Dr. Bock said "Before God and the Word asking if we are all we should be. The difference is that this is a public appeal to consciously enter into such reflection within our own community.

By the way, there is biblical precedent for this, when prophets like Nehemiah and a host other prophets at different times prayed and called for such assessment by the entire believing community of his day."

Then why make this confession/pronouncement to "the world" at the National Press Club? It seems at odds with what you've said above. I'm not meaning to be sarcastic here, but it's almost by doing so you are saying 'before God and the WORLD we are asking if we are all we should be.' Is there a precedent for THAT in scripture? Again, I'm not being sarcastic - it's hard to convey that in blogs sometimes - I'd truly like to know.