Casual Comments or The Prayer of the Church?
As a Chaplain, and as a Pastor, I get to talk to many people. Hold it! Scratch that.
As a Chaplain, and as a Pastor, I work diligently to listen to people. In fact, I find talking easier than intently and actively listening to someone. To focus on what someone is saying, and what they are expressing, by listening to their words, picking up on their tone, and observing body language is what listening is all about. To do that, and do it well, takes energy and stamina.
I was listening to two different people -- truly listening -- the other week. After the conversation, I had to wonder, "Did they understand what they were saying?" I wonder if we are so accustomed to regular retractions on the nightly news, casual conversation on talk shows and late night TV, and with editing software right at our fingertips, that we have become lazy and thoughtless about what we communicating?
Situation #1 - A person and I were talking about the war in Afghanistan, about wrapping up major military intervention in Iraq, and about the new, escalating situations in Korea, Somalia, and the American/Mexican Border. As we were talking, and I was listening, this other person started to talk about his job, his obligations at home and, specifically, the strain that this person's financial situation had placed upon their marriage. He summed it up by saying, "I sure hope this war lasts another 8 years because I've got to pay my mortgage."
I felt like saying, "What?! Are you nuts?! Don't you understand that people are dying? Young men and women, as well as older, seasoned military leaders, are being killed and leaving their children as orphans back in the US? Don't you realize that every bullet, and each bomb that we drop in Afghanistan, has to hit a valid target, or else it's landing on someone's house, or livelihood, or hospital, or on a child's classroom?"
Please don't get me wrong. I understand what the person was trying to communicate to me. That person who was speaking to me needs employment, just like I do. The fact is: I'm getting paid to be here. But every day in quiet, and out loud in public, three times on Sundays, I pray for this war to end. I ask God to bring a sustainable and just peace in my generation.
I guess my question is: what words am I going to live by? The casual and trivial conversation that comes out of people's mouth unwittingly, or the profound and significant prayers, that God listens to, when His people pray? I want to be shaped by prayer. If you give me a choice to live in this world as it is shaped by human intentions, or live in a world that is shaped by the prayer intentions of the church, I'd rather live in the latter reality.
Situation #2 - I'm eating in the Dining Facility and the person seated across from me is talking about the habits and cultural customs of the Kyrgyz people. They are our gracious hosts and partners with America in Central Asia. They are helping us to support a war against Al Qaeda terrorists, the opium/drug trade, and the oppressive, dying Taliban warlords in Afghanistan. The person I'm sitting with makes this comment: "Well, most of the Kyrgyz are Muslims. So before I leave here, I'm going to distribute Christian tracts in their language all around the Base, so that when they get before God in eternity, they won't have any excuse. They won't be able to say that they didn't have a chance to believe in Him. I'm going to make sure of that."
Again, I felt like saying, "What?! Are you nuts?! Don't you realize that these are people in front of you, and not some religious experiment in theological vindication? These are people whom God created, and who are dearly loved. You're not trying to help them. You're trying to justify why God should consign them to hell?!"
Please don't get me wrong. I know this person was well-intentioned according to what they had been taught by some religious leader who, to put the best interpretation on it, probably wanted to motivate people to be more zealous in their evangelism and in verbalizing the message of salvation. But the Bible is clear that God wants ALL people to be saved. The Bible also makes it clear that Jesus came to seek out and rescue people who are lost. He did not come to condemn but to love and save. Every day in quiet, and out loud in public, three times on Sundays, I pray for people to submit to God, repent, to confess faith, and be saved.
I repeat my previous question. What am I going to live by? The casual and trivial conversation that comes out of people's mouth unwittingly, or the profound and significant prayers, that God listens to, when His people pray? I want to be shaped by prayer. If you give me a choice to live in this world as it is shaped by human intentions, or live in a world that is shaped by the prayer intentions of the church, I'd rather live in the latter reality.
What a joy to know that, as I pray alone, and also when I pray in fellowship and unity with the words of the ancient liturgy of the church, that God actively, intently, and lovingly listens. That's the kind of communication that brings me peace, and gives me hope for each day. I hope that the prayers of the church will drown out the casual, callous, thoughtless, and hurtful words that I speak.
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth! (Prayer of the Church, Pentecost Sunday)