Father, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come.
3Give us each day our daily bread.
4And forgive us our sins,
for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us.
And do not bring us to the time of trial.
It is slightly shorter that Matthew's version, which Jesus offers as a part of the Sermon on the Mount, but they are pretty darn close. The basic pieces are the same: Jesus' model for prayer includes reverence for God's name, a request for God's presence among us, a petition for sustenance, a plea for reconciliation between neighbors, and intercession for safety.
Yes, he really covers it all, that Jesus. He knew what was up. As my husband has flatly said, "It's a really good prayer."
So imagine how appalled I was to hear the prayer offered by pastor Mark Burns from South Carolina to open the Republican National Convention yesterday. See the video above, or read it here:
I read somewhere that this is not so much a prayer as a rally cry. A rally cry, sure, I can agree with that. (It doesn't make me like it any more.) But as a Christian and as an American, I am appalled by this being called a prayer, and would be equally appalled were it uttered at the DNC next week.
Let's put aside the fact that I am less than convinced about Mr. Trump's devotion to the name of Jesus. If that devotion were true, he wouldn't be saying what he is saying about his fellow humans, he wouldn't deny the need for asking God for forgiveness, he would display some level of humility, and care for the poor, and he wouldn't refer to the sacrament as "my little wine... and my little cracker."
But the purpose of this post isn't to comment on Mr. Trump's devotion or lack thereof. Who am I to judge someone else's faith? He may very well, as James Dobson suggested, just be a "baby Christian" who does not yet have the language he needs to express his faith.
I will also limit my comments on the appropriateness of this prayer to open a major political event in a country that was founded on the principle of religious freedom. There are certainly ways to pray that are more inclusive of our varied beliefs, allowing people to understand the words in a way that resonates with their understanding of who God is. By finishing the prayer with, "In Jesus' name, if you believe it, shout 'amen!'" he implicitly disallows the diversity of religious experience from participating in that prayer. At the very least, such a prayer could have been inclusive of the Abrahamic faiths (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam) by using the language we share in common: God as holy, God as love, God as peace, God as our refuge, etc. Instead, only Christians could participate in that prayer - and at that, only Christians who agreed with the agenda the prayer promoted.
But what I'm most concerned about is that someone who calls himself a servant of God, a pastor of Christ's Church, a Christian, is offering the above in the name of Jesus and calling it a prayer. I can get on board with his thanksgiving for Mr. Trump's life, and for protection for him. I'm not a fan of Mr. Trump, but I would never wish something evil upon him, and I would pray for the safety of all of God's children. Jesus also does this: "And do not bring us to the time of trail." We pray each Sunday in my congregation for our president, and will continue to do so no matter who is next elected, because the Bible urges us to pray for those in authority, for world leaders, and yes, even for our enemies. These people have hard, powerful jobs that affect the well-being of a lot of people, and they need our prayers. So yes, I can get on board with praying for Mr. Trump's life and his safety.
There are a few parts beyond that that just make my skin crawl a little bit, because of the ideology behind them. I would have phrased them more sensitively and graciously, but, whatever. To each his or her own.
What appalls me the most, though, is the extremely divisive nature of this "prayer" (even as it ironically talks about unity). As an American, a citizen of the "United" States, I'm offended to hear anyone call a fellow American the enemy just because of the D (or R) beside her or his name. Unity does not come from labeling others, much less from demonizing them.
Let's pretend for a moment that Hillary Clinton and the "liberal democrats" are, indeed, the enemy. Did Jesus say anything about that? Let's look first to the model for prayer he gave to his disciples: "Forgive us our sins for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us." How might this petition have looked in this context? Perhaps an acknowledgment of our difference, a recognition that our country is indeed divided right now, but only God knows the way forward. Perhaps a plea that we could find common ground with those with whom we differ. Perhaps a request for understanding of one another. Any of these might lead to the reconciliation Jesus' prayer suggests.
But of course Jesus' most famous comment on how we are to treat our enemies comes from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount: "But I say, love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you." Now, I can see how such a prayer might not go over so well at the opening of the RNC. But how about not mentioning "enemies" at all, at least if it is in reference to fellow Americans. If we have to talk about enemies, how about hatred as an enemy? Or fear? Or violence? Maybe instead of promoting the personal agenda of the pray-er, his prayer could have sought unity by lifting up what we - all Americans - have in common, because last I checked, Donald Trump is running for president of the United States of America, not of the Republican Party. (Even if it were the latter, however, the prayer would have been appalling and un-Christian... just saying.)
Here, Pastor Mark Burns, let me offer this as a suggestion for a prayer that follows the model of the man in whose name you claim to pray:
Holy God of power and might, we give you thanks for your presence among us here today. We are thankful for the many ways you lead and guide us, and we ask especially that you make your guidance and presence known among us this week, as we gather to nominate Donald Trump for president of our country. Make this week and the months that follow a time for us to find unity among this party, and even to find unity with all our fellow Americans, so that we can truly become the United States of America, united behind causes that reflect your goodness and love, causes that will make our country great again.
Keep us safe, loving God, from all that would threaten our safety - both this week and beyond. Protect Donald Trump as he embarks on this difficult but worthwhile calling to serve as our leader. Keep him safe, grant him peace and discernment, so that he might lead with your wisdom and your will as his guide. And in all things, Thy will be done.
And all God's people said, AMEN!
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