CRIME-FIGHTING AND PRAYER

There are numerous practical ideas, initiatives, strategies and interventions which we can be employed in crime-fighting.  However, we must never attempt to diminish the significance of  spiritual or supernatural intervention. Once more, elevated concerns are being raised over the crime situation, and related social ills, in our nation. It’s obvious that these concerns are quite justified as a frightening, unprecedented degree of criminal activity surrounds us. Concerns come from the Government, the Opposition, the business community, the protective services and of course, the ordinary citizen. Strategy after strategy appears to reap only the opposite results — things simply seem to be deteriorating.  Whether the various interventions represent our best efforts, is a question for all of us to sincerely and seriously examine. 

Crime, particularly the types that have been plaguing our nation, is an extremely troubling and distressing matter. It’s perhaps the closest thing to a literal hell, so the level of fear and worry that currently pervades the society, is quite understandable. And indeed, we all have a part to play in addressing this critically pressing issue. There are numerous practical ideas, initiatives, strategies and interventions which we can employ in crime-fighting.  However, we must never attempt to diminish the significance of spiritual or supernatural intervention, such as prayer and intercession, along with the various aspects of the gospel. Of course, we are well aware that the Scripture cautions us that faith without works is dead (Jas 2:26). Prayer therefore must be supported by “real-life,” practical efforts from everyone concerned.

From its very birth, the church has had prayer as one of its most prominent distinguishing features. In fact, as recorded in Acts 2:1, the church was born in a prayer meeting on the Day of Pentecost, two thousand years ago. Prayer has been, from the very inception, the core element of the strength of the church. Every Bible-believing Christian knows that effective prayer is very vital to God’s plan for a nation. To an extent, the Lord waits upon the prayers of His people to determine the fate and direction of a nation. In one instance He says only “if my people will humble themselves and pray... then will I hear and heal their land” (2 Chr 7:14). In another injunction to the church, the Lord makes it clear that a “quiet and peaceable life with godliness and honesty” in a nation will be made possible through the prayers of the church (1 Tim 2:2). Christ states very plainly that the church holds a major key through prayer. He declares: “Behold, I give unto you the keys of the Kingdom. Whatsoever you bind on earth (in prayer) shall be bound in heaven; whatsoever you loose on earth (in prayer) shall be loosed in heaven” (Mt 16.19).  This constitutes for the church a very awesome charge. 

Heaven takes some direction from the “binding and loosing” signals of our prayer to decide the fate of earth. When this is factored into the existing state of our nation, for instance, it says something significant about the place of prayer in effective crime-fighting. The prophet Daniel followed this principle in his day and changed the destiny of his extremely troubled nation, through fervent intercession. We know that the Scriptures do not lay blame upon the church for all the negatives in a nation. The hardness of men’s hearts is definitely a factor. And as it is often said, things may look bad in our nation, but if we were not praying, things would have been far worse. Noted revivalist, John Wesley, had very profound convictions on this matter. His famous words in this connection are so often repeated: “Give me one hundred men who hate nothing but sin, and desire nothing but God.  This alone will turn the world upside down and create a heaven on earth. God does nothing but in answer to prayer.” 

This was Wesley’s philosophy and who could deny the precision of his revelation.  The fruits of his life and ministry stand not only as testimony of his on-target approach, but an inspiration to all who are truly serious about the state and destiny of their nation. The prophet Ezekiel further enlightens us on this count as he quotes the lament of the Lord: “And I sought for a man among them, who should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found none.  Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath...” (Eze 22:30,31).

As the challenges of our nation continue to intensify spiritually, morally, socially, economically and politically, the magnitude of the church’s task also increases. Believers in Christ must however understand, more than ever, that in the context of prayer, we have to be vision-centric and purpose-driven. We must not lose focus of the fundamentals of our God-given mission and mandate. Our purpose must not be polluted; our prayer must be pure. Our mandate is unique. It is a high calling, with awesome accountability to the Most High.