Blessing without Repentance? Part 4

Blessing without Repentance? Part 4
Monday, March 16, 2026 by Dr. James W. Walraven

Categories: Contemporary issues / God’s sovereignty / Hope in Christ / Scripture discussion / Spiritual deception / The church / Thought for Today / Truth telling

Where does repentance start? Repentance begins within the church. If we within the church repent, there is a significant chance the nation will follow.

God warns us in 1 Peter 4:17 (NAU): “For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?”

God’s judgment starts with the church. Why? Of all the people on earth, we, the church, should know better. Through the Holy Spirit, we know what behavior God calls sin, what thoughts are sinful; what God considers good. While God declares that no one has an excuse (see the end of Romans 1), that is particularly true for those of us within the Church.

2 Chronicles 7:13–14 is often quoted (NAU): “If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people, and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

God’s healing of the land is conditional, isn’t it? That healing takes place only if the people called by His name repent. Those called by His name: that means more than just one denominational slice or one theological stream. It means all.

But what do we see? We are seeing more and more of the church first acquiesce, and then cave, to the morays of society. Consider the emergent and progressive churches. Are they not now following the dictates of secular culture? Don’t almost all of them deny that salvation is through Christ alone, that is if they even think salvation is necessary at all. What the culture calls sin, they call sin. What the culture declares to be righteous, they declare to be righteous. That God’s declarations are totally opposite the culture’s is besides the point. How many declare that how we live doesn’t matter, since God ultimately forgives everyone anyway? And what about some of the hyper-conservative churches that seem to revel in legalism, not showing God’s love and mercy?

Then there is the prosperity “gospel”. God wants us healthy and wealthy. If we are not, it is our faith that is lacking, or so they say. Biblically, are they not in great danger of being guilty of idolatry, of placing their love of money above their love for God? As Jesus said, we can’t serve two masters, we will either serve God or money, but not both.

Does any of this look like repentance? No. Any time any one of us places something above God, whether money, sex, fame, sports, shopping, social media, rigid legalism, role playing games, work, cultural morays—anything at all—we are guilty of the sin of idolatry. And we must repent.

Will we, meaning the entire church, repent? If not, the nation is ultimately done. God will not be mocked. God loves us deeply and would much prefer that we repent. That is why He has given us so much time to do so. Contrary to certain stereotypes, God takes no delight in judgment. But if we cling to our love of sin, He will judge us. As 2 Chronicles 36:16 declares, things can reach a point where judgment becomes the only remedy.

How will we respond?

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