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Chapter 6

The Two Questions

Friday, February 15–MD minus 24 days

The final decision was made on the helicopter ride from Andrews Air Force Base to the White House. The beginning of the East Room service would be broadcast so that people who did not have a place to go could participate in their homes or offices; those who did not understand what the president had called them to do would be able to see exactly what this day was to be about. After a call from Tom Knight, ITN quickly agreed. Their feed would again be made available to the other networks, on their website as well as the Together We Pray website.

Throughout the world, millions of Christians were awakened in their sleep to pray for America and the coming day of decision. The burden was heavy and carried with it a call to pray for their own countries and governments, to confront their sin as God views sin, and to turn from that sin and be changed. It overcame the desire to sleep or eat or focus on anything else. Believers were being invited to unite and share these moments with the Lord, even as Peter, James, and John had been invited to do in Gethsemane.37 Those three slept, but this wasn’t the case for many believers that night. Guardians protected them while the light within opened their understanding that this was not about what God wanted them to do, but rather what God wanted to do in them. They were being invited to share His heart and passion and stand against the forces of darkness — and stand they did.

If the earth could have been viewed in those hours as seen from behind the Curtain, individual bright lights would have been apparent in every city and nation. The sound of millions of voices raised at once, united in purpose in many languages would have been heard. It was an amazing moment; one not witnessed often since the day Adam was given life and placed in the garden.38 The power of the prayer muted the efforts of the forces of darkness. People would be free to choose.

As dawn cascaded across America, people began to gather in sunrise services and private moments together in their homes. There was an awareness throughout the land that an opportunity to participate together as a nation was being offered when the East Room service would begin. All night long the announcements had appeared on radio and television, and headlines regarding the East Room service greeted those who picked up their morning papers or who listened to early morning newscasts. Even nonbelievers had a sense that the televised service was a way to resolve what they saw as a problem by providing something for believing employees without “wasting” the day or insulting their faith. The East Room service was set to begin at 11:00 AM, which would allow for it to be broadcast at a convenient hour throughout the country. Schedules were adjusted to make that time available for any who desired to participate. Churches that had scheduled their services at that hour hustled to make arrangements to have televisions available to join in the East Room service.

Sleep had not come to the Bookseller that night. The burden was heavy on him to be careful to say only what God wanted him to say. He remembered God’s cry of frustration and anger to Jeremiah against self-appointed “prophets” who ran with a message that He had not given them, leading God’s people further away. “But which of them,” God questioned, “has stood in the counsel of the Lord to see or hear His Word?” The Bookseller wanted to be such a man; a man who stood in the counsel of the Lord to hear His word because of how God said He would use such a man. God had declared, “But if they had stood in My counsel, they would have proclaimed My words to My people and would have turned them from their evil ways and from their evil deeds.”39 He knew that God’s declaration must be his purpose for this day and the few moments he would have to open the East Room service. His words must be God’s words to God’s people.

A peace came over the Bookseller as he dressed. He passed on breakfast, for this was not to be a day to focus on himself, even in the simple act of eating. This was a day to deny himself, even that small pleasure, so that he could focus fully on God. Taking Margaret’s hand, he smiled. “I must admit, I never thought I would live to see a time when a modern president would have the courage to call the nation to repentance. God has done an amazing thing. He must have a clear purpose for a changed America.”

“Yes, if America will allow itself to be changed,” Margaret replied.

“It is not America as a whole that is at issue this morning,” the Bookseller responded. “It is we who call ourselves Christians, but who live in active rebellion against the teachings of the Bible. Many Christians’ lives effectively declare that we can be our own god and live any way we want. By our lives, we have said to a watching world that the Bible is a lie and Jesus is not God. Who in their right mind would want to become what they see of Christians today? The only argument for being a Christian is the ‘happy church good time hour’ or the theology of ‘grabbing fire insurance before it is too late.’ Church has become a club in which you don’t even have to pay dues if you don’t want.”

They were silent as they were led to a small room near the East Room to await the time to begin. The little group of three from Williams held hands and prayed. The Bookseller had been given no program, no time limitations, nothing. What would happen in these next few public moments had been left completely in his hands. Those were the president’s instructions, again over the objections of many advisors who warned of possible adverse political consequences. The president, even as the Bookseller had passed on food, was passing on political consequences. Nothing must get in the way of hearing from God.

The battle in the invisible had gone on throughout the night. Unbeknownst to those now gathering in the East Room, Professor Trice had been awakened by a representative of an organization called Government Without God, better known as GWG, to immediately file suit to block the broadcast. He had moved quickly, understanding the importance of standing against what he saw as an attempt by the religious forces to take their message to the public without restraint. He truly feared what could happen if the American people heard the message of the Bible without restraint and without “clarification.” His Keeper dug his fingers deep into Trice’s brain to plant the passion and influence necessary to fight this last-minute battle in the midst of the Harkins setback.

