Towards a Biblically Faithful Operative Theology 1 With Regards To 2 Chronicles 7:14 At Christian Life Fellowship, Jamaica

Abstract

Abstract Many pastors and Christians in Jamaica view 2 Chronicles 7:14 today as a means, if they adhere to its conditionality’s, to precipitating widespread spiritual revival, including social, economic, and material blessings. This is the view of the four elders at Christian Life Fellowship Church and many of its members. The situation in Jamaica and this understanding of 2 Chronicles 7:14 among the churches prompted me to rethink the meaning of this passage. Was the popular understanding of the text the most accurate and faithful one? With this in mind, I considered four questions: 1) How does this view on 2 Chronicles 7:14pan out in real life today? 2) What does healing of the land in this Old Testament passage mean? 3) What are some of the problems (possibly undermining of God’s sovereignty, deception, and disappointment) that may arise from believing that, if followed, 2 Chronicles 7:14 guarantees national revival and even material blessing possibly on a nation-wide scale? 4) How should pastors, preachers and teachers in Jamaica faithfully teach on this passage today? As a result, I obtained the official Church position on 2 Chronicles 7:14 from all four pastors (the title “pastor” is used interchangeably with “elder” at CLF). Then a small-scale qualitative study was conducted with ten other CLF members to gain their perspectives on 2 Chronicles 7:14 and the impact on their faith. This was followed by a critical study from the following different perspectives in an attempt to gain a faithful understanding of the text: text exegesis, biblical theology, church history, systematic theology, and also non-theological perspectives. The theological reflection was also aided by observing the text through the missional and Christocentric lenses. Finally the mini-thesis proposes and defends a new operative theology with regards to 2 Chronicles 7:14 and a strategy on how to effectively communicate it to the church and implement it practically.