Donald Miller Prays at DNC
For those of you who love Blue Like Jazz or Searching for God Knows What or any other Donald Miller book, here’s a link to Don’s website.
Last night he prayed at the Democratic National Convention. Cameron Strang of Relevant Magazine opted out of praying so as not to appear as if he was endorsing one candidate over another, which in turn would destroy his attempts to build bridges between people. I can respect that.
Donald Miller was asked to pray. Someone asked him why he accepted the invitation, he responded with, “Somebody calls you and asks you to pray, you pray.” I respect this even more. It’s a fine line when deciding how to best love people and not burn bridges and when to just follow Jesus and go somewhere and pray…or is it?
Anyway, here is the video and the text.
“Father God,
This week, as the world looks on, help the leaders in this room create a civil dialogue about our future.
We need you, God, as individuals and also as a nation.
We need you to protect us from our enemies, but also from ourselves, because we are easily tempted toward apathy.
Give us a passion to advance opportunities for the least of these, for widows and orphans, for single moms and children whose fathers have left.
Give us the eyes to see them, and the ears to hear them, and hands willing to serve them.
Help us serve people, not just causes. And stand up to specific injustices rather than vague notions.
Give those in this room who have power, along with those who will meet next week, the courage to work together to finally provide health care to those who don’t have any, and a living wage so families can thrive rather than struggle.
Hep us figure out how to pay teachers what they deserve and give children an equal opportunity to get a college education.
Help us figure out the balance between economic opportunity and corporate gluttony.
We have tried to solve these problems ourselves but they are still there. We need your help.
Father, will you restore our moral standing in the world.
A lot of people don’t like us but that’s because they don’t know the heart of the average American.
Will you give us favor and forgiveness, along with our allies around the world.
Help us be an example of humility and strength once again.
Lastly, father, unify us.
Even in our diversity help us see how much we have in common.
And unify us not just in our ideas and in our sentiments—but in our actions, as we look around and figure out something we can do to help create an America even greater than the one we have come to cherish.
God we know that you are good.
Thank you for blessing us in so many ways as Americans.
I make these requests in the name of your son, Jesus, who gave his own life against the forces of injustice.
Let Him be our example.
Amen.”
Heath
Tuesday, 26th August 2008 at 7:38 am
I see that neither of their top two choices were solid Christian leaders. They were Christian celebrities. I guess they didn’t want to hear how Piper, MacArthur, Graham, or others like them would have responded.
Brian Johnson
Tuesday, 26th August 2008 at 7:42 am
That’s bold Mr. Spurlock to suggest that these guys aren’t solid Christian leaders. I can’t speak for Strang, but “Blue Like Jazz” and “Searching for God Knows What” have shaped a generation (if I can make a broad sweeping stroke). Yes they are “celebrities” if you will, but I would argue that Piper and Graham are in their respective circles. I would also argue that being popular does not disqualify them from being leaders. If people are following you, does that not make you a leader (okay, admittedly there are many facets to that statement, but still true).
Heath Spurlock
Tuesday, 26th August 2008 at 8:43 am
The first Heath reply is not I “Heath Spurlock”
Heath
Tuesday, 26th August 2008 at 8:57 am
First, let me clarify what I meant by “would have responded” because I think I may have worded it incorrectly. I meant as they spoke to the DNC not their answer on if they would have come.
Now, I don’t necessarily agree that those books you mention have shaped a generation. I can only assume you would mean my generation and as I see it those books are kind of like the Nooma videos, OK for talking points and entertainment but that’s about it. They have no meat and so, at least I hope, they just aren’t all that substantial. I’m picturing a wave that keeps breaking as someone new gets to it but never develops into one large enough to surf.
In saying that I also need to point out that I am not singling those two guys out as much as pointing out the type names that were not there. I put Piper b/c this blog has a link to his site on the sidebar, MacArthur b/c he has written arguably the most solid current contemporary commentary on the whole bible and still speaks to our current generations, and ole Billy because of his close connection with several past presidents including our current one. You could potentially create your own list here depending on your own theological leanings.
I hope that all makes sense. I usually stay away from commenting on potentially controversial blog post but I figured why not on this Religious, Political post about prayer at the DNC. What could possibly by controversial in this train of thought?
Brad Ruggles
Tuesday, 26th August 2008 at 11:57 am
I love, LOVE this prayer. Don Miller is the man. What a way to reach past partisan politics and show an example of a true Christ-follower praying for our nation. I love it.
