…THE
CALL – NASHVILLE 07/07/07 I had first heard of this
event about a month or so ago and decided to look into this. I had
found the official web site for “The Call Nashville-07/07/07”
http://www.thecall.com.
From the official web site it states:
“TheCall Nashville is a response to the summons in Joel 2:15-18, "Declare a holy fast... Call a sacred assembly... bring together the elders, gather the children."
The web site further states: “Nothing less than God's intervention can alter the course of our nation. America could be on the brink of true revival. History can be changed again, the only way it has always been changed: through united fasting and prayer. We cannot ignore the urgency of the hour.”
On the surface, it is very easy to see why many Christians would support such an event, after all, America is “on the brink of revival” and believers need to “take action!” But, what exactly is God saying through the prophet Joel? Is this a “summons” to America and the Church?
Let's take a look at Joel 2:15-18, because it says a lot more than “The Call” is telling you:
Joel 2:15-18 - Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly: Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet. Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God? Then will the LORD be jealous for his land, and pity his people.
It is very evident from these verses in Joel that God is speaking directly to His people, the Jews, and the land God is jealous for is none other than Israel.
Considering we just celebrated the Fourth of July, I want to make it very clear that America is the greatest nation on the face of the earth! It is indeed a privilege and honor to live in the United States of America where freedom rings! Let us never forget the many brave men and women who have sacrificed their lives to preserve and protect our freedom! In so many ways God has blessed America, however, America is not the nation God Himself has called for His very own...that honor belongs to Israel alone!
Genesis 12:2-3 - And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
If you take note of verse 15 of Joel chapter 2, it says blow the trumpet in ZION! Based on this verse alone it's very clear to see Joel 2:15-18 is NOT a “Call” to America nor the Church to respond to, rather it was God's command given directly to His people, the children of Israel!
“The Call” web site states America is “in a crisis.” I would tend to agree, only problem is “The Call” addresses the symptom, not the disease. From “The Call” web site:
“The Church and the nation are in a crisis! In no uncertain terms, the elections of 2006 showed us that there is no clear moral foundation upon which the nation votes. In this present historic moment, the Church was paralyzed. Tens-of-thousands stayed home and could not vote as if they were drunk with disillusionment.”
“Only one week before the elections, a major Christian leader was exposed in immorality. Before that, a high-ranking Republican Representative was exposed. After considering these scandals, the ongoing exposures of these Christian leaders, and seeing the outcome of the elections, I felt God shouting that the Church is in danger of losing its moral authority to turn a nation.”
Yes, America is in moral decay. If you don't believe this, just simply turn on your television set! However, “The Call” believes a return to moral purity will change America . They even go as far to claim God has a warning for the Republican party:
“God has a word to say to the Republican Party: "Line up with moral issues--Marriage Amendment and Abortion--and show compassion to the poor and the oppressed--show Justice--or I will remove your lamp stand". He is sifting the Republican Party for its refusal to stand for moral principle and for playing political games with its constituents, who in 2004, voted on moral issues.”
The web site goes on to quote Revelation 2:18-23 and 26:
"And to the angel of the Church in Thyatira write, 'These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass: "I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first. Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.
And I gave her time to repent of her immorality, and she did not repent. Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. I will kill her children with death, and all the Churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works."
Verse 26, "And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations"
Then it states: “It is only when the Church is found faithful in moral purity to her bridegroom, God, that she can gain spiritual authority over nations.”
Please take note of the use of the word “immorality” in verses 20 and 21 on “the Call” web site. The King James Bible says it this way:
Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.
It is clear to see the King James addresses the true problem...the SIN of FORNICATION, not just the act of immorality! The real crisis in America is SIN! “The Call” has it all wrong when they say the Church needs to be found faithful in moral purity. Morality is not, and SHOULD NOT be the primary issue here. Why? Because people have their own views of morality. For years, society has argued back and forth of what is right and what is wrong. What one person believes to be moral, another believes to be immoral. Moral relativism is rampant in our society. The Bible strictly condemns this:
Isaiah 5:20 - Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
There can be NO ARGUMENT when it comes to the real problem of Mankind...SIN. This is a BIBLICAL ABSOLUTE! People cannot have their own view of sin as they do with morality because the Bible specifically says we have ALL sinned (Romans 3:22), meaning we have ALL rebelled against God and His commandments. We are morally impure because SIN is our nature (John 3:19). When people hear the Gospel and are born again, saved by the blood of Jesus Christ, then true moral purity will follow in the form of holiness and godliness. This is to be the focus of the Church!
The sin nature of Man is something “The Call” is totally avoiding! The Church needs to be found faithful to God and His Holy Word! “The Call” should really be for repentance of sin and obedience to the Word of God! Then and only then will there be a change in America and society.
SOLA SCRIPTURA – THE SCRIPTURE ALONE!
“The Call” believes the only solution to the moral crisis in America is prayer and fasting:
What must we do? God's holy prescription for our diseased state in times of national crisis and moral collapse is in Joel 2, verses 12-13, 15-16, 18 & 28, which is a solemn assembly of united fasting and prayer.”
Please do not get me wrong, I believe Christians should frequently fast and pray, not just when things go wrong, or crisis may occur, but mostly to draw near to God and seek Him earnestly. Fasting and prayer is important, no doubt about it. However, fasting and prayer is not the solution for our “diseased state” and “moral collapse.” To put it simply:
SIN is Man's greatest problem, SALVATION is Man's greatest need!
“The Call” web site:
“Let a great Jesus movement come forth in America, and out of Nashville may music come forth that will reap the harvest and carry revival more powerfully than the Beatles carried the rebellion. If the Church repents in Nashville, the culture could be transformed in San Francisco. Nashville is the gateway to the Church, and San Francisco is the gateway to the culture.”
The last thing we need is another movement! What we really need is sound PREACHING of the Gospel of Jesus Christ! Jesus Himself has given the Church her prime directive in the Great Commission in Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, John 20, and Acts 1. There is not ONE MENTION of the Church solving moral crisis or making social change, nor is there any hint of music being the way to reap the harvest.
PREACHING is the biblical method in which sinners hear the Gospel, and are saved:
Romans 10:14-17 - How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Ephesians 1:13-14 - In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
PREACHING alone is the method God has given, and it is what pleases Him most:
1 Corinthians 1:18 - For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
Verse 21 - For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
There is no need to get caught up in all this hype, because that's all it is...HYPE! People are always looking for the spectacular and think God will be impressed with our efforts! This event will not move God any more than Live Aid or any other festival (or..”fast” in this case).The preaching of the Gospel is all we need! No hype, no fanfare, no loud trumpets nor concerts, we do not need to attract the attention of the lost by these carnal methods. Just keep it simple and preach the Gospel!
Romans 1:16 - For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
I could say more about this, and believe me, more can be said. But I think I have said enough for now.
Search the Scripture for yourself! SOLA SCRIPTURA! The Scripture ALONE! May the Lord bless you!
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