For many years now the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland has, at its Annual Synod, appointed a day of prayer to be observed throughout the Church, principally on account of the continued low state of religion and morals in our nation, and discerning and thoughtful Christians perceive that the need for prayer to God, on behalf of our nation, is more needful than ever at present.
But, as things are at present, what is required is that the whole nation be called upon on an appointed day to turn to God, in the name of Christ Jesus, in prayer, with due penitence and humility. This call and appointment should come from Government level, and should be proposed and required by the well-known leaders of the national churches in England and Scotland. Sad to say, some of these leaders are more concerned with activities which are disturbing the Church of Scotland and the Church of England. In Scotland the Bishop-in-Presbytery controversy; and in England the Canons controversy, are both dividing and disturbing large numbers of people in these two national Churches.
There are two basic reasons why we as a nation ought to humble ourselves before God, and implore by prayer His mercy and the light of His countenance.
The first is, the low and deplorable state of true religion and morals within our realm. The Bible, the pure gospel of Christ, and the true public worship of God, are really matters of no consequence or moment to the vast majority of the people. This is the obvious truth. And, of course, related to this abandonment of Biblical Christianity, there abounds in all grades of society immorality of all kinds. And in this connection things have come to such a terrible pass that those sins and practices which ought to be a shame to speak of, now afford to some sections of the nation cause for even amusement or laughter when mentioned in public. The vilest sins are prevalent and do not afford alarm or abhorrence from many of whom we would expect better. There
are, of course, those who feel deeply the signs of degeneracy in the midst of this professed and once highly-favoured Christian nation.
The second main and serious reason why we need to turn humbly and prayerfully to God as a nation, “officially” and publicly, is the existing and increasing tension between the Western powers, Great Britain included, and the Soviet Communistic Republic. Whether there will be war or not is not a question we shall discuss here. But the fact is that the heads of government in the United States of America, Great Britain and other countries, are speaking repeatedly of this terrible danger, with the possibility of nuclear weapons being employed. In addition to speaking, action is being taken to prepare in a military manner to prevent or to meet such an eventuality. We need not go into details, as our readers are well aware of such facts on this terrible state of affairs as are publicised from time to time. Although here we may just mention one matter to emphasise our point. It is proposed by the American Government and our own Government to establish rocket missile bases in Scotland from which, of course, to retaliate upon Russia, if the need arise. Surely the situation is dangerous and cannot but affect the minds of thinking persons. Yet there is no indication at all that members of the British Government or of the American Government have any notion whatever of openly, publicly and officially seeking the favour, guidance and help of the Most High, Who ruleth in the Kingdom of men. They admit they have problems with respect to the Communistic threat, and still continue to rely on diplomacy, Foreign Ministers, conferences and, if possible, meetings of heads of States. What miserable substitutes these are for national humiliation and prayer before the Lord!
In briefly reviewing these two main reasons which call urgently for a national day of prayer, we would point out that sin, and national sins, dishonour the majesty of heaven and provoke Him to anger. And then, in the light of the records of God’s Word, divine judgments may be expected to follow upon God-dishonouring conduct. Indeed, the threat of such judgments is what hangs over Britain today. Is there not a sense of apprehension, and of anxiety? But in the case of the most this apprehension is not related to the threat of divine punishment for the nation’s irreligion and immorality. Yet it still can be said that there are those in the midst of the land who cry and sigh for the abominations done in our beloved nation. They would welcome signs in high places of a turning to God, and that an example would be given to the people at large to acknowledge their sins and to plead with God for His mercy, guidance and protection, on a national scale.
In the days of the prophet Joel, we read in his Prophecy that God’s judgments called for repentance, and a solemn assembly was called: “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 there God?” (Joel 2, 15-17). What was the expectation and hope of the people, in weeping and praying before the Lord? Joel tells us: “Then will the Lord be jealous for his land, and pity his people” (chapter 2, verse 18).
The people of Jerusalem and Judah in the days of Jeremiah were given to much wickedness. He says to them: “Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal . . . and say, We are delivered to do all these abominations” (Jeremiah 7, 9-10). Under such evil conditions in the nation, Jeremiah’s prayer recorded in chapter 14, evidences his godly concern for the averting of God’s judgments upon the people. Part of his prayer is as follows: “O Lord . . . our back-slidings are many: we have sinned against thee. O the hope of Israel, the Saviour thereof in time of trouble, why shouldest thou be as a stranger in the land. . . . Yet thou, O Lord, art in the midst of us, and we are called by thy name; leave us not.” How suitable are the petitions of the prophet here for present day Great Britain!
And what of Nineveh after Jonah preached unto them the preaching that the Lord bade him? From king to cattle there was a covering with sack-cloth; and there was a crying mightily unto God on the part of the people; and all in response to the King’s proclaimed and published decree, supported by the nobles (see Jonah 3: 1, 7, 8). There was also a call to everyone to turn from his evil way and from the violence of his hands. Now why did the people thus act when they heard: “Yet forty days and Nineveh shall be overthrown”? We have the answer in verse 9 of this chapter, viz., “Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?” And as we read in verse 10, it was truly a mercy for Nineveh that they were thus exercised: “And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil that he had said that he would do unto them, and he did it not.”
We are deeply conscious of the fact that individuals and the nation as a whole have much need of the outpouring of the Spirit of truth and grace to bring us as a people, high and low, to stand still
and acknowledge that God is, and that from Him alone, through His Son Jesus Christ can come to us in these perilous times the mercy, wisdom, reformation, guidance and peace we need. Yet we are a nation to whom great spiritual and providential privileges and favours have been granted in the past; and in the midst of whom the professed Christian Church and witness exists. So when irreligion and immorality become a plague throughout the land; and divine judgments are threatened; and people are anxious and alarmed; surely there ought to be a recognition of this and a responsible expression of opinion as to our need of turning to God in prayer and humiliation, by those in authority in Church and State in this professed Christian nation. The silence of those in high places as to our present need that God would be consulted is a solemn feature of our low state.