FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are we repenting? (See our ‘Why Repent’ page.)

When we look at our nation we see a society in a state of collapse. It’s just like the prophet Hosea observed about Israel all those years ago: no truth, no mercy, no knowledge of God in the land, just swearing and lying and stealing and committing adultery. No sooner has one story of a young life being violently ended faded from the newspapers, than another takes its place. That’s just what Hosea says: ‘blood touching blood’

Where has the Church failed the nation?

The Church has failed to preach consistently the whole Gospel of the Commandments of God and the Testimony of Jesus Christ (Rev 12:17). So the policians have decided they can do it all in their own strength and wisdom and have said they ‘don’t do God.’ And as individual believers, we have failed to be salt and light, just trusting the politicians would get it right. But as a result of our silence and their own fallen hearts, they have got it wrong and led our nation into sin and judgment. So we are saying we shall be ‘Silent no more’

What will happen if it goes on like this?

Hosea said the land would mourn, he said God’s judgment would fall on agriculture, fishing and industry. He said if people forget the laws of God, He would forget their children. Corporate greed has brought judgment on our whole economy, just as the prophet said, family life is disintegrating, disrespect for civilised standards of behaviour and even for life itself is increasing. How bad does it have to get before the Church wakes up?

Where did it start?

Since the Garden of Eden, unregenerate man has rebelled against God. But evil got a big boost in the 60’s. In 1969, fresh from driving through the laws which have devalued human life, destroyed the family and exalted ungodly sex, the then Home Secretary Roy Jenkins said ‘the permissive society is the civilised society’. It does not look very civilised to those who have fallen victim to it.

Why should the Church get involved?

(1) Because we are supposed to be ‘salt and light’, prophetic (forthtelling not foretelling!) in other words. (2) Because the heart of God is towards the victims of injustice. (3) Because the Lord Jesus said those who hunger and thirst after righteousness would be blessed and filled. (4) Because our politicians have no answers and that’s because they want to do things man’s way not God’s way.

What can we do?

1Peter 4:17 tells us that judgment begins first with the household of God; thus we ought to examine ourselves to see where we have fallen short. Humble ourselves, pray and seek His face and turn form our wicked ways, as 2Chron.7:7-14. An outward expression of this inner striving could be a wish to demonstrate a united heart with other contrite believers and come together in a March of Repentance.

Is there a spiritual dimension?

We think so. All the social indicators show that the big social experiment to do things man’s way has failed. And still our leaders will not give up the secularist paradigm which has brought things to this pass and humble themselves before the King of kings. That’s spiritual blindness. And just maybe there is a touch of Satan himself in it.

Why a march?

As we ask ‘what can we do’ and look to pray into this situation, some of us have been drawn to some form of public witness. The Lord has convicted others of the need for repentance. Recently, in London, a Bible became the baton in a prayer relay. All that comes together in Chris Rowley’s vision of Christians marching in repentance through our capital city.

What won’t it be?

A procession with no meaning, a pious or self-righteous exhibition.

What will it be?

A gathering of humbled believers seriously wanting to join with others in pleading before His throne of Grace.

Is a march spiritual?

We believe a march is a public witness, a testimony, a territorial statement (yes we can do this here!), and a spiritual declaration rolled into one. The children of Israel laid claim to Jericho by marching before they blew the trumpets on the final day. The king of Moab would not allow the Israelites to march through his land. With a march, conducted reverently, we declare a right and duty to walk across the ground, and we show those watching – and our gracious Lord – that our prayers are serious.

What are we repenting of?

We are repenting of our own inactivity and silence, our lack of courage and faith in His word, our unwillingness to speak out ‘in the great congregation’ and our failure to discharge our responsibility to pray and witness with the mind of God into our nation.

Are we praying for repentance as well?

Yes, we are. We are praying for repentance in individuals, in the Church, in our leaders, spiritual and temporal. We are praying, in other words, for national repentance.

Are we repenting on behalf of our nation as well?

No. Only the Queen in Parliament can do that.

But Daniel prayed on behalf of his nation. Daniel was a prince in Israel and also Prime Minister of Babylon, the most powerful nation in the world in his day. None of us can claim to be in his position.

Are we repenting on behalf of the Church then?

No. Not even for a church – unless we represent a church. We cannot repent on behalf of another person or body. But we shall be recognising that the failure of the Church to speak up for righteousness has led to the present state of our nation.

So what’s the point?

It is enough to be repenting of our own lack of witness and praying for the courage to end our silence even in this dark hour. Even if we fail to pray as we should, our gracious Lord will see the desire of our hearts if we make the effort.

Will the media pick it up?

We don’t know if the secular media will, although the Christian media are taking an interest already. But our audience is not the media, it is the Almighty. We believe the Lord will see and hear from heaven, and when He sees us doing what little we can, and hears our cries, we believe He will send a miracle, if not a miracle of repentance, then something equally astounding.

Do we really expect the Government to repent?

Well, the heart of the king is in the hand of the Lord (Prov 21:1). We pray that God will do a work in the hearts of the Queen’s ministers or replace them with men after His own heart. Those are the two ways it can be done – see the incumbents saved or vote in God-fearing men. We were once the enemies of God? (Rom 5:10) We were saved, why not them? Is God not a God of miracles?

If God is that clever, why not leave it all to Him?

Because God, out of His generosity and humility, has chosen to involve us created beings in His work, so we can share in His triumphs and take pleasure in His successes. Yes, He could do it all, but we calls us to play a part. John Wesley once said: ‘God does nothing but in answer to prayer’. That might be a bit extreme, but it conveys the truth that God wants us to pray with His mind, do what He directs and watch His sparks fly.