Brad Ruggless last blog post..Crazy Things I Did as a Youth Pastor – part 2
Brian Johnson
Tuesday, 26th August 2008 at 12:57 pm
@hspur
I wasn’t thinking your generation. I was thinking my generation and those that follow mine. I believe that they contain good meat, but that the discussion points they offer take us much further in the meat. I do not see Don’s books as mere entertainment. They helped me walk out of legalism and into grace (along with several others). Those are bold words about the ideas of Don Miller and Rob Bell though.
I’m curious as to why Don doesn’t fit your criterion for speaking/praying at the DNC. I thought his prayer was as Brad put, very much against partisan politics and revealed a true Christ follower that recognizes where we are as a nation and desires that some real solutions be given to “widows/orphans/those who have experienced injustice, etc.” His prayer emphasized that he was speaking in the name of Jesus who willingly faced injustice with His life, and having heard Don speak and read his books, felt like everything was genuine and authentic.
What do you think the others would have prayed that would have made their presence more appropriate. Furthermore, why not let you pray, or me? Why do we assume we need “professional Christians” to fulfill these roles?
jc
Tuesday, 26th August 2008 at 2:32 pm
It’s good to see that democrats allowed a public prayer in their convention. However, along the same line of thought as b/ it would have been more admirable in my eyes if it wasn’t a big name Christian celebrity author, but instead was just an average American Christian, or just a well known democratic politician or analyst with no “professional Christian” background, but that would have not made it to a blog post, and would probably not be mentioned anywhere because it wouldn’t resemble an endorsement to any group of voters. The democrats definitely thought of that, and I imagine the republicans will do something similar because it is all politics.
jcs last blog post..Why?
Heath
Tuesday, 26th August 2008 at 2:40 pm
So, how old are you? I think we are in the same generation. I read Donald Miller’s Books that you reference in College when they came out and that wasn’t that long ago.
Also and again, I was not singling out who they chose. I was looking towards who they didn’t choose. And I don’t think any one of them are more appropriate or qualified to pray being that none of us can boast in ourselves but I was more eluding to what they generally represent; pastoring, theological study, & evangelism. As far as the professional Christian label you mention I would put both Miller and Strang in that same boat. I could go on about how we are all equal in the eyes of God and how grace works but I honestly think we are in the same boat for the most part there.
I will now try to more clearly represent my opinion if we can get past every misunderstanding that has already been made. I am not talking theology or doctrine. I am only addressing the DNC and who it choose to pray. I am not addressing the prayer either. It’s not because Miller is not QUALIFIED. It is because It would have been interesting to see Piper screaming about the (insert your own two or more hyphenated word Piperism here) Joy of Christ and then see how the DNC would be able to move on from there.
If I could redo my original post it would have been more like this to avoid misunderstanding and controversy:
It would have been interesting to have seen the DNC choose someone like Piper, MacArther, or Graham however I am sure they are much more aware of Miller.
Heath
Tuesday, 26th August 2008 at 2:43 pm
Who is b/? or is that a database issue?
Heath
Tuesday, 26th August 2008 at 2:46 pm
Never mind, I figured it out.
Heath Spurlock
Tuesday, 26th August 2008 at 3:10 pm
It seems to me that during this election Christianity has been reduced to a political platform. Don’t get me wrong I like the idea of knowing what my candidates believe or what they say they believe. On the other hand it’s making me sick to think that they are manipulating things like a civil forum at Saddleback or a prayer at the DNC to gain votes to put them into power.
Heath Spurlocks last blog post..Big Bang test
andi
Tuesday, 26th August 2008 at 4:53 pm
my thought to the question you posed is the slightly cheesy but true- What would Jesus do? I think he would have prayed- for The Father to His Will. I think he would have let those who worry about what political side he may or not be on talk on and on and on about it. I would think Cameron would have taken the opportunity and then written an article on “why I did it and why I am not a democrat- or a republican” He is neither from what his blog said…so take the opportunity. I get what he is saying- but i was surprised.
And last I checked- the “democrats” aren’t the antichrist are they? Or maybe we think they are–does that make me a pharisee? The senate or house prays every day at opening I believe…why shouldn’t the DNC?
And I think we spend too much time on discussing all this political stuff : )
Heath
Tuesday, 26th August 2008 at 7:35 pm
Andi, you just added to the time discussing it.
Also, to comment on the antichrist statement, it seems that argument is used anytime anyone has a side and thinks the other side is wrong. Some people can just think the democrats are wrong and not think they are the antichrist. I don’t put that judgment on the entire democratic or republican party though because they both include a lot of people. In my view that means there’s lots of sinners on both sides. I am one of those sinners too.
I do however believe there are some absolutes. Sometimes people are just wrong. God is not. So, the way I try to make my political choices is to hold up policies, decisions, ideals, etc. in front of the light of scripture.
I hope this post works to further where I am coming from and not to rise up anymore misunderstandings.