To see a stark example of the contrast between the patriotic show and the reality, look at what's going on outside the convention hall with police violence and arrests.
I posted a bit about it on my blog.
How to change the church? Pray. Pray with people, and pray for people. But especially pray with them, and pray for the victims of violence. Pray for them by name, pray for specific situations, and especially pray for people in whose deaths and injuries and injustices we are complicit. By name. With people.
Not only that, but pray for those who are enemies. Pray for Osama, not just to have "salvation" but to truly find peace and joy in life, to experience the fullness of the life God created him to experience. Pray for the leaders of Iran, Hamas, China, and other places that are perceived as America's enemies.
Pray for our leaders, not just that they would be wise or strong or good, but that they would see the world through Jesus' eyes, that they would heed Jesus' instruction to love neighbor, love enemy, feed the hungry, care for the poor, sick, and needy - that they would use their power and authority not to stockpile more power, or money, or whatever, but that they would use it to ensure that God's will is done, that justice is a reality, that no one goes hungry in a world where we produce enough food for everyone to have enough to eat more than twice over.
These are eye-opening prayers, both for the one speaking and the one listening (in human terms).
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I posted a bit about it on my blog.
How to change the church? Pray. Pray with people, and pray for people. But especially pray with them, and pray for the victims of violence. Pray for them by name, pray for specific situations, and especially pray for people in whose deaths and injuries and injustices we are complicit. By name. With people.
That's a start.
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Pray for our leaders, not just that they would be wise or strong or good, but that they would see the world through Jesus' eyes, that they would heed Jesus' instruction to love neighbor, love enemy, feed the hungry, care for the poor, sick, and needy - that they would use their power and authority not to stockpile more power, or money, or whatever, but that they would use it to ensure that God's will is done, that justice is a reality, that no one goes hungry in a world where we produce enough food for everyone to have enough to eat more than twice over.
These are eye-opening prayers, both for the one speaking and the one listening (in human terms).
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yes.
I had the prayer revelation soon after my original posting, and you've helped show what that entails. thanks.
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Peace,
Jason
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