Errant Billboard

Too often we take a Scriptural passage out of context and sadly, many just presume, or take the word of another, rather than reading the Bible themselves, but this billboard has introduced a new form of error that seems intentionally misleading.  I truly do believe folks who take Scripture out of context believe their interpretation of the passage to be accurate.  We as humans want to believe what we want to be true, whether it is accurate or not.

I remember when the prosperity teaching began and the first half of Deuteronomy 28:13(KJV) became the mantra of the prosperity teachers, and many did prosper, but that wasn't the entire verse, and when many contributors failed to read that second half, the "promise" of prosperity failed also.
 And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath;  Deuteronomy 28:13a
if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them.  Deuteronomy 28:13b

Back to the billboard.  II Chronicles 7:14 is loaded with promise, and for this nation heading for desolation, that is awesome.  The problem is, the verse also includes conditions to the promise which the billboard failed to include.

The verse actually reads as follows:  If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.  II Chronicles 7:14

The italicized portion above is part of that verse, yet the billboard makes no mention of that, but "chapter and verse" is referenced in the lower right hand corner.  One of two things will come of that . . . Many will believe that is the entire verse and go right on with life, "waitin' for the healin'."  Others may look it up and realize there's more to the verse than met the eye of the billboard designer.  Humbling our "proud selves" is definitely a step in the right direction, but seeking His face and turning from our wicked ways is the change of direction required to received the promise.  The change of direction to obedience is not "works," it's repentance!  Throughout Scripture, the call to repentance remains consistent and necessary, and without a doubt; obedience carries the promise of blessing!