So, here’s my
question:
“Why muddle a shared outpouring of
intercession and supplication with politically
motivated overstatement, panic and fear and the
language of victimization, demonization, and
war?”
The National Day of
Prayer is here again. I am glad
for that.
Gathering with believers of varying
backgrounds and traditions, hearing prayers spoken
in a very public setting—these are good
things.
I always enjoy seeing friends from other
congregations—the event is much like a family
reunion.
This year the moment
is magnified with an extended focus on global
prayer.
If we so choose, we will join hundreds of
thousands of the faithful around the world during
the week of May 6-15, praying “for God to fulfill
His promises regarding His kingdom on earth.” (Prayer Guide,
Global Day of Prayer, p. 4)
That’s pretty
cool.
There are important
reasons to pray. Our
community is experiencing some measure of
turmoil.
The nation struggles with the vicissitudes
of war, politics, and morality. People
throughout the world suffer poverty, disease,
hunger, and darkness of soul.
So, what’s the
problem?
I was handed a flier
promoting the National Day of Prayer. I don’t
know who composed it, but upon perusal of this
carefully crafted and professionally printed
piece, I was, though not terribly surprised
(because it is the same old, same old rhetoric),
disheartened.
Now, do not
misunderstand, I treasure the constitutional
freedoms and the grand traditions of my
country.
I am deeply thankful for the struggle and
sacrifice of my forebears. I lift to
God the men and women in uniform who stand in
harm’s way for the sake of liberty. I pledge
allegiance to the flag and to the nation for which
it stands.
Somewhere along the
way, however, I must distinguish between prayer as
taught in Scripture and the use of prayer as the
means by which America will retain her record as
“the
longest ongoing constitutional republic.” I have to
ask, “Is that what Jesus had in mind when He gave
instructions concerning praying?”
Help me see otherwise if
this is not overstatement: “The greatest
single source of political inspiration for
America’s founding fathers was the
Bible.”
(Do you suppose this is why they permitted
slavery to continue, and why Jefferson carved up
his Bible to suit his preferences?)
Is this panic? “America is
experiencing moral and religious free-falls that
are creating major breaks in our foundation.”
Fear?
“Our
underpinnings are in jeopardy.”
Victimization and demonizing? “Judges are
legalizing gay marriage and systematically
stripping references to God from our culture .
. . .”
The language of war? “We can and
must win this cultural war.”
I confess, I grow
weary of this incessant tirade against liberals
and judges and gays and every other vestige of
evil bent on trying to take our country away from
us.
Of course, important discussions are to be
had on the issues. Indeed,
the church (that is, we) must respond biblically
and ethically to the cultural scene.
Nonetheless, brothers and
sisters, I suggest there may be another way to
approach the fundamental matter. Jesus said
the world was broken, and that those who hated Him
would hate His followers. He hung
around with dastardly sinners and eschewed the
piously self-righteous. He
understood and modeled meekness and humility, even
unto death.
He also said (in so
many words), “When you come before your heavenly
Father, reassert with self-effacing
unpretentiousness that God is the source of your
life and liberty. Affirm
that His Kingdom is what you want more than
anything and that His will is what you seek above
all else.
Trust Him for what you need on a daily
basis.
Implore Him for forgiveness, and hope to
heaven that He grants you more than you are
typically willing to extend to those who have hurt
you.
Ask Him to keep you from situations in
which you are likely to forget that you are saved
by grace and look down on other sinners as if they
were somehow worse than you.”
On the cross, He did
battle with the cosmic forces of evil . . . and
won!
In His resurrection, He secured an
inheritance for us which does not perish, spoil,
or fade, kept in heaven for us! He said
His whole ministry was about proclaiming good
news, freedom sight . . . and bringing authentic
life.
Surely, panic and
fear ought not characterize our prayer. Surely
unmitigated condemnation of all those sinners out
there ought not so consume us that we are induced
to dictate to the God of all creation just how
comfortable the culture could be if He would clean
things up.
Perhaps we should
pray for God’s kingdom to come, and His will to be
done, trusting that He will watch over those
judges, and work in the heart of “gays” and
equally broken “straights”, and teach all of us
how to be moral in every sense of that
word.
Perhaps we should
pray the language of the people of God: patience,
not panic; joy, not fear; self-control and
faithfulness, not victimization; love, gentleness,
and meekness, not demonization; peace, not
war.
“Lord, Let
those who encounter us, your people in this place,
find in us a spirit that builds up and reaches out
. . .a church that weeps with those who weep, and
rejoices with those who rejoice. May we
have the courage to speak a word of hope and grace
to fellow sinners, remembering each of us is only
‘one beggar telling another beggar where to find
bread.’
May we speak words of healing, wholeness,
and mercy.
May we, transformed by Your Spirit and
informed by Your holy Book, exhibit grace that
gives life, joy that does not falter, faith, that
does not waiver, and hope that does not fail.
Amen.”
Neither completely
at ease in this world nor fearful of its darkness,
and so very glad to be in your company for the
journey, I am
Yours,
Pastor
Chuck
