REFORMATION SUNDAY
A Sermon in the Series on Practicing our Faith: Courage, Change, Hope
JUDITH B. BRAIN
TEXT: PSALM 130, ROMANS
OCTOBER 29, 2017
SECOND CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF BEVERY, UCC
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
INTRODUCTION TO THE SCRIPTURE
Because today many churches are celebrating the 500th anniversary of the
Protestant Reformation, I decided to preach on how that reformation resonates
with Second Church. When Martin Luther challenged the dominant ways religion
was practiced he was advocating a huge change. And in demanding that change,
he had to be a man of courage. Courage and change, courage to change. Those
were the practices of faith I thought I’d emphasize.
This congregation has had to make some daring choices. It is said that the
greatest disloyalty one can offer to our pioneers is to refuse to move an inch from
where they stood. In order to survive, we must embrace change; in order to
embrace change, we must be brave. So, change it was. And I thought change
and courage were the qualities we would have to draw on in the coming year. But
then, I got stuck. Every time I turned my thoughts to what it meant to be
courageous, or how we navigate change, there was this neon sign flashing in my
brain. It said HOPE … HOPE!
Yes, I think hope needs to precede change. Hope needs to motivate
courage. We don’t take a leap of faith if we do not believe there is something
worth leaping into.
I’ve chosen a Psalm of hope to anchor this sermon. But it sure doesn’t start
out very hopeful. In fact the whole Psalm comes from a place of deep pain. And I
think that is important. Hope isn’t a rosy optimism that denies reality. Hope is
often rooted in despair.
Read the Psalms. They are full of anger, misery, fear, grief, impatience,
blaming. Yeah, we know those emotions. We read them in blogs and tweets, we
hear them from our children, we express them ourselves. They are in the air we
breathe. War and terror, killings and chaos, leaders let us down, institutions
crumble. So much negativity. It was the same for the writers of the Psalms. They
complain for themselves, they complain on behalf of their people, and mostly they
complain to God. But it's important to realize that the Psalms don't stop with the
complaint. They go on to hope. Listen to these excerpts from Psalm 130
PSALM 130
Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord. Lord, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications!
If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand?
But there is forgiveness with you, so that you may be revered.
I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in God's word I hope;
my soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning,
more than those who watch for the morning.
O Israel, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with
God is great power to redeem. It is he who will redeem Israel from all its
iniquities.
SLEEPING WITH BREAD
During the bombing raids of World War II, thousands of children were
orphaned and placed in refugee camps. Even though they received food and
good care many who had lost home, parents, everything … they could not sleep at
night. They feared waking up to find themselves once again homeless and
without food. Nothing seemed to reassure them. Finally, someone hit upon the
idea of giving each child a piece of bread to hold at bedtime. Holding their bread,
these children could finally sleep in peace. All though the night the bread
reminded them, “Today I ate and I will eat again tomorrow.”
(Sleeping with Bread: Holding What Gives You Life. Dennis, Sheila and Matthew Linn)
HALLELUJAH ANYWAY
The Psalms function as our bread. They remind us of God's faithfulness in
the midst of despair. These poems may be laments but they almost always end
with bread to hold on to; inspiring statements of confidence that God will provide
because that is their experience of God. God carried them through dire times in
the past, God will do it again. Somewhere in a cathedral in New York City this
inscription is carved on a wall. "Hallelujah anyway! God is with us." That’s kinda
the lament Psalms in a nutshell.
One of the reasons we come to church is to hear testimonies of hope.
These are the crusts of bread that help us sleep at night. These are the reminders
that God has given us what we need in the past and will do so again. We hold this
bread so that we can have courage in the midst of change.
BREAD FROM OUR WITNESSES
During our stewardship campaign, people in our congregation have offered
us bread – testimonies of God’s faithfulness made real through the church.
Martin Luther gave us bread in his great hymn, “A Mighty Fortress is our
God.” He was often in danger. The emperor declared him an outlaw and made it
a crime for anyone in Germany to give him food or shelter. He permitted anyone
to kill Martin without consequence. Yet Luther sang, “Our help is he amid the flood
of mortal ills prevailing.”
