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Praying for Americans
Posted by David Rogers in Bible & Theology
In a July 1, 2009 post entitled “Seeking the Face of God for Americans,” Tim Guthrie wrote the following:
Did you notice that instead of saying America that I stated Americans in the title. It dawned on me tonight during our mid week study on Spiritual Awakening that we often state in our praying “America” but seldom hear or say “Americans.” I realize that the two can be used interchangeably but I also noticed tonight the meaning and impact of stating that we are praying for Americans!
I do believe that we have lost the understanding that we are to reach people! On my desk is a packet that came in the mail today concerning the 2009 Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. As I read through the different things it included something caught my attention – it is more about people! And this is a good thing!
I think that maybe God is trying to wake us up to the reality that indeed people count! We as people are to be reaching people! Personal witnessing is always the Biblical way! And yet in our prayers lives seldom do we find American Christians praying to seek the face of God and praying for Americans!
Let’s seek the face of God and pray for Americans as we adjust our activity to be more people focused.
I think Tim makes a very valid point.
In certain circles, much has been made of the phrase “discipling the nations” in the Great Commission of Matthew 28:18-20. Some have used this phrase as a rallying cry for efforts at cultural transformation. I am not opposed, in general, to cultures being transformed and becoming more Christ-honoring in their overall outlook. That is, for the most part, a good thing. As more and more individuals in a particular society come to Christ, and grow in their Christian discipleship, a natural consequence will be that the society at large comes to reflect godly values. However, I think we are making a big mistake if we attempt to make that the ultimate aim of the Great Commission.
Grammatically, “discipling the nations” must be understood as discipling individuals within those nations. It is impossible, for example, to “baptize” cultures and governmental structures “in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,” or to “teach them to observe all things whatsoever that Christ has commanded us.” In the vision of the multitudes gathered around the throne of the Lamb in Revelation 7, they are there as individuals from among every nation, tribe, people and language, not as political structures or cultural institutions.
Now, it may well be that, in certain cases, efforts at introducing positive social change within a particular society will have a positive effect on the overall effort to win individual souls for Christ and lead individual converts to become more consecrated and consistent disciples of the Lord. However, such is not always the case.
Most people would agree, for example, that American society is, in general, more “Christian” than Chinese society. However, could we argue, at the same time, that American society is doing a better job at helping more individuals to become committed disciples of Jesus in the United States than Chinese society is at helping individuals to become committed disciples of Jesus in China? I am not so sure.
I know these things are very subjective and hard to gauge with any degree of objective accuracy. But, I think there is good reason to suppose that the level of Christian commitment is generally higher among Chinese believers than it is among American believers. And, though the percentage of self-identified evangelicals is still a good bit higher in the United States than China, I think a good argument can be made that the political and cultural milieu in China over the past 40 years or so, though assuredly not “Christian” in any shape or fashion, has (when compared to that of the United States), in many ways, favored the growth of authentic Christian discipleship (and the number of authentic Christian disciples) within that country.
In the 4th century, many persecuted Christians rejoiced when Christianity was legalized under Constantine, and then made the official state religion under Theodosius. However, from a big picture perspective, I think a very good argument can be made that the advance of the Great Commission was dealt a very substantial blow with the advent of Constantinian Christendom and the “Christianization” of Roman society.
Which takes higher priority—the “Christianization” of society at large, or the discipleship of more and more individuals within that society? If we had to choose between a more “Christian” society, and a higher number of authentic Christian disciples within our country, which would we choose? Admittedly, in many (if not most) cases, the two tend to go hand-in-hand. But, I wonder sometimes if putting the emphasis on the “Christianization” of America has had an adverse effect on the overall effort at making disciples of Americans. Indeed, at times, the good can become the enemy of the best.
Did Paul say, “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save cultures”? or “that Christ Jesus came into the world to save institutions”? No, he said “that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15); that is, He came to save individual human beings.
It is true that Paul told Timothy that we should pray “for kings and all those in authority.” But with what ultimate end? “That we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness” (e.g. that we may grow in Christian discipleship), and that “men [may] be saved and … come to a knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim. 2:1-4).
When Jesus quoted Isaiah, announcing His mission on the earth, in Luke 4:18-20, his focus was on individuals—preaching good news to poor individuals, proclaiming freedom for individual prisoners, recovery of sight for individual blind people, and releasing oppressed individuals. Admittedly, the proclamation of the year of the Lord’s favor (or the Jubilee) had social and political implications, but ultimately with the welfare of individuals in mind.
In our efforts to fulfill the Great Commission, I think there is definitely room for social, and even, to some extent, political initiatives. However, I think we must continually ask ourselves what is the ultimate aim of our efforts: the conversion and discipleship of individual human beings—or something else?
Maybe it’s just my subjective perspective, but it seems to me that many of the people I know in many of the conservative evangelical churches I know are, in general, more interested in praying for (and working for) cultural change in America than they are the salvation and discipleship of Americans. Whenever there is a meeting to pray for America, what is the typical focus? Very often, political and social issues take center stage. However, when we pray for other countries—at least in my experience—we tend to focus our prayers more often on the salvation and discipleship of the people of those countries.
I wonder why this is. Is it possible that much of our prayers for America are really, at the core, selfish prayers for a society that is friendlier to us and our point of view as Christians? What if God’s plan were to use persecution and ungodly legislation as a means of refining His Church and raising up a greater number of authentic disciples among us?
The following quote from Brother Yun, in the book Back to Jerusalem, chronicling the efforts of Chinese Christians to make disciples of the unreached nations between China and Jerusalem, is as convicting as it is unsettling:
Don’t pray for the persecution to stop! We shouldn’t pray for a lighter load to carry, but a stronger back to endure! Then the world will see that God is with us, empowering us to live in a way that reflects his love and power (p. 69).
