Charles Lee

Donald Miller, author of books including Blue Like Jazz and Searching for God, gave the closing prayer (benediction) tonight at the Democratic National Convention. I thought it was significant and refreshing to see Miller, as self-proclaimed follower of Christ, communicate a prayer over the United States.

As many would attest, for the past few decades, evangelical Christians have not been readily identified with the Democratic Party. Quite contrarily, for many, Christianity was and still continues to be synonymous with the Republican Party. Some in the media have unfairly portrayed Christians to be narrow-minded, bigoted, repressed in their sexuality, inconsiderate for the working class, and of course, proponents of the Republican agenda.

This is not to say that Christians ought to be Democrats. The point here is not whether Christians ought to be Republican or Democrat. (In fact, I am registered Non-Partisan.)

I think those of us who follow the teachings of Christ should recognize the imperfection of any political party. More importantly, we must acknowledge our own frailty and inadequacies. Our main focus should not be voting for the right party, politician or issue, but rather, voting our values by the way we live our lives. We can argue until we are blue in the face (no pun intended), but true change will occur once we take it upon ourselves and our faith communities to live out our values in our day to day activities.

For example, we can be passionate about legislation that assists the poor (and we should), but what good is it if we ourselves don’t holistically participate? I pray for a compassion that is not distant nor covered in our verbiage or political affiliation. I want to vote with my life before any ballot.

Please take a moment to listen and read the following prayer. It is not perfect and will push many theological envelopes, but nevertheless, I think we can learn from the heart that seeks to embrace the other.

The following is the transcript from Miller’s prayer:

“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.”

This post is tagged Democratic National Convention, DNC, Donald Miller, Faith and Politics, Prayer, Prayer and Politics, Social Justice