Mahatma Gandhi offers us bread from his tradition: He writes.
When I despair, I remember that all through history, the way of truth and
love has always won. There have been murderers and tyrants, and for a time they
can seem invincible. But in the end they always fall. Think of it, always.
And here is a piece of bread from the Benedictine theologian, Joan
Chittester: Despair says that there is no place to go but here. Hope says that God
is waiting for us someplace else. Begin again.”
In a church I served, there was a family – parents and two teen-aged
daughters. Three of those four family members were diagnosed with cancer at the
same time. The mother wrote:
It's overwhelming, tiring, and discouraging. There is worry and fear. But,
now that everything is stripped away, I know what really matters. I know what
family means, how true friends behave and how many true friends there are—
even among people I don't know. And I know more about God than I ever thought
I would.
Bread of hope from a family besieged.
HOPE IS MULTIPLIED BY PUTTING IT IN PRACTICE
We can become paralyzed by despair or cynicism, enslaved by fear to the
point that we cannot act. Hope presents us with the belief that things can be
different. Hope gives us courage.
The historian Howard Zinn writes:
To be hopeful in bad times is not just foolishly romantic. It is based on the
fact that human history is a history not only of cruelty, but also of compassion,
sacrifice, courage, kindness.
What we choose to emphasize in this complex history will determine our
lives. If we see only the worst, it destroys our capacity to do something. But we
must remember those times and places —and there are so many— where people
behaved magnificently.
This gives the energy to act, and at least the possibility of sending this …
world in a different direction. …. To live now as we think a human being should
live, in defiance of all that is bad around us, is itself a marvelous victory. And this
is what the church encourages; to live now as we think human beings should live,
in defiance of all that is bad around us.
Stories of hope are sustaining to all of us. We feed on them. And there is
something even more sustaining. This is the trustworthiness of God. The truly
safe place is that quiet center within us where God resides. And that safe place
remains whether our body lives or dies.
We may "hope for" certain outcomes and successes and sometime our
hopes are fulfilled and sometimes we do not get what we hope for. But what
never fails is "hope in." My soul hopes in the Lord. God is the mighty fortress, the
bulwark never failing. Have hope in God in times of trouble. With this assurance
we too can say, "Hallelujah anyway! God is with us."
BENEDICTION:
One: Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or
persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
All: No! For we are convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor
rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor
depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the
love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
Monday, November 13, 2017
Give to God What is God's
SERMON: GIVE TO GOD WHAT IS GOD'S
tewardship Sunday ~ Practicing Our Faith ~ Generosity JUDITH B. BRAIN
TEXT: MATTHEW 22:15-22
OCTOBER 15, 2017
SECOND CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH BEVERLY, MA—UCC ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ INTRODUCTION TO THE SCRIPTURE
The scene is the Temple in Jerusalem. Jesus is surrounded by many of his followers. He is there to make his religious pilgrimage, to pray, and to teach. There was a delicate status quo at work in Jerusalem, this outpost of the Roman Empire. Religious leaders made deals with the Roman conquerors keeping their own people in line in order maintain a fragile peace. They had to make compromises to avoid violent oppression. Who could blame them?
But not everyone was pleased with this arrangement. Jewish rebels, separatists, and insurrectionists wanted to overthrow the Roman government. These rabble rousers had to be nipped in the bud. Rome would come down hard on them but their own leaders tried to keep them in check too. Some regarded Jesus as a threat to this fragile detente, not because he advocated violent revolution, but because he was an ally of the poor and a critic of tyranny wherever he found it—among the Roman occupiers or the rigid authoritarianism of his own religion. He is being watched; the goal is to silence him. Here's what happened the day they set a trap.
