A Dangerous Way to Pray

In the introduction to his new book "The Hole in Our Gospel", Richard Stearns (President, World Vision, U.S.) states that "Christ calls us to be His partners in changing our world." That's a pretty bold statement, especially since he's questioning if, as Christians, our actions match our words.

What is God asking for, really, from you and me? Much more than church attendance. More than prayer too. More than belief, and even more than self-denial. God asks us for everything.

Jesus calls His followers to a life commitment of the passionate pursuit of God's will. The Sermon on the Mount is Jesus' redefinition of Kingdom living: Don't live like that anymore... Live like this now. Forget about murder--don't even think bad thoughts about your brother... turn the other cheek, love your enemies, give to the poor, put your trust in God...
This is where Jesus tells his followers how to pray:

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
Your Kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.

Have we grasped how dangerous this prayer is? This is about lining up our will with God's. When we pray it, do we really mean it? Are we really willing to give everything to God for His Kingdom? Because that's what Jesus is telling us to pray... In light of our recognition of our heavenly Father, as the holy, sovereign God, we want to align our wills with His and we want His reign to be supreme.

That's a dangerous prayer! That's a radical, life-altering commitment to God! Jesus demonstrates for us how to live compassionate lives by bringing shalom--healing and wholeness and peace and joy-- to the world around us, and teaches us what that means in both word and deed... and then he asks us to commit ourselves to this way of life through this prayer to God.

Be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and pefect will (Romans 12:2).

If we have experienced the transforming power of God in our lives, then the only response is to live for His will--for His Kingdom... to demonstrate God's rule to others. That's what James, the brother of Jesus, was writing about when he said "I will show you my faith by what I do."

It's a dangerous prayer to align our will with God's, to dedicate ourselves to Kingdom living, because in the Kingdom, our actions have to match our words.