Last week's blog entitled "Decency for President" from best-selling Christian author and preacher at Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas, Max Lucado struck a nerve because he dared to suggest that Americans should hold people who say they are Evangelical accountable for their actions. He specifically called into question GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump's unChristian antics. Lucado said more than 3 million people read his piece in the first 36 hours on his posting it.
Lucado's newest blog from Monday was based on the thousands of comments his Decency blog attracted. He said they were fascinating to read, albeit not all of them pleasant to read, though.
Some people told Lucado to stick to the pulpit and stop meddling in politics. Otherwise, he detected the following three themes in the comments.
You have a deep sense of love for our country. "Patriotism oozed through your words. You cherish the uniqueness and wonder of the USA. You have varying opinions regarding leadership style, role of government, and political strategy. But when it comes to loving the country, you are unanimously off the charts."
You have an allergy to "convenient" Christians. "You resist people who don the Christian title at convenient opportunities (i.e., presidential campaigns). You would prefer the candidate make no mention of faith rather than leave the appearance of a borrowed faith that will be returned to the lender after the election."
You are concerned, profoundly concerned, about the future of our country. "The debt. Immorality. National security. The role of the Supreme Court. Immigration. Religious liberty. The list is as long as the worries are deep."
So where does this leave us? Elijah can weigh in on this question, said the 61-year-old pastor, who summarized the story.
Elijah lived during one of the darkest days in the history of Israel. The Northern Kingdom had 19 kings, each one of whom was evil. The leaders were corrupt and the hearts of the people were cold. But comets are most visible against the black sky. And in the midst of the darkness, a fiery comet by the name of Elijah appeared.
The name Elijah means, "My God is Jehovah." And he lived up to his name, stated Lucado. He appeared in the throne room of evil King Ahab with a weather report. "'As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word'" (1 Kings 17:1).
Elijah's attack was calibrated. Baal was the fertility god of the pagans, the god to whom they looked for rain and fertile fields. Elijah called for a showdown: the true God of Israel against the false god of the pagans. How could Elijah be so confident of the impending drought? Because he had prayed.
Eight centuries later, the prayers of Elijah were used as a model.
"The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops" (James 5:16-18).
James was impressed that a prayer of such power came from a person so common. Elijah was "a human being" but his prayers were heard because he prayed earnestly. This was no casual prayer, comfortable prayer, but a radical prayer. "Do whatever it takes, Lord," Elijah begged, "even if that means no water."
What happened next is one of the greatest stories in the Bible. Elijah told the 450 prophets of Baal: You get a bull, I'll get a bull. You build an altar, I'll build an altar. You ask your god to send fire; I'll ask my God to send fire. The God who answers by fire is the true God.
The prophets of Baal agreed and went first.
"At noon Elijah began to taunt them. 'Shout louder!' he said. 'Surely he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or busy, or traveling. Maybe he is sleeping and must be awakened.'
"So they shouted louder and slashed themselves with swords and spears, as was their custom, until their blood flowed. Midday passed, and they continued their frantic prophesying until the time for the evening sacrifice. But there was no response, no one answered, no one paid attention" (1 Kings 18:27-29).
(Elijah would have flunked a course in diplomacy.) Though the prophets cut themselves and raved all afternoon, nothing happened. Finally Elijah asked for his turn.
"Then Elijah said to all the people, 'Come here to me.' They came to him, and he repaired the altar of the LORD, which had been torn down. Elijah took twelve stones, one for each of the tribes descended from Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD had come, saying, 'Your name shall be Israel'" (1 Kings 18:30-31).
Elijah poured four jugs of water (remember, this was a time of drought) over the altar three times. Then Elijah prayed.
"LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. Answer me, LORD, answer me, so these people will know that you, LORD, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again" (1 Kings 18:36-37).
Note how quickly and dramatically God answered.
"Then the fire of the LORD fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench. When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, 'The LORD-he is God! The LORD-he is God!'" (1 Kings 18:38-39).
"Pow!" the altar was ablaze. God delighted in and answered Elijah's prayer. God delights in and answers our prayers as well.
Lucado recommended that Christians now start their own fire.
"If your responses to my blog are any indication, you are anxious. You love this country, yet you are troubled about the future. You wonder what the future holds and what we can do. Elijah's story provides the answer. We can pray. We can offer earnest, passionate prayers," he stated.
Lucado said it's time to turn concerns into a unified prayer. Dear Lord, You outrank any leader. You hold sway over every office. Greater is the occupant of Heaven's throne than the occupant of the White House. You have been good to this country. You have blessed us in spite of our sin and guarded us in spite of our rebellion. We unite our hearts in one prayer. Let your kingdom come. Let your will be done. Please, speak through the electoral process to reveal your leader. This we pray in the name of Jesus, Amen.
