Reflections on the National Day of Prayer, II Chron 2:14 and interpretations with truth but no spirit.

     So, last Thursday was the National Day of Prayer. As has become a past time with some Christians, it must be downgraded. It must be made to seem that the motives of those that hold to such things are entirely not correct. It usually starts with the those who wish to scoff at the National Day of Prayer explaining II Chronicles 7:14.

if 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 and will forgive their sin and heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14 ESV)

     Usually the arguments they make have a lot of truth to them and truth is good! The verse is consistently used out of both context and historical context. They will say that it is a promise made to a specific people in a specific place at a specific time and they would be right. Others will say that if applied to any group as a promise today it would have to be applied to Christians only. they could be right also. The problem I have is that anytime this verse is pointed out, because of it's prevalence amongst people, it is always done with truth but no spirit. Those that use the above interpretation have narrowed it to only one thing.
     But what can we use then from this verse, what is it's theme shall we say?
     That is an easy one.
     Look at it.
     Humble yourself, pray, seek the face of God and turn from your wicked ways.
     God hears, forgives and heals.
     This verse is about repentance and God's reaction to it. No matter the context, this verse speaks for itself and it gives a message to Christian and non-Christian alike.
     When used today in conjunction with Jesus, this is the Gospel.
     I have seen Jesus and this message used at these events so why not instead rejoice that the Gospel has been preached?
     Is it more important to show your knowledge alone without spirit?
     Are those who use the verse as an attack point thinking it through enough?
     I don't think so.
     I think they have blinded themselves to anything else that might be present. Mainly to say, conservatives. They have such a visceral reaction to conservatives that they would use zero spirit to see the good behind applying this verse. They seem to place repentance of individuals and nations on a backseat to their politics.
     Is revival not a noble goal? I would think it was.
     Do people that attend these events have politics?
     Yes, they do and usually unapologetically. But, they seek repentance which I am sure covers over a lot of things.
     I have tended to notice that those who attack usually say that they don't like the national Day of Prayer because of politics. Using the word "politics" instead of "conservatives" is a way to make themselves look like they are on the higher moral ground. It would be so much more honest if they said it was conservative politics they didn't agree with or find objectionable.
     Life for some seems to be all about camouflage today.