If you grew up in the church, as I did, maybe you learned that repentance is only for individuals.

In Sunday School, I was taught that I am only responsible to repent for MY sins, not anyone else’s. I was taught that I am only responsible for MY choices, not my forefathers'—and I certainly shouldn't have to answer for the actions of my government or my ancestors. Those things are completely outside the scope of my concern.

But this attitude keeps coming back to bite us.

In Canada, the nation grieves as hundreds more unmarked graves have been uncovered at yet another residential school. Indigenous leaders have called for a cancellation of Canada Day. It is literally a call to national repentance.

In the US, the nation debates the role of Critical Race Theory (CRT) in shining a light on racism in historical systems and structures. Again, this is an invitation to repent of past sins and injustices.

But sadly, too many Christians want to wash their hands of these tragedies and move on, without repentance.

It wasn’t me! I didn’t personally do it. Why should I repent? Why should I even learn about it?

But let’s take a look at how one of the holiest men in the Bible approached this issue. Take a couple of minutes to read Daniel chapter nine with me.

First up, we can all pretty much agree that Daniel was one of those greatest Biblical heroes of old. He was so dedicated to God that he nearly ended up as a lion's chew toy because of his radical prayer routine. I mean this guy would be a strong contender for anyone's Top 10 list of "Supermen of the Faith".

But we have a lot to learn from how Daniel prayed—not a personal, individualistic, “Bless-me-and-my family” prayer like I was taught to pray in Sunday school. Instead, he started by acknowledging that he was living within a certain political milieu: "the first year of the reign of Darius" (Dan 9:1).

If Daniel were living today he would acknowledge that he lived in the first term of a certain president or the lame-duck year of a certain prime minister.

In other words, his prayer was rooted in an awareness of the political context of his times. As the old saying goes, we should pray with a newspaper in one hand and a Bible in the other—reading both the Word and the world.

But here’s where the rubber hits the road. After acknowledging the political context, Daniel knelt in repentance for his nation’s sins. Though Daniel was pretty much personally blameless, he still prayed in the following way:

"We have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws... We and our kings, our princes and our ancestors are covered with shame, Lord, because we have sinned against you...All Israel has transgressed your law and turned away, refusing to obey you." (Daniel 9:5, 8–11).

Daniel was certainly not personally responsible for Israel’s waywardness. He didn't personally chisel wooden idols, eat a bacon sandwich or run around causing chaos with prostitutes. Daniel was the good guy, a missionary serving in a foreign land. He was blameless and righteous.

Would it make any difference if I told you I’m a Leo?

Yet here he is, confessing and repenting for the sins of his people—not just his currently alive-and-kicking people, but his dead-and-buried people, his ancestors.

Now that is one wide-ranging prayer of repentance!

And guess what? God responded favorably to Daniel (whose name literally means "God is my judge") by giving him a vision of how God was going to discipline and restore the nation of Israel.

I was born in Canada. While I didn’t personally build or operate a residential school, my people did. My government did. My nation did.

And so according to Daniel, repentance and reparation are the appropriate responses.

For many of us, this insight may require some uncomfortable grappling in prayer. Though we didn't personally colonize people, our forefathers may have. Though we didn't personally put chains on their ankles, our ancestors may have. Though we didn't personally drop bombs from B52 planes on traumatized children, our nation may have.

Moreover, we have often personally BENEFITTED from the actions of our ancestors. Another word for this historical benefit or upper hand is “privilege.”

As Nathan Hamm says, "Christians who tell you to stick to discipleship and stay out of politics have usually been deeply discipled by the politics of the empire." We are often blind to our own complicity, and we need to open our eyes because this is very much a discipleship issue.

So, in light of that truth, the humble posture of righteous Daniel is a good way to start.

Firstly, we are invited to open our eyes - and begin with a deep awareness of the political context - (or if we are lacking awareness, to educate ourselves.)

Then, we turn to God, and humble ourselves in prayer and repentance.

And just as He did for Daniel, God will show you - AND your people - the way toward restoration.

Fair enough?

Of course it is Biblical to repent of our nations’ historical sins