MATTHEW 22:15-22 PAYING TAXES
The Pharisees plotted a way to trap him into saying something damaging. They sent their disciples, with a few of Herod's followers mixed in, to ask, "Teacher, we know you have integrity, you teach the way of God accurately, you're indifferent to popular opinion, and don't pander to your students. (Wow, they're laying the flattery on pretty thick.)
So tell us honestly: Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?"
Jesus knew they were up to no good. He said, "Why are you playing these games with me? Why are you trying to trap me? Do you have a coin? Let me see it." They handed him a silver piece.
"This engraving—who does it look like? And whose name is on it?"
They said, "Caesar."
"Then give Caesar what is his, and give God what is God's."
The Pharisees were speechless. They went off shaking their heads.
IS IT ABOUT SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE?
A simple story that seems to confirm American ideology of separation of church and state. Keep state taxes and religious loyalties strictly separated. But there's more here than meets the eye. Jesus taught about human dignity, about how important people were in the eyes of God, even the poor. Especially the poor! He taught people to seek God's best for themselves. This would not have been bondage to Rome. The authorities regarded this teaching as dangerous.
Thus, the trick question. "Should we pay taxes to Caesar?" If he said, "No, Caesar is a tyrant," as they were pretty sure he would, the Roman soldiers would arrest him on the spot. If he said, "Yes," he would lose the confidence of the people who loved him and looked to him for courage and guidance. He couldn't win.
I like this story. We often think of Jesus as serious and concerned only with saintly things. We also imagine that he was brave to the point of being foolhardy—putting himself in danger constantly. This story shows Jesus as a trickster with a sense of humor; and a person who would just as soon stay out of trouble with the bullies, thank you very much.
What was his answer to that trick question? Remember the response? "Give to the state what belongs to the state. Give to God what is God's."
They couldn't arrest him for that, could they? Caesar's picture was on the coin, that meant the coin belonged to Caesar. But somehow, the crowd didn't turn on Jesus in disgust. Wasn't he saying they should support that evil government? Why didn't they regard him as a traitor to their cause? How do you suppose he got away with that answer?
I think I know why. The clue is found in a Psalm. "The earth is the Lord's and everything in it. The world, and all who live in it." Many of them there that day would have been able to quote the psalm: “The earth is Lord’s and all that is in it. … ” Everything is God's! Nothing belongs to Caesar.
Not the earth, not their homeland. Not their bodies. Not their minds. Nothing belongs to Caesar. They belong only to God! We belong only to God! Give to God what bears God's image, which is nothing less than the whole of us. I can imagine the faithful Jew in that mob who would have caught on to that clever response. I hear him whispering “Touché” under his breath.
WHAT DOES THIS STORY HAVE TO DO WITH STEWARDSHIP
Today we kick off our stewardship campaign. Today I give what one of my friends calls “The Sermon on the Amount.” But when we encourage ourselves to pledge to the church, we are talking only about part of our stewardship – the way we use our money.
CHRISTIAN STEWARDSHIP IS NOT FUND-RAISING, IT'S A WAY OF LIFE
Christian stewardship is not fund-raising, it is a way of life, an expression of who we are. This story is about a basic spiritual orientation. New Testament Professor, Donald Senior writes, " … one of the crucial meanings of money in our culture is self-expression." One could translate that, "We are what we spend." Our credit card printout is probably a better window into our character than our Facebook profile.
GIVING IN A FINANCIAL CRISIS
I remember launching a church stewardship campaign at the lowest point of the financial crisis in 2008. One of our Sunday school teachers was an editor of the Harvard Business Review. She knew a thing or two about finances. I asked her advice about how to encourage giving. She replied, "We need to say that the investments that we make here at the church never lose their value."
We heard a moving testimonial from Doug today and we will be hearing more from other members of the congregation about those investments—our commitments to caring for one another, our reaching out in solidarity to those in need, providing solace in worship, music, and prayer, a beautiful, sacred space in which the community can gather. We'll be hearing about feeding people body and soul and extending a welcome that knows no boundaries. And we’ll hear about teaching our children these values. We need to know that when we give, we're supporting something that is worthy.
