampstand:
- “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16)
- “Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.” (Matthew 25:1-13)
So, we are called as a nation to repent, and TheCall is just living out what God calls us to do in Revelation. I pulled out the two passages from Matthew because I wanted you to see the representation of the lampstand. (1) We are to let our light shine before all men. We should desire to outshine the ways of the world. (2) If we don’t make sure to have oil in our lamps, in other words if we don’t prepare for Jesus’ coming, we will be left behind. Do we really want to miss Jesus’ coming? Who wants to live eternity in hell? I sure don’t. Reading this, I want to repent for all the sins of I have done, all the sins I have allowed my country to do, and all the sins that my past generations have accepted. TheCall is just bringing this idea to the forefront. Christians tend to be unaware of what their actions will do when facing Christ on judgment day.
Moving on. The United State of America WAS founded on Christian principles. In the posting I’m arguing against, there is a statement that because America was founded on Christian principles, God has to bless us. Well, actually if you read the Bible, in Exodus 23 24 God specifically states, “you shall serve the LORD your God, and He will bless your bread and your water. And I will take sickness away from the midst of you.” Well the author of the original post furthers the statement by saying that America does not have a covenant relationship with God because we are not Israel. Okay, well if there is anything I have learned, it is that God is no respecter of persons. Look at what God has to say in Acts and Romans:
- “Then Peter opened his mouth and said: ‘In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all—that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree. Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead. To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.’” (Acts 10:34-43)
- “Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who “will render to each one according to his deeds”: eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For there is no partiality with God. For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law (for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified; for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them) in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.” (Romans 2:1-16)
So what can you take away from these passages? Christian or non-Christian, God will judge both. A label is not worth anything. It isn’t about good works. It’s about a relationship with Jesus Christ. It’s about being the hands and feet of Jesus.
Okay, the author in the original post makes a point regarding 2 Chronicles 7:14 that it is about individual repentance not a nation. Since when did God appoint someone to read between the lines and say “this promise is NOT for America?” Once again this is going back to that belief that Jesus abolished the law, therefore the Old Testament information is mere historical fact not information that can be applied to every day life. I guess this is a breaking point to bring up the fact that Jesus FULFILLED the law. Therefore the Old Testament still applies much to my life as it did to the Israelites’ lives thousands of years ago. Jesus said, “[do] not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.” Why do I bring this up? Well, the post makes a comment that TheCall and Lou Engle make references to obscure Old Testament passages. Since when did passages from the Old Testament become “obscure”? Please, enlighten me. Everything I have read is completely in context, even the point that is made about desiring the Spirit of Elijah (which I will address in a little bit).
Going back to this claim regarding 2 Chronicles 7:14. Well, then why will we, as the bride of Christ, be responsible for the shedding of innocent blood? By remaining isolated as a church, it is a betrayal of God’s purpose according to Acts 2. We as Christians have become accustomed to the ways of the world, by allowing abortion and homosexuality to run rapid. Did you know that more babies are killed through abortion in one year in ONLY America than the amount of people that were killed during World War II? Doesn’t that make you sick? Think of all the families that want to have children, but for one reason or another, can’t. Think about what God said to Jeremiah, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you.” (Jeremiah 1:5). Remember, God is no respecter of persons. Therefore, He knew each and every single person before they were knit together in their mother’s womb. So, when we, as a church, sit back and don't repent for our sins, we are essentially ignoring God’s purpose.
Well some people might argue that where sin abounds, grace abounds (Romans 6). That is, in fact, true. However, the piece of information that people miss is that you can’t knowingly sin: “What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!” (Romans 6:15). So, we can’t just ignore the sin and hope that grace and time will fix it. It says in Jude 1:23 that some people have to be saved “with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.” Or better yet, how about what it says in James 5:19-20: “Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.” We are supposed to chase after those who are sinning. We are supposed to desire to change what the world thinks is okay, such as abortion and homosexuality.
Remember, our goal, as Christians, is Heaven: “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14). If we could, wouldn’t we want every person on this planet to have an eternal life, glorifying Jesus Christ? So, once again, this is why we need a call to repentance. This is why we need to press into God to heal our lands. Oh, but wait, the author of the post says this is moralism. Really? Since when did God healing and blessing our lands have anything to do with morality?
On the kick of morality, the post goes on to make a statement regarding people needing the gospel and making a subtle comment about not focusing on the Cross. My comment is, if you’ve never been to a meeting with Lou Engle, a pre-Call event, an IHOP conference, etc. then YOU HAVE NO ROOM TO TALK! It is about spreading the gospel because we are the hands and feet of Jesus. It is about the Cross.
Oh and, why pray all night for something God has already given us a solution for? Well, try and answer that one yourself. Why is our world facing more tribulations and more wars than ever before? Our only solution is to humble ourselves before God and seek His face. Wait, that’s based from 2 Chronicles 7:14. So, hmmm…can’t use that, right? BUT it says in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 that we are to “PRAY WITHOUT CEASING.” And here is where I bring in my point of the Spirit of Elijah that we should desire. Quick recap: Elijah was the prophet that did not stop praying until he saw God move. We should not want to stop, similar to Elijah, until we see our nation on its knees, coming back to its first love, Jesus Christ, and even then we are still commanded to pray without ceasing.
Changing gears to address one more thing in the post: blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. According to the post I’m arguing against, Lou Engle blasphemies the Holy Spirit and John MacArthur states that Lou Engle and Mike Bickle of IHOP dishonor God. Here is what MacArthur states, “For example, they [believe they] have authority equal to the Apostles. They have the same power the Apostles had through the Holy Spirit to do miracles and to exercise that power and they’ve had it since 2001. Some of them fall into the prophet category, some of them fall into the Apostle category, they speak what the Holy Spirit reveals to them with the same authority the Apostles have.” Once again, God is no respecter of person. Also, since when did signs and wonders become a move that's NOT of the Holy Spirit? It states that it “was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will” (Hebrew 2:3-4). So, if we are moving as directed by the Holy Spirit, signs and wonders SHOULD automatically follow. Signs and wonders were common occurrences during Jesus’ time and when the Apostles were ministering. Why do we think that should change? Surprise, we shouldn’t!
So TheCall is a movement that is releasing the Spirit of Elijah on a generation. TheCall is about preparing us to be a Nazarite people. We should want to pray without ceasing. We should want to see God heal our nation. We should want to see God bring this country back to the principles it was founded on. In order for this to happen we need to fast and pray until we see God break open the heavens and send revival. Yes, I used the word: REVIVAL. There is a revival coming. God is raising up an army. It is your choice whether you will join it. However, I know for a fact that I will be ready to be on the front lines. It will only get worse before it gets better, and I want to be prayed up. When I’m facing the judgment seat of Christ, I want to hear Him say “well done, my good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25) and not "depart from me, you worker of iniquity” (Matthew 7).
