Where have the Christians gone?

The Pastor Mark Roberts takes a look at the prayers at the Inauguration and wonders about what is missing.

I do realize that Robinson told the New York Times in advance that he wasn’t going “to pray a Christian prayer.” In fact, he said he was “horrified” at “how specifically and aggressively Christian” previous inaugural prayers had been. Robinson followed through quite nicely on his promise to pray in a non-Christian manner. But, in the end, what’s left is milquetoast religiosity. He leads us to ask God to give us tears, anger, discomfort, patience, humility, freedom, and compassion, all of which are quite fine. But there’s nothing about doing justice, loving mercy, or walking humbly with our God. Under Robinson’s leadership, we don’t ask God to help us love, forgive, feed the hungry, or heal the sick. Something is woefully lacking here . . . genuine Christianity.

This state of being horrified at aggression shows up in many issues. A common thread seems to be in matters of self defense where being aggressive in protecting one’s self is a source of judgment. Whether the self defense is that of an individual in his home or with Israel in protecting its citizens from terror or with the U.S. in its efforts to assist Iraqi citizens gain freedom from oppression, there is a violent plea to lie down and not pursue aggressive self defense.

It appears that we do indeed have a “milquetoast religiosity” in many of our venues. The focus is on “tears, anger, discomfort, patience, humility, freedom, and compassion.” “But there’s nothing about doing justice, loving mercy, or walking humbly with our God.” It seems many no longer know what justice really is, what mercy means, or that “walking humbly with our God” is not always a comfortable journey.