EXAMPLES OF GOOD STEWARDS, GIVING FROM THE TOP
I remember a 100-year old saint. Depression era survivors she and her husband were people who did not know the meaning of luxury. They never had more than one car, lived simply, and cared for their belonging so they would last a lifetime.
Every year, they would assess their finances to decide if they could take a vacation. Whether they did or not was based on their church pledge. Unless they knew there would be enough money for the church, they did not take a vacation. Their pledge was a priority.
Their kindness and generosity was a way of life. And then there were the young parents of two kids. A military family, they lived on Hanscom Air Force base. I was with them at a booth selling children’s religious books. They were discussing two books that they thought their daughters would love. Which one should we get? I jumped in. “Get them both!” “No,” Annie responded, “our budget only allows for one.” Later that year, I was to discover that this frugal family gave one of the five largest pledges to the church.
I have to say, that our 100 year-old lady and the young family were some of the most contented people I know. They did not find meaning in things but in joyful giving. To this day, their examples inspire me. And, I felt accountable to them. I wanted to make very sure that the church was worthy of their sacrifice.
It is also very important to acknowledge that there are seasons in our lives when we are capable of giving lavishly and seasons when any pledge is a stretch. Stewardship is who we are: That’s where our “Body of Christ” image comes in again. We carry each other.
People in my generation with our children grown, our houses almost paid for, and some money in the bank, we can afford to pitch in a little more to cover for our brothers and sisters who are drowning in college loans. People bowed down with debt need to find a place at church where they are free from anxiety about money and held with respect no matter what their financial circumstances.
GIVE TO GOD WHAT IS GOD'S, NOTHING LESS THAN OUR WHOLE SELVES
So, I’ve shared some inspiring stories about giving and not just money. Giving to God what is God's is how we express our personality in positive, life affirming directions.
Stewardship has been defined as “what we do with what we have all the time.” I could not, in good conscience, ask you to support the maintenance of this building, the salaries of the staff, and the programs of this church, if I hadn't already asked you to be faithful to Jesus Christ with what you have all the time.
I would not be able to muster much enthusiasm for any church if I did not believe that we are part of something awesome. What we hold here; the message of God's love and faithfulness is sustained by financial gifts yes, but it is utterly priceless.
tewardship Sunday ~ Practicing Our Faith ~ Generosity JUDITH B. BRAIN
TEXT: MATTHEW 22:15-22
OCTOBER 15, 2017
SECOND CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH BEVERLY, MA—UCC ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ INTRODUCTION TO THE SCRIPTURE
The scene is the Temple in Jerusalem. Jesus is surrounded by many of his followers. He is there to make his religious pilgrimage, to pray, and to teach. There was a delicate status quo at work in Jerusalem, this outpost of the Roman Empire. Religious leaders made deals with the Roman conquerors keeping their own people in line in order maintain a fragile peace. They had to make compromises to avoid violent oppression. Who could blame them?
But not everyone was pleased with this arrangement. Jewish rebels, separatists, and insurrectionists wanted to overthrow the Roman government. These rabble rousers had to be nipped in the bud. Rome would come down hard on them but their own leaders tried to keep them in check too. Some regarded Jesus as a threat to this fragile detente, not because he advocated violent revolution, but because he was an ally of the poor and a critic of tyranny wherever he found it—among the Roman occupiers or the rigid authoritarianism of his own religion. He is being watched; the goal is to silence him. Here's what happened the day they set a trap.
MATTHEW 22:15-22 PAYING TAXES
The Pharisees plotted a way to trap him into saying something damaging. They sent their disciples, with a few of Herod's followers mixed in, to ask, "Teacher, we know you have integrity, you teach the way of God accurately, you're indifferent to popular opinion, and don't pander to your students. (Wow, they're laying the flattery on pretty thick.)
So tell us honestly: Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?"
Jesus knew they were up to no good. He said, "Why are you playing these games with me? Why are you trying to trap me? Do you have a coin? Let me see it." They handed him a silver piece.