Suit was filed by 2:00 AM, claiming the broadcast was a violation of the First Amendment prohibition against the establishment of religion. A pre-selected favorable United States District Judge who had been appointed by former President Cox was then awakened. Judge Hightower had been carefully avoided since he had demonstrated that he could not be trusted on a matter of this importance. An injunction was issued without the government having the opportunity to appear and oppose the request. The order would allow the service to go forward, but not be broadcast. Professor Trice notified the White House and ITN demanding that the broadcast be canceled.

But Professor Trice was not the only legal mind awake at that hour. Attorney General Rodriquez had been up all night preparing for such a battle. He had been directed by the light within to expect a challenge, and the appeal papers to seek reversal of an expected injunction were ready. The United States Court of Appeals for the 1st circuit had been notified of the possibility, and a panel was on call if needed. The appeal was filed quickly, and the matter was fully briefed and argued by both sides as the sun rose over Washington. By the time most in the Capitol had finished their breakfast, a decision had been rendered.

The court’s opinion was direct and simple.

We reverse the District Court. No evidence was presented to demonstrate compulsion by the president or this administration to force the broadcast or to force anyone to watch. No government funds are being expended, and thus there is no state action to establish any particular religion.

The president is also a private citizen with the right to the free exercise of his religion as he may wish. There is historical precedent for political leaders in this nation, including presidents, to call the country to voluntary prayer and repentance. If the media wishes to cover the event, that is their First Amendment right. The injunction was issued in error and is hereby dissolved.

There was no time for a Supreme Court appeal. Professor Trice was tied up with Dr. Bristol, making sure they would have all the documents together for the 1:00 PM showdown with Judge Hightower. Dr. Bristol was willing to stand for what he believed in as long as he did not have to stand behind bars. Trice shared that opinion. The appeal would not have been heard anyway as the Supreme Court was in recess this morning. The majority of the members of the court were now sitting in the East Room awaiting the start of the service.

By 10:30 AM, the East Room was full, with an overflow of people standing in the back. The president’s invitation to members of his administration had been almost uniformly accepted. Present in the room were the vice president, cabinet secretaries, heads of departments, advisors, the Joint Chiefs, members of the Survival Commission, and as mentioned above, most members of the United States Supreme Court. Although no one knew what to expect, there was a sense of history and anticipation in the room. Some prayed while others simply waited and wondered what was about to happen.

The nation paused at 11:00 AM, some from deep commitment, others from curiosity to hear what the old man from Williams was going to say. People throughout the earth had been drawn together for this moment, and it began simply with a plainly dressed little old man with white hair and a white beard walking to a podium at the front of the room carrying a Bible and a single sheet of white paper.

Taking his Bible, the Bookseller turned to the 28th chapter of Deuteronomy and said by way of introduction, “To his people, to those who publicly had declared that they would follow Him as their God, the Lord through Moses laid out consequences of their future choices, for God is a God of the moment, and the consequences we face individually and as a nation are not the result of history — they are dependent on the choices we make now — the choices we make today. Listen to the Word of God.

If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all His commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God:40

“Consider this one blessing out of the many:

The Lord will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven.41

“And now consider the consequences of a different choice:

However, if you do not obey the Lord your God and do not carefully follow all His commands and decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come upon you and overtake you:42

“Consider this one curse out of the many:

You will live in constant suspense, filled with dread both night and day, never sure of your life… because of the terror that will fill your hearts and the sights that your eyes will see.43

“Is God really serious about the consequences of the choices that would be made, whether to obey or go their own way?

“Looking back from Babylon, Daniel knew the answer, for the nation of Israel had been completely destroyed by a foreign enemy and many of those who survived were taken away into captivity. It was a moment like today that changed history when Daniel chose to stand before God for his now non-existent nation. He chose to pray for forgiveness of their sin of rebellion against God, which had brought about their defeat. He confessed that, ‘We have not obeyed the Lord our God or kept the laws he gave us through his servants the prophets,’ and that as a result, the curses I just quoted and the others in that passage had been poured out upon the nation and it had been destroyed by its enemies.44 He acknowledged that ‘The Lord did not hesitate to bring the disaster upon us, for the Lord our God is righteous in everything He does; yet we have not obeyed Him… we have sinned we have done wrong.’45

“God heard and answered, and a decree was issued by a foreign king who ruled over them that ultimately allowed the temple to be rebuilt,46 and then the city of Jerusalem.47 In time, Israel was once again a nation until its people again made wrong choices, they rebelled against God, and the process repeated itself.

“This truth is not limited to Israel, for no great world power has yet survived throughout all of history. America has no reason to believe we will be treated any differently if we make wrong choices.

“What then needs to happen to assure that we are aligned with God; that we are on his side individually and as a nation?

“The answer is found in the experience of Isaiah the prophet in the 6th chapter of the book that bears his name, when he encountered God. That is the purpose of today: to encounter God. What happens when you encounter God? Well, what happened to Isaiah?

