Pt.1 National Rededications Gone Wrong

Preface: Many Christians in the United States are looking forward to "Rededicate 250," a spiritual rededication ceremony to be held in Washington, D.C., on May 17, 2026. The involvement of the White House and members of Congress has drawn significant political commentary. I am not writing this as a member of any political party. In all the commentary chaos, Heaven's perspective often ends up underrepresented, so I am writing from what we know of Heaven's perspective on reconciliation. Some Christians are willing to approach "Rededicate 250" with blind optimism, and others with blind cynicism. I do not yet know how I feel about "Rededicate 250," as many of the most important questions remain unanswered. I do not wish failure on the event. I attended 07/07/07 in Nashville, "TheCall DC" in August 2008, among other similar events. I hope "Rededicate 250" succeeds. So far, I have yet to hear anyone involved in "Rededicate 250" articulate the biblical conditions for the event's success. So let's look at a historical example where national rededication went wrong.

Judah's half-hearted rededication under Josiah

"Have you not just now called to me, ‘My father, you are the friend of my youth—' ... but you have done all the evil that you could.” - Jeremiah 3:4-5

Jeremiah relays God's rejection of Judah's rededication in the seventh century BC. The primary issue? Many of Judah's leaders participated in the rededication as a political exercise without any change of heart. The rededication was not applied consistently at a personal level. While the world observed the outward appearance, God saw the heart. Judah's heart was not in it, but God gave them another chance to rededicate themselves with their whole heart. 

“If you return, O Israel, declares the Lord, to me you should return. If you remove your detestable things from my presence, and do not waver..." For thus says the Lord to the men of Judah and Jerusalem: “Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns. Circumcise yourselves to the Lord; remove the foreskin of your hearts, O men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem; lest my wrath go forth like fire, and burn with none to quench it, because of the evil of your deeds.” - Jeremiah 4:1-4

For those who have attended national Solemn Assemblies in more recent history, Jeremiah's words may remind you of Joel 2.

“Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments.” - Joel 2:12-13

Half-hearted national rededications based on political pretense do not work. In fact, such ceremonies often increase a nation's guilt. Not even Jerusalem could produce an acceptable offering apart from wholehearted devotion. National rededication ceremonies for approval ratings among a key voting bloc, without personal rededication that changes behavior, are exactly what God rejected through the prophet Jeremiah. Authentic national rededications are led by leaders whose rededication is evident in their personal lives, through repentance, humility, and consistency. Through Moses, Israel and Judah understood the importance of wholeheartedness. Jesus called this the Great Commandment.

And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." - Matthew 22:37

I pray that "Rededicate 250" will be a wholehearted rededication to God, and that this wholehearted rededication will be evident in the lives of every leader involved. More thoughts to come.