"This engraving—who does it look like? And whose name is on it?"
They said, "Caesar."
"Then give Caesar what is his, and give God what is God's."
The Pharisees were speechless. They went off shaking their heads.
IS IT ABOUT SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE?
A simple story that seems to confirm American ideology of separation of church and state. Keep state taxes and religious loyalties strictly separated. But there's more here than meets the eye. Jesus taught about human dignity, about how important people were in the eyes of God, even the poor. Especially the poor! He taught people to seek God's best for themselves. This would not have been bondage to Rome. The authorities regarded this teaching as dangerous.
Thus, the trick question. "Should we pay taxes to Caesar?" If he said, "No, Caesar is a tyrant," as they were pretty sure he would, the Roman soldiers would arrest him on the spot. If he said, "Yes," he would lose the confidence of the people who loved him and looked to him for courage and guidance. He couldn't win.
I like this story. We often think of Jesus as serious and concerned only with saintly things. We also imagine that he was brave to the point of being foolhardy—putting himself in danger constantly. This story shows Jesus as a trickster with a sense of humor; and a person who would just as soon stay out of trouble with the bullies, thank you very much.
What was his answer to that trick question? Remember the response? "Give to the state what belongs to the state. Give to God what is God's."
They couldn't arrest him for that, could they? Caesar's picture was on the coin, that meant the coin belonged to Caesar. But somehow, the crowd didn't turn on Jesus in disgust. Wasn't he saying they should support that evil government? Why didn't they regard him as a traitor to their cause? How do you suppose he got away with that answer?
I think I know why. The clue is found in a Psalm. "The earth is the Lord's and everything in it. The world, and all who live in it." Many of them there that day would have been able to quote the psalm: “The earth is Lord’s and all that is in it. … ” Everything is God's! Nothing belongs to Caesar.
Not the earth, not their homeland. Not their bodies. Not their minds. Nothing belongs to Caesar. They belong only to God! We belong only to God! Give to God what bears God's image, which is nothing less than the whole of us. I can imagine the faithful Jew in that mob who would have caught on to that clever response. I hear him whispering “Touché” under his breath.
WHAT DOES THIS STORY HAVE TO DO WITH STEWARDSHIP
Today we kick off our stewardship campaign. Today I give what one of my friends calls “The Sermon on the Amount.” But when we encourage ourselves to pledge to the church, we are talking only about part of our stewardship – the way we use our money.
CHRISTIAN STEWARDSHIP IS NOT FUND-RAISING, IT'S A WAY OF LIFE
Christian stewardship is not fund-raising, it is a way of life, an expression of who we are. This story is about a basic spiritual orientation. New Testament Professor, Donald Senior writes, " … one of the crucial meanings of money in our culture is self-expression." One could translate that, "We are what we spend." Our credit card printout is probably a better window into our character than our Facebook profile.
GIVING IN A FINANCIAL CRISIS
I remember launching a church stewardship campaign at the lowest point of the financial crisis in 2008. One of our Sunday school teachers was an editor of the Harvard Business Review. She knew a thing or two about finances. I asked her advice about how to encourage giving. She replied, "We need to say that the investments that we make here at the church never lose their value."
We heard a moving testimonial from Doug today and we will be hearing more from other members of the congregation about those investments—our commitments to caring for one another, our reaching out in solidarity to those in need, providing solace in worship, music, and prayer, a beautiful, sacred space in which the community can gather. We'll be hearing about feeding people body and soul and extending a welcome that knows no boundaries. And we’ll hear about teaching our children these values. We need to know that when we give, we're supporting something that is worthy.
EXAMPLES OF GOOD STEWARDS, GIVING FROM THE TOP
I remember a 100-year old saint. Depression era survivors she and her husband were people who did not know the meaning of luxury. They never had more than one car, lived simply, and cared for their belonging so they would last a lifetime.