“The Bible gives an elaborate description of what he saw, but what is important for us is not how God appeared to him, but how it affected him and what he did about it. When Isaiah realized that it was God Himself, he cried out, ‘Woe to me… I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord almighty.’48

“A real encounter with God will reveal what in us is considered sin. For Isaiah, it was his mouth. In you, and for America, it may include your mouth, or it may be something completely different. Let no one tell you what they believe your (or America’s) sin is. Don’t decide for yourself; you can’t know for sure. Just like Isaiah, let God reveal your sin, then confess it and allow God to change both you and our nation.

“In the passage, after Isaiah confesses his sin, he sees an angel come with a piece of coal taken from the altar before the throne. His lips are touched, and he hears these words, ‘See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.’ Suddenly Isaiah could hear God speak and quickly found himself being used by God, living under His enablement and protection.49 That cleansing and change and empowerment is what we seek today for ourselves and for our nation. We desire to live under the blessings and protection of God, which means we must desire to obey Him fully and repudiate anything He calls sin.

“Please repeat with me the Lord’s Prayer,” he asked. Both in the East Room and throughout the world, voices were raised together repeating the familiar lines.

Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one, for Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.50

“As you approach God today, let me suggest that you begin by asking Him two questions from the prayer we just raised together. I believe that in His answer you will discover your sin and America’s sin as God views it. The first question: what in my life or our nation dishonors the holiness of God’s name? By name, scripture means everything that is God — His character, His power, His righteousness, His sovereignty; even His Word. The second question: what in my life or our nation is not God’s will being done as it is in Heaven?”

The sound of pens quickly writing notes filled the East Room as the Bookseller continued.

“God has given us some very specific promises in the Bible for anyone seriously searching for Him this day. It says, come near to God and He will come near to you.51 Jesus says, seek me and you will find me.52 In the last book of the Bible, the Book of Revelation, Jesus reveals another truth about this day. He affirms that it is He who is knocking, and we who must open so that He may come into our hearts and dwell with us.53 Seek God. Open your heart and mind to Him. Then ask the questions and listen, for He will come with the answers even as He has promised.

“What will this look like, and how should we respond? Let me read the prayer of one man who sought God and then confessed before the Kansas House of Representatives what he believed God had revealed to him as America’s sin.” Taking the single sheet of paper, he read:

Heavenly Father,

We come before you today to ask Your forgiveness and to seek Your direction and guidance.

We know Your Word says, “Woe to those who call evil good,” but that is exactly what we have done.

We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values. We confess that.

We have ridiculed the absolute truth of Your Word and called it pluralism; we have worshipped other gods and called it multiculturalism; we have endorsed perversion and called it an alternative lifestyle.

We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery; we have rewarded laziness and called it welfare.

We have killed our unborn and called it choice; we have shot abortionists and called it justifiable.

We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self-esteem.

We have abused power and called it politics.

We have coveted our neighbor’s possessions and called it ambition.

We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression; we have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment.

Search us, Oh God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and set us free.

Guide and bless these men and women who have been sent to direct us to the center of Your will, to open their hearts and their minds to receive your guidance.

I ask this prayer in the name of Your Son, the living Savior, Jesus Christ.

Amen

There were audible gasps in the room as the prayer was read. Throughout America, some were angered and offended by what they heard. The Bookseller placed the paper down and spoke slowly with authority.

“Some of you were obviously offended by this prayer. That is of no concern to me. What is of concern is how God feels about the subjects mentioned in the prayer, and whatever else is on His heart. I read this only to make a point. It does not matter what you think or feel about what you hear. It matters only what God thinks and feels. You may disagree among yourselves, forming competing political parties with different platforms and agendas. But, hear me well: you do not have the right or privilege to disagree with God if you want to live under His blessings and protection, and avoid His curses.

“Now, choose — but choose wisely.” He walked away from the podium and knelt beside his chair, closing out everything and everyone around him to continue his time before God in prayer.

The ITN broadcast pictured the kneeling Bookseller as it faded to a series of photographs of America while playing quiet background music. It was as if the television was showing the world what it was they were standing for as the scenes changed each morphing into the next. ITN had set aside a full hour of silence during which the pictures of America would be shown as the people prayed.

The Iranian Surprise

In Iran, as elsewhere around the world, millions had watched either on television or through the ITN feed on its website or the protected prayer website. The six gathered to pray at Hiram Urbay’s home in Teheran turned off the computer as the picture faded from the Bookseller kneeling to the scenes of America.

“What in my life or our nation dishonors the holiness of God’s name? What in my life or our nation is not God’s will being done as it is in Heaven?” Hushai repeated. “Those are the questions.” And the sounds of multiple prayers were heard as they sought God’s answers. There were tears of conviction and shouts of rejoicing, confession of individual sin and the collective sin of their nation of Iran as the night moved on quickly as though only a moment had passed.