Pastor Bell's Words To Live By

One of the great things about confessing is acknowledgement of wrongs that we have done in the past and the wrongs our ancestors did. Many Christians still argue that we are not responsible for the wrongs that their ancestors did and therefore we should not confess on their behalf. I would argue that the wrongs done by our ancestors and the evil perpetrated on them has lasting effects and those effects are still in prevalent in operation today.  The act of confession must precede repentance and repentance must occur before reparation can happen. The major problem faced by the scribe Ezra and the governor Nehemiah was getting the mindset of the people changed. So in the confession and worshipping process those leading this took the people back to where it all began. They spoke about the call of God on Abraham’s life. How his faithfulness led to God making a binding agreement with him (Gen 15:13) that He fulfilled 430 years after (Ex. 12). How he delivered His people from the grip of a ruthless slave master and gave them great wealth [the Egyptians gave the Israelite gold and precious items when they left]. And now this people who should be an example to those who served other gods were a disgrace because of their unbelief.  

So should we as 21^st century Christians repent for the wrongs our ancestors have done? Or do we just repent for our own wrongs? 

Today, I believe that there is enough biblical evidence to suggest that we should repent, worship and praise on a regular basis. If we develop a theology of repentance we may never move on to true worshipping. Conversely, if we worship without first clearing the air in repentance we will never get the break through and see the glory of God. It is God’s mandate to be among his people, so let us make room for him to come and fellowship with us who heard him calling. Please read Nehemiah 9 again aloud, it is powerful.