Every year, they would assess their finances to decide if they could take a vacation. Whether they did or not was based on their church pledge. Unless they knew there would be enough money for the church, they did not take a vacation. Their pledge was a priority.
Their kindness and generosity was a way of life. And then there were the young parents of two kids. A military family, they lived on Hanscom Air Force base. I was with them at a booth selling children’s religious books. They were discussing two books that they thought their daughters would love. Which one should we get? I jumped in. “Get them both!” “No,” Annie responded, “our budget only allows for one.” Later that year, I was to discover that this frugal family gave one of the five largest pledges to the church.
I have to say, that our 100 year-old lady and the young family were some of the most contented people I know. They did not find meaning in things but in joyful giving. To this day, their examples inspire me. And, I felt accountable to them. I wanted to make very sure that the church was worthy of their sacrifice.
It is also very important to acknowledge that there are seasons in our lives when we are capable of giving lavishly and seasons when any pledge is a stretch. Stewardship is who we are: That’s where our “Body of Christ” image comes in again. We carry each other.
People in my generation with our children grown, our houses almost paid for, and some money in the bank, we can afford to pitch in a little more to cover for our brothers and sisters who are drowning in college loans. People bowed down with debt need to find a place at church where they are free from anxiety about money and held with respect no matter what their financial circumstances.
GIVE TO GOD WHAT IS GOD'S, NOTHING LESS THAN OUR WHOLE SELVES
So, I’ve shared some inspiring stories about giving and not just money. Giving to God what is God's is how we express our personality in positive, life affirming directions.
Stewardship has been defined as “what we do with what we have all the time.” I could not, in good conscience, ask you to support the maintenance of this building, the salaries of the staff, and the programs of this church, if I hadn't already asked you to be faithful to Jesus Christ with what you have all the time.
I would not be able to muster much enthusiasm for any church if I did not believe that we are part of something awesome. What we hold here; the message of God's love and faithfulness is sustained by financial gifts yes, but it is utterly priceless.
Ways to Pray
WAYS TO PRAY
PRACTICING OUR FAITH ~ PRAYER
JUDITH B. BRAIN
TEXTS: JAMES 5:13-16 AND ROMANS 8:26
OCTOBER 21, 2017
SECOND CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, BEVERLY—UCC
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
INTRODUCTION TO THE SCRIPTURE
Today’s sermon topic in the series on “Practicing our Faith” is “Prayer.” Here’s
a question we hear a lot. “Do you believe in prayer?”
Hmmm, would we fill our worship with prayers if we didn’t believe in them? In
this Sunday’s worship bulletin alone, there are 8 prayers if you count the hymns
addressed to God as prayers set to music.
The book of James talks about the importance of prayer in a church community.
He says we need to pray for each other.
13 Are any among you suffering? They should pray. Are any cheerful? They
should sing songs of praise. 14 Are any among you sick? They should call for the
elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the
name of the Lord. 15 The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise
them up; and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess
your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The
prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective.
PRAYER: A CORE CHRISTIAN PRACTICE
Prayer. In a 12 minute sermon, one can hardly crack the surface of this deep
and vital Christian practice. It is one of the cornerstones of faith. It is what makes a
church different from a support group or a community action network or a self improvement
seminar. We want to help others, better ourselves, learn, promote
justice. But we do that not only by our own efforts or with our own energy. No, we
add prayer! We call on the resources of God so we can be powerful and effective.
1. INTERCESSORY PRAYER
Do you believe in prayer? It’s often asked with a skeptical tone. What’s behind
that question? Sadly, it often means, “Do you believe that God intervenes
supernaturally and changes the course of nature in order to answer prayer?”
Well, I certainly believe in miracles. No-one could spend decades listening to
the stories of prayerful Christians and not know that there is something mystical
happening in the connections between human beings and God. People testify about
coming through scary medical procedures with a sense of peace. They say, “I know
I made it because of all the prayers that surrounded me. I felt them!” People talk
about directly experiencing the “touch” of God through prayer.
