I’m Not a Pastor, But
For starters, I’d embrace the winning strategy of love, and position myself on the mountain-moving faith of prayer. Love wins while prayer languishes. Have we become sectarians in prayer causes but ecumenical in social justice concerns?
A retired DS gave himself to the study of prayer and even went so far as to join the Praying Church Movement. When he sought permission to respond to an invitation to sit on a national board representing his denomination, he was told “No, that’s one prayer table you can’t sit at.” So, he retreated from official representation, while others in his denomination’s so-called “Big Tent” are permitted to champion the latest popular social justice causes. No incongruence whatsoever is seen in the subtle sectarianism.
You don’t needpermission to pray!
Let me see if I’ve got this right. It is now OK to champion social justice causes, but not prayer causes? If I were a pastor or church leader now, without permission I’d find out who in my city or county is praying for revival and another Great Awakening in America and join them.
So-called “Liberals” used to pride themselves in the liberty of “non-essentials.” Why does it now feel like liberal means leftist almost to the point of embracing a godless and progressive turn away from biblical truth? And how, my friends, can we “stand around with sinners, or join in with the mockers, when God would rather we “delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night” (Ps.1:1 NLT)?
If peace and holiness are the only options (Heb. 12:14), wouldn’t you rather pursue peace with God and holiness than befriend the enemy?” I choose to be “like a tree planted along the riverbank bearing fruit in this season of my life (Ps.1:3). I really do not want to “stand around with wicked “who “are like worthless chaff scattered by the winds” of division, disruption and disorder, violence, racism, lawlessness and blatant godlessness (Ps.1:4).
A new protocol isneeded!
As will be seen, these critical times require “The Protocol Of The Common Camp.” When we pray with fellow believers, we must adopt “Christo-centric prayer,” not promote “TRIBAL” theology—our slice of truth; not even “DISCRETIONARY” theology—the particular nuances of faith. These last days require vibrant, corporate prayer gatherings. “Diversity of doctrine and belief flavor us,” but “CORE” theology—one Lord, one faith, one baptism—unites us.
United prayer efforts should focus on those foot-of-the-Cross beliefs that unite the Body of Christ. We all must answer this question: “How do we enrich one another” while riding the “wave of post-denominationalism?” A call for united prayer is not a call for anyone to abandon their theology or denomination. Equally important, “a reformation of collaboration” is needed where Christ is supreme.
“CORE” theology must be driven by “TASK” theology (Matthew 28:19-20)—our call to be a Missional people. We must pray for revival and the next Great Awakening because the spirit of antichrist is rising. God must somehow transform our churches into houses of prayer. The cold-hearted must be awakened. Pray for city-reaching efforts—the Christ-exalting transformation of our cities. powerinprayer_480p_mov
If I were a pastor or church leader facing Election Day on November 5, 2024, I’d join any movement of Prayer For The Nation that manifests itself. In 2020, I was invited to join the OneCry national prayer meeting. I learned that after “The Return” in Washington, D.C., as many as 250,000 conversions in America have been recorded. Astounding!
Sectarianism hinders cooperation!
Or does our sectarianism prohibit cooperation with Franklin Graham and the evangelistic efforts of the BGEA? Other movements that begin with a “B” haven’t been off-limits! What prevents ecumenical support for organizations on the front lines of evangelism?
October 25, 2020 was designated a Day of Prayer and Fasting. The Promo read, “If we want the blessings of the Lord on our country, then we must humbly seek Him in prayer and repentance, and ask if He might bring healing to the U.S. For that reason, I want to ask Christians to join me on 10/25, for a Day of Prayer and Fasting.”
Take down the DoNot Disturb Signs!
Are we so accustomed to our slick, squeeze-everything-into-one-hour-constraints to Livestream our made-for-social-media-productions, that we dare not interrupt by bringing praying people into camera view? In reality, this call to unite in prayer and fasting will largely go unheeded. Meantime, Christ continues to knock at the side door of the church (Rev. 3:20). There are not enough greeters to cover every door, so He turns away and will try again next time.
These extraordinary times require us to set aside our normal routines to fall on our faces before God. People are more ready to respond than you think. In 2007 after spending a week in Cali, Colombia, at Casa de Oracion, I returned and called Southern Florida Nazarenes to a Day of Prayer and Fasting at our Lake Placid Camp and Conference Center. Almost 600 people from our diverse district gathered to pray together.
People and God areready to respond!
All of a sudden, the glory of the Lord came down turning the Florida sand under two big tents into holy ground. 600 people scattered across those grounds and prayed the entire Bible in one hour hosting the presence of God. Thousands have come to Christ on those grounds since.
Pastors should become champions in prayer and fasting. Teach your people to pray because prayer doesn’t change things—only God can do that—prayer changes people.
To clarify, do you remember the night of your ordination? Surely an elder read from the Manual, “The minister must be an example in prayer.” We all said in unison, “We will!” If I were a leader I would encourage my pastors to be the example in prayer that we promised to be.
It must be remembered, the Mission is incomplete. But in our pursuit of the Great Commission, prayer must not become the Great Omission. I am just as determined as ever to live prayerfully Missional. Leonard Sweet in So Beautiful wrote, “The church is sent to be Jesus. Jesus is the blessing. As we incarnate Jesus in the world, we will find ourselves doing things he did, even “greater things” (p.61).
Imitate Jesus–PRAY!
Project Pray reminds, “We think Jesus came to the earth to preach, to teach, to heal and minister, and to die for our sins.” As a matter of fact, He came to earth to pray. He came to die praying for all of humankind, for their reconciliation and forgiveness. His ministry was prayer.
He didn’t pray to find spiritual strength to support his ministry activities. He didn’t pray in order to preach better or teach more effectively. Prayer wasn’t a prop for his ministry. Prayer was His ministry. His preaching and teaching, His miracles and ministry to people, flowed out of prayer.
And He wanted that to be true of his disciples, so He takes His disciples with him to a certain place–to pray—to infect his disciples with a passion for prayer (Luke 11). So much so that after overhearing Jesus pray and realizing, “We don’t pray like He prays,” the first ASK was “Lord, teach us to pray.”
Keep DoingMatthew 25!
If I were still a leader I’d encourage you to feed the hungry and clothe the naked in obedience to Matthew 25. I plan to continue to help find ways not simply to deliver just a cup of cold water in Jesus’ name, but dig community wells, where up to 1,500 people can get clean, fresh drinking water free of charge.
If I were a pastor or leader I’d encourage my people to pray for and support Missions both NEAR (local) and FAR (global). As Len Sweet coined, I’d learn to think “GLOCAL.”
Covid 19 temporarily put a hiatus on travel and global hands-on ministry through Mission Teams, at least for those of us in the most at risk category. But God asks some of us to do more. Globally, Haiti, Puerto Rico, Ecuador, Suriname, and Guyana are the current places my family and I are investing. And locally, through the redemptive outreach of Reconciliation Ministries. I pray that I may soon be able to get back at it to achieve my lifetime goal of 50 global Mission endeavors or to die trying. Meantime, I pray.
