In a Public Service Announcement, Christian Artist Michael W. Smith Asks Tennesseans to Seek God as to Why There is a Drought in Their State
"I believe God plays into the affairs of mankind on probably more levels than we even think. To blow God off is a big mistake. It's a big mistake to say, 'It's no big deal. This is life; this is nature.' I don't think that is the right answer or response...I think He has allowed the drought. I'm not going to sit here and tell you it's because of some sort of sin. Wouldn't it be the right thing to do (to ask), 'Hey God, what are You trying to tell us? Whatever it is—if we need to clean up our act—show us what we need to repent. But please give us some rain."
(Tennessee)—The Tennessean has published a report saying singer Michael W. Smith believes that God has allowed the state's drought and has recorded a public service announcement for radio stations asking people to pray and fast to end it.
"I think we have a real emergency," he said. "There are a lot of droughts in the Bible and talk about people repenting and talking to God about rain. Nobody ever talks about that. Nobody ever says, 'Maybe we should stop and have a day of fasting and prayer.' I feel like that is the answer. I think He has allowed the drought. I'm not going to sit here and tell you it's because of some sort of sin. Wouldn't it be the right thing to do (to ask), 'Hey God, what are You trying to tell us? Whatever it is—if we need to clean up our act— show us what we need to repent. But please give us some rain."
According to the report, Smith said he usually doesn't go out on a limb like this unless he really feels like he knows what he's talking about. "I am ready to take whatever hits I may take," said Smith.
Smith was quoted as saying that he began reflecting on the possibility that God may have caused the drought after his church prayed for rain. That afternoon, he said, he landed in a rainy Michigan for a show and realized that it had rained at every show location except one.
"This last week I started thinking, 'Is there something to this?' If you look at the normal rain pattern, it usually moves through Texas and Arkansas and then hits Tennessee. It has just missed us every time. When you go, 'This is a bit of a mystery,' then you search the Scriptures: 'Let's see if it happened in times past.' It certainly did, and there were some spiritual reasons why there was drought. Is there something going on that is meant for us?"
"I just want people to hear my heart on it...It doesn't have anything to do with politics or left-or right-wing," he added. "It's the truth, and the truth sets you free.
"I believe God plays into the affairs of mankind on probably more levels than we even think," he concluded. "To blow God off is a big mistake. It's a big mistake to say, 'It's no big deal. This is life; this is nature.' I don't think that is the right answer or response."
