Sackcloth & Ashes: A Look At True National Repentance - Part 4

“Collective Repentance: A Call for National Humility and Return to God”

Read & download full video transcript here: https://robertwimer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Sackcloth-Ashes-FULL-SERMON-TRANSCRIPT.pdf

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Collective Sin and Modern America

As we look around at the world today, it’s impossible to ignore the brokenness. And while it’s tempting to point fingers or blame others for the state of things, we need to ask ourselves a tough question: Have we, as a nation, turned our back on God? Because, if we’re honest, collective sin is real, and it’s not something we can just sweep under the rug. In fact, we’re living in the consequences of it right now.

What is Collective Sin?

Before diving into the state of America today, let’s first define what collective sin really means. Collective sin isn’t just a bunch of individuals sinning in isolation—it’s the idea that a society, a group of people, or even an entire nation can engage in behaviors that go against God’s will. It’s when sin becomes normalized, accepted, or even celebrated on a national level. And when that happens, it leads to collective consequences.

We see examples of this throughout the Bible. In Genesis, we find God’s judgment on the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah for their collective wickedness. In Exodus, Egypt faced ten plagues as a consequence of Pharaoh’s hardened heart and the nation’s oppression of the Israelites. The same theme continues in the prophetic books, where nations are often warned about the consequences of turning away from God.

But here’s the thing—this isn’t just an Old Testament concept. It’s alive and well today. And it’s not hard to see how America, once considered a “nation under God,” has strayed far from the path.

The Normalization of Sin in America

Let’s be real: America is no stranger to moral compromise. Over the last century, we’ve seen a gradual, and at times rapid, shift in what’s considered acceptable behavior. Things that would have shocked previous generations are now mainstream, and much of it comes down to the normalization of sin.

Take abortion, for example. It’s a topic that’s been debated for decades, but from a biblical standpoint, the taking of innocent life is clear-cut. Yet, in America, we’ve allowed it to become a political issue, something to argue over instead of confronting it as a national sin. Since Roe v. Wade in 1973, millions of unborn children have been aborted. That’s not just a statistic. That’s a collective sin that has been woven into the fabric of our nation.

And it’s not just abortion. The LGBTQ agenda, which promotes lifestyles that contradict biblical teachings, has become celebrated, even enshrined in laws. We’ve watched as gender confusion and sexual immorality are encouraged, especially among younger generations, with little to no regard for the long-term consequences on our collective spiritual health.

Even the entertainment industry plays a massive role in this normalization. Just look at the content we consume on a daily basis—movies, TV shows, music—so much of it glorifies violence, promiscuity, greed, and selfishness. These messages seep into the culture, dulling our moral compass and making sin look not only acceptable but desirable.

We’ve come to a place where we no longer call sin what it is. We’ve relabeled it, repackaged it, and sold it to the masses as progress, as freedom, as individual rights. But what we’ve really done is walk further and further away from God.

A Checklist of Consequences

In Deuteronomy 28, God lays out a pretty detailed list of blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience. And while this was written specifically to the people of Israel, there’s a universal truth here that applies to any nation that turns away from God.

Look at the curses: health problems, natural disasters, economic ruin, military defeat, and social unrest. Sound familiar? It’s almost like a checklist of what’s happening in America today. We’re dealing with unprecedented health crises, from rising rates of mental illness to devastating diseases. Natural disasters seem more frequent and severe. Our economy is shaky at best, with inflation, debt, and financial instability looming over us. We’re divided as a nation—politically, socially, and spiritually.

It’s not a coincidence. When a nation turns its back on God, there are consequences. And these consequences aren’t just arbitrary punishments—they’re the natural result of living in opposition to God’s design. When we abandon His ways, chaos follows.

Abandoning Truth for Convenience

One of the biggest problems we face as a society is that we’ve traded truth for convenience. It’s easier to ignore sin when it’s uncomfortable to deal with. It’s easier to say, “Well, that’s just how things are now,” rather than standing up for what’s right.

But let’s be clear: just because the world says something is right doesn’t mean God does. Moral relativism, the idea that truth is subjective and that we can each define right and wrong for ourselves, has infiltrated not just secular culture but even some corners of the church. It’s this kind of thinking that allows us to turn a blind eye to national sins.

Consider how often we hear phrases like, “It’s my body, my choice,” or, “Love is love.” These slogans sound appealing on the surface—they make us feel good about supporting individual freedom. But what they really do is mask sin and call it virtue. We’ve become a culture more concerned with being comfortable and inclusive than with being holy and obedient to God.

This shift is perhaps most alarming in the church itself. Many churches have softened their stance on issues like abortion, homosexuality, and gender identity in the name of love and acceptance. But this isn’t love. Real love speaks truth, even when it’s hard. Real love doesn’t affirm sin; it leads people out of it.

The Need for National Repentance

Here’s the truth we can’t ignore: collective sin requires collective repentance. Just like Nineveh, we need to recognize our national sins, humble ourselves, and seek God’s mercy. This isn’t about finger-pointing or laying blame on one group or political party. We’re all responsible. We’ve all played a part in allowing sin to thrive in our culture, whether through action or inaction.

The good news is that just as God showed mercy to Nineveh, He’s ready and willing to show mercy to us. But it starts with humility. It starts with acknowledging that we’ve gone astray and that we need to turn back to Him.

We often quote 2 Chronicles 7:14 when talking about national repentance: “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

But here’s the thing—repentance isn’t just saying sorry. It’s about real, lasting change. It’s about turning away from sin and turning back to God in every area of life. And it’s not just individual repentance that we need; it’s collective repentance. It’s the kind of repentance that says, “As a nation, we’ve sinned, and we need to make things right with God.”

Where Do We Go From Here?

The question we have to ask ourselves is: What are we going to do about it? Are we going to continue down this path, ignoring the signs and hoping things get better on their own? Or are we going to take a stand, admit that we’ve gone astray, and seek God’s forgiveness?

It won’t be easy. National repentance requires boldness, humility, and a willingness to confront uncomfortable truths. But it’s the only way forward. God is merciful, but He’s also just. He’s not going to bless a nation that refuses to acknowledge its sin.

We need to start with ourselves, of course—examining our own hearts and lives. But we also need to speak up. We need to call our nation back to God. We need to stand for truth, even when it’s unpopular. Because if we don’t, the consequences will only grow worse.

In the next part, we’ll look at how we, as believers, can offer hope to a nation in crisis through the message of the gospel and the transformative power of Jesus Christ. But for now, let’s reflect on the gravity of collective sin and the urgency of national repentance. The time to act is now—before it’s too late.