To briefly review the purpose of this study, we are addressing how to discern the times from the perspective of answering three ultimate questions:

1)  What is happening?

2)  What is not happening?

3)  What can we do about it?

    Using these three questions in a crisis can help us stay on course to rightly confront and overcome it. In answering the third question—what can we do about the situation—we are also considering the question many Christians are asking—what should they be doing—both as Christians and as citizens. Sometimes what we can do is different from what we should do.

    The ultimate evils of our time, such as the disregard for life, morality, integrity, greed, racism, and so forth, cannot be defeated at the ballot box. If we are privileged to live in a democracy in which we can vote for our leaders, it can help to vote for those who have understanding and are committed to righteousness and justice. However, it will take the truth to set people free, and the Spirit of the Lord can alone convict the world of sin. Then we must direct them to the only remedy for sin—the cross of Jesus Christ. There is no other way to be reconciled to God, except through His provision.

    The church in America has demonstrated a tendency of falling asleep, or becoming negligent in our basic responsibilities to be the salt of the earth and light of the world, when we have a believing political leadership. Politics will never be the answer to moral and spiritual crises. Therefore, we have to resolve to keep the main thing the main thing, but that does not negate our secondary responsibilities to be engaged in politics while in a democracy. Having a just and righteous government is something we are commanded to pray and intercede for. True, biblical intercession is more than just praying—though that will always be the most important thing we can do. Intercession is also standing in the gap, being actively engaged in the battle against darkness in our times.

    Personally, I lose trust in Christians who start making political solutions as the main solutions to the issues of our times. I also lose trust in those who do not have regard for secondary responsibilities such as voting, sitting in on school board meetings, writing letters, or otherwise being engaged in the culture. This too is a part of the Great Commission to disciple nations. 

    Even in Old Covenant times the prophets of the Lord would often be given words to speak to other nations besides Israel. At times, they were even sent to turn them from wickedness so that the Lord would not have to judge or destroy them. We can see by the whole testimony of Scripture the Lord’s heart for the nations and to use His people to speak to the times.

    Even so, we know that the kingdom will never come because of a vote in congress. However, civil governments that line up with the Lord’s standards of righteousness and justice are promised to be blessed and can be a vehicle for helping to prepare the way for the Lord. Political positions can be a platform that the Lord uses for spiritual and moral transformation of a nation.

    One of the great examples of this is William Wilberforce, who used his position in the British government to not only eradicate slavery in Britain, but by his resolve to “make morality fashionable.” He turned a nation from probably its deepest moral depravity in its history, and so transformed it that the age after him is known for its strong morals—“the Victorian era.”

    This was not done by voting, but by light casting out darkness—the proclamation of truth under the anointing and timing of God. The voting in Parliament soon lined up with the irresistible truth that was prevailing through the land by the boldness, courage, and endurance that Wilberforce and his friends had maintained. These few, who would gather with Wilberforce regularly for fellowship and to steel each other’s resolve, persisted on course until the darkness was driven from their land. It only took a few to begin, but as Tolstoy stated concerning the nature of prophecy, “It is like a fire lit in a dry wood that burns, and burns, and burns, until all of the wood, hay, and stubble is consumed.” This is hope for America in our time, as well as many other nations, that prophetic fellowships will arise with the courage, boldness, and endurance to prevail against the darkness.

    It will take the same kind of courage, boldness, and willingness to sacrifice to save our nation as it took to found it. It may only begin with a few, but the Lord is not restrained to deliver by many or few. Are you one of these? If you are, you are about to meet a few others. Resolve to gather together, to fellowship and encourage one another, and to remain resolute in your purpose.