God
why are your people so confused? Why do we prefer to choose a life of
niceties and self protection and justify it with the name of your
son? Why are we so ready to reject your reality? Why do we call
comfort and preference faith?
Why
do we insist on giving all our time to people who are either like us,
don't threaten us, or serve our self interests? Please God bring our
enemies, strangers, foreigners, the unlovable into our lives in such a
way we cannot ignore them. Open our eyes to what it means to reject you
when we reject those you love.
Are
you serious when you said you would vomit up the luke warm? What about
when you stated that anyone who does not love what you love hates
you? Is it true for you to not know us even as we go about your
business?
Please
God, don't leave us to our own self indulgences. Please do something,
anything to wake us up. Please bring us to our senses.
God
end our addiction to doing things our way. Give us revelation to the
dangers of pursuing sectarianism before it is too late. Before the
ground opens up beneath us, turn us around. God teach us to see one
another as family, to stop the finger pointing at our neighbours who we
have labelled as heathens. Indeed, please teach us to see one another.
Why
do we justify our theological differences when you told us there is
oneness in your body? Why do we allow them to fester to the point of
splits, starting something new, and mocking others? God, what will it
take for us to desire a path of healing from our family dysfunctions?
God,
Please encourage us to stand by our brothers and sisters. I am sorry
that although my eyes were opened I stand back. Should I limit my
actions to prayer with the hope you will one day resolve our bickering
and tribalism? Or is there something you want me to do? It breaks my
heart to witness our situation. Please open our eyes. Please stoke or
hearts.
"But
don't we pray for other churches? Don't our leaders gather? Don't we
celebrate at joint events or with visiting speakers?"
Why
does it frustrate me to hear people claim that "All is well" or "the
church has no real significant differences?" How can this be true when
there are dozens of denominations and hundreds of congregations who were
formed on the basis of theological disagreement to the point where many
won't even talk with one another. How can this be a reflection of
being one as you and your son are one? Surely if there are no real
differences it wouldn't matter where people go to gather and gain
discipleship. Isn't the same gospel being shared, the one Jesus, one
Spirit, Father, etc?
Why
have we convinced ourselves that the group we belong to is better than
others? Why have we convinced ourselves that our group has the real and
exclusive truth? Why do our elders compete for your flock, indeed
compete for the right to rule your kingdom? Should we remain silent or
have we entered the guilt of enabling and cheering? Are we to leave our
family to their own devices? How will you view us if we do? Thank you
for sending your son so we wouldn't perish. Please God open our ears
to the truth that comforts as opposed to simply seeking comfort.