Or there is this story: “I was so discouraged. Then out of the blue I got a note
that said just the right thing and set me on the right track. It was too perfect to be
coincidence. I know it was an answer to prayer.”
Yes, we are more “soul connected” than we recognize. There is a spirit that
flows among us and out of us, to each other and to strangers. That connecting
essence is God. God is not “up there,” God is right here.
And yet, all prayers are not answered the way we hope. The “healing” and
“saving” and “raising up” that James promises may not mean we are restored to
perfect health. I met someone recently who told me. “I lost my faith a long time ago.
I prayed and prayed that my father would not have to go through chemotherapy for
cancer. But he did. He got some good years, but finally he died of the disease.
God didn’t answer my prayer at all. I don’t believe in prayer and I don’t believe in
God.”
THE UNEXPECTED ANSWER
You know, how many of your wishes are granted is not a very good test of the
value of prayer. Life is filled with random illness, death, pain, and losses. If you
measure God’s effectiveness by how well you manage to escape these
inevitabilities, God will always lose out. Nobody escapes. It’s not good theology to
regard God as a fairy godmother that grants wishes or a “cosmic bellhop” as Martin
Luther King names it.
The Rolling Stones neatly summed it up. “You can’t always get what you want.
But if you try some times, you just might find, you get what you need.”
Undoubtedly, the most common form of prayer is the one we practice every
Sunday. Intercessions and petitions. It’s what James encourages us to do.
But there is more to prayer. Prayer is, at its core, coming into the presence of
God. As Woody Allen says about life, the most important part is showing up. So it is
with prayer. I believe in that kind of prayer too. It has nothing to do with supply and
demand or asking, asking, asking. So what are some other ways to pray?
2. LISTENING PRAYER
Coming into God’s presence with thanksgiving doesn’t mean talking God’s ear
off. Perhaps the deepest form of prayer is listening. The time we take to just be with
God and listen is invaluable in determining the next step when the way is not so
clear. I like that hymn, “Here I Am Lord.” It’s just about putting ourselves in a place
to attend to God. Quiet listening is a too-often neglect form of prayer.
3. PRAYER OF ADORATION
There is also the form of prayer that seems to have no utilitarian purpose. The
prayer of adoration. It’s a prayer about developing a relationship.
I have a friend who is a Catholic priest. Every day he observes what he calls his
“holy hour.” One day he showed me the place in the sanctuary where he sits before
the cross. “What are you thinking about?” I asked him. “Nothing,” he said as he
gestured to the crucified Christ. “I just look at him and he looks at me and we love
each other.” Here I am.
4. CONVERSATIONAL PRAYER
“Here I am.” Prayer is mindfulness. Constantly turning the mind toward God.
Constantly reminding ourselves that we are in the presence of God no matter when
or where. That might be the time for conversational prayer.
The writer Annie Lamott, has a very prosaic practice of prayer. She talks to
Jesus while she drives on the L.A. freeways. From her conversation with Jesus, it
sounds as if he’s buckled into the seatbelt right next to her. She might say, “You
know, Jesus, I’ve been a real jerk today. That perfect mom in my son’s kindergarten
class is getting on my nerves. I know I shouldn’t dislike her because she wears size
8 Calvin Kleins and makes Pokemon cookies for each kid in the class with their
names written on them. But I feel jealousy taking root. I’m definitely going to need
your help here.”
“Here I am.” We can pray always—conversing with God as a friend as we goes
about our work. We can even emulate the Psalmists and rage and cry and shake
our fist in anger when we feel lost, abandoned, scared, and lonely. Just let go with
all our negative feelings. God can take it.
THE WORDLESS PRAYER
One can pray wordlessly. Perhaps the most meaningful prayer of all happens
when words are beyond us. When we are so distraught or depleted that we cannot
think, never mind put a coherent sentence together. Would you believe that the
Bible tells us then God prays for us?
To me, one of the most hopeful and comforting Bible passages on prayer is
found in Romans 8:26.
The Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we
ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words.
That’s a promise to hang on to. And I do!
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