Letters from the new pastor- A Prayer for My Church

And so here I am, preaching and writing about things that are way over my head, the inexhaustible riches and generosity of Christ. My task is to bring out in the open and make plain what God, who created all this in the first place, has been doing in secret and behind the scenes all along.
-The Apostle Paul in Ephesians 3

I bristle when I hear a preacher use the phrase, “My Church”, as if he or she owns it as the pastor. The Church belongs to Christ, not to any preacher or person— there is no such thing as Church ownership in our little fraternal vocation. It has never belonged to a person— or to a committee, or a group. The Church belongs to Christ. Full stop.

However, I’m also endeared to the phrase because I feel that I belong to the Church. In that way, it very much is “My Church.” It is from that framework that I pray, think, shepherd and love. It is from that framework that I wrote out a prayer for “My Church” (years ago) as a pastor. Originally, the prayer was written (and prayed) in a local congregation— but, over the years, I see it as more universal, yet still local. I’ve tweaked it, but not very much. It is still a prayer that flows from within me.

So what follows is “My Prayer for My Church.” I pray this in the early stages of Holy Week, to be reminded again of our sacred calling that is branded from the sacrifice of Christ. He died (and rose again) not for our preferences, but for His purpose. May we never forget that— every time the cup touches our lips— every time the bread is given— His body and His blood are present, not just past or future. As one Pentecostal forefather wrote, “the blood is still hot to the touch— for it is present.”

A Prayer for My Church

I pray that you always remain discontent when it comes to injustice, oppression and rejection. That you are provoked to action when you see a person rejected. That you are moved to action when you encounter someone who is not yet set free by the power of Jesus Christ. That you never stop accepting the people who have not always been welcomed among us.

I pray that you make waves and disrupt our community with love that surprises everybody. That you would find favor with the county and the state officials in a way that would make the body of Jesus accessible to the hurting- that your reputation would be established by your love and hope, and not by what you are against.

I pray that you never allow the culture around you to dictate or determine your level of peace- that you would always receive that from God- that you would be peacemakers- to the point of disrupting evil to a great degree- for we never have peace with evil. 

I pray that you fall in love with Jesus to such an extent that a revival of repentance would crash the schedules of every person in our county- that prayer and communion with God would bring the healing that’s been promised- and that you would never forget the image you bear.

I pray that you keep your unique sense of grit and determination and authenticity- that your faith would be increased and grow- that you would be encouraged through Christ- and, especially after our little families are reunited for whatever reason, that we would be quick to remember the moments of love and growth that we’ve shared. I pray we would always remember each other fondly, with affection and love- and when we see each other, it would be with open arms and big, genuine joy filled grins. 

In the words of the Apostle Paul, I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit—not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength—that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you’ll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ’s love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God.

God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.

May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.