Yet You Would Not Return To Me

The Minor Prophets wrote extensively about the role of God in national calamity in regards to chastisement. Little has been written, however, to help pastors struggle with this difficult and unpopular subject in their preaching. This work is a study focused on formulating preaching guidelines to be used when interacting with natural or national crises, using the Minor Prophets as models. The book is concerned with the questions raised by the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and the Evangelical response. Prior to 9/11, many Evangelical pastors and spokespersons decried the sins of America and warned of possible and even deserved judgment. When the national crisis of 9/11 occurred, however, which seems to parallel the circumstances that God used to gain the attention of an errant nation in the Bible, many Evangelicals either were silent concerning judgment or vigorously promoted patriotism and “just-war” retaliation against perceived enemies. A primary premise of the work is that there is a misunderstanding or denial of the possible chastising role of God upon the USA on 9/11.