I suppose the answer one gives to this question has a lot to do with one’s interpretation of eschatology. But, is God more interested in a more “Christian” China, or in a stronger and more sanctified Chinese Church, made up of Chinese Christians? And, by the same token, is God more interested in a more “Christian” America, or in a stronger and more sanctified American Church, made up of American Christians?
Perhaps the advance of the Great Commission in our own country would fare better if we prayed for those in our country and worked for the making of disciples in our own country more like we tend to do for those in other countries, in our international missions efforts.
In other words, perhaps we should pray (and work) less for America and more for Americans.
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Thank you David for this post.
I can’t think of a single time in my life where I can remember a church service that prayed for America and was referring to lost people coming to know Christ. Wait, that’s not true. When I was overseas I remember a couple times when people in Latin America (and I think Spain) were praying for the salvation of lost people in America.
If only our missionary fervor for our nation’s peoples could grow so much as to match our fervor for reaching the ends of the earth.
David,
As I shared with you previously, this post hits at one of the strongest tugs on my heart – People Need The Lord! To me the greatest and most stiring part of this post is:
“I wonder why this is. Is it possible that much of our prayers for America are really, at the core, selfish prayers for a society that is friendlier to us and our point of view as Christians? What if God’s plan were to use persecution and ungodly legislation as a means of refining His Church and raising up a greater number of authentic disciples among us?”
I pray we will heed the call before it comes to this but I also pray that if this is what we need – send Lord!
Great post David.
This made me think a little deeper about our American situation. One of the differences between China and America is the contrast between the view of Christianity. I would think China, as a people, see it more black and white like it was during the persecution after Jesus sent the Holy Spirit. In America, we began with the right idea (or what we thought was the right idea) and over time it seems to have created a rainbow of shades of interest, beliefs and committment. The present evangelism and discipleship have such a varied range across all of the denominations and non-denominations that it is difficult to see the real gold from all that glitters. I would think that within the ruins of America’s compromise and liberalism there are true churches working the faith and receiving from their faith the true fruits of the harvest. May God give us grace in the haze of freedom to see and do what is most needed in our church. This has inspired me to focus more on the genuine and seek God’s face to ignite a fresh moving of His Holy Spirit again.
David,
You always hit the nail on the head with your writing. You make several good points. Having lived and ministered among the Chinese in Asia for 30 years I would second you comment on Christians in China, “I think a good argument can be made that the political and cultural milieu in China over the past 40 years or so, though assuredly not “Christian” in any shape or fashion, has (when compared to that of the United States), in many ways, favored the growth of authentic Christian discipleship (and the number of authentic Christian disciples) within that country.” I think one reason for that has been that they often give up much to become a Christian. They may lose family relationships, jobs, or friendships to become a Christian. In America, especially the South where most of our churches are, it is often popular to become a Christian. It is viewed as something that can help your career or give you the right kind of connections. It seems for some the way to show you are a Christian is by speaking out against the Obama Health Care program or to oppose gun control. You don’t hear much about witnessing to individuals. Maybe that is one of the reasons baptisms are down in the SBC.
The following paragraph deserves more discussion, “Perhaps the advance of the Great Commission in our own country would fare better if we prayed for those in our country and worked for the making of disciples in our own country more like we tend to do for those in other countries, in our international missions efforts.” One of the disturbing things for me about the Great Commission Task Force is that the rhetoric coming from the task force is all about money and not about making disciples. The focus is on how to get more money away from the state conventions to the SBC entities represented on the task force. The state conventions I have been associated with have made as good if not better use of CP funds for Great Commission tasks as have the SBC entities. We need to get the task force to start focusing on the Great Commission instead of calling others “bloated bureaucracies” or making excuses for their own poor CP support.
David, you’re echoing my own thoughts, though you’re probably saying it better than I could. I’ve long thought that this might be affecting even things like calls to “pray for revival”. There was a time when I would agree with comments along the line that “what we need to get our country back is a revival”. Any more I’m thinking that if we approach revival as a tool for winning the “culture war”, we’re taking a self-defeating path. If our prayers for revival are motivated primarily by a desire for a more comfortable culture to live in, God’s response may very well be to allow the culture to slide even further. Revival’s not likely to come until we care less about having a comfortable Christian-friendly surrounding culture, and more about actually doing the Father’s will, whether it is comfortable or not.
I’d also suggest digging up Cal Thomas and Ed Dobson’s “Blinded By Might”. Both were involved in Moral Majority, and now advocate focusing less on politial influence and more on reaching out to individuals and making disciples.
Everyone so far,
Thanks for jumping in, and adding your contributions to the conversation. It is interesting that, in spite of what we all seem to observe in the churches around us, we who are commenting here pretty much seem to be in agreement on this. Hopefully, we can begin to gracefully lead those in our own churches and contexts to see these matters from a more biblical perspective.
Ron,
That is reassuring to read your confirmation on my take on the Chinese Church, seeing as how I have never actually been to China myself. Thanks for your years of faithful service among Chinese people.
Ben,
I have read “Blinded by Might,” and join you in recommending that book to others. Another good book in a similar vein is “Why the Cross can do What Politics Can’t,” by Erwin Lutzer.
Tim,
Thanks for your original post that got my mind thinking on this.
I really think the phrase “praying for Americans” vis-à-vis “praying for America” captures very well the core idea behind what a lot of us have been thinking for some time.
Great thoughts, David. I have observed that the “revival” that many Americans seek is really a desire to see the nation restored over and above the kingdom being expanded. We are uniquely Ameri-centric.