There's nothing like divine assistance. A person, or group, can really be confident when they know that the almighty God--omnipotent and omniscient--is supporting them.
Like the scripture says, "If God be for us, who can be against us."
I've been thinking a lot about lately about divine assistance, and I've come up with an interesting question...
Why is God on MY side?
People can be very arrogant and feel as though they've done something to earn or deserve God's favor on their lives.
Also, our culture (with the help of the media) is very good at 'demonizing' other people. In other words, the message is that we are good, and others are bad. Because we are good, God is for us. Because they are bad, God is against them.
If I'm honest with myself, it's hard for me to say that I'm any better than anyone else. I'm not so righteous that I deserve God's all-powerful support.
And if God's favor is unmerited or un-earned, then who am I to say that God is on MY side and not on the side of my enemy?
A quick story...
Recently in church, someone requested that we pray for our troops in IRAQ. My pastor (who happens to be my father) agreed to do so, but also suggested that we pray for the Iraqi soldiers as well. People were shocked!
He went on to say that human lives are precious no matter what side of the firing line they're on. What makes the life of an American soldier more valuable than the life of someone else? The "enemy" soldier is someone's son, possibly someone's husband and father. Why is OK to kill them, taking the life of someone else's son, husband, or father?
Think about it and please share your comments...
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6 comments:
i'm in the military...i agree with Pastor both sides need prayer...our leadership needs prayer and the Iraqi's need prayer. One can only "assume" when you are an American that when you pray for soldiers you are praying for the victory in the cause but it shouldn't be the case because the victory maybe in coming home safely or interacting with someone in the foxhole who doesn't know Christ.
I agree with Brian D, if scripture says to pray for our enemies then that's what we do. Although I haven't been deployed to the "sandbox" as of yet, I know the enemy doesn't necessarily have to be wearing uniforms of Iraqi soldiers. I would just ask that we life everyone affected by the challenge of war in prayer -- daily!
Thanks for the comments so far. (I am so pleased to have insightful, articulate people visiting the blog!)
Here's what I'm trying to get at...
Who said that God is on OUR side? Who said that what we do has divine support (and what our 'enemies' do is wrong)?
I believe that EVERYONE feels that they are right and that God is on THEIR side.
It just scares me when I'm right, you're wrong, and God is helping me but not helping you.
God is for MY family. God is for MY church. God is for MY university. God is for my team. God is for MY company. God is for MY country.
Lee, your father was correct in suggesting that we pray for the Iraqis. There are people there who are just as much the victims of this war as anyone else and they are not even holding guns. There are a great deal of folks who are not supporters of the violence and they should not be forgotten. When we think of people who are of a violatile nature, we have to rememember to say, "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do." Many people grow up in the thick of war, be it in the streets of Iraq or right here in some of the worst cities in NJ! Not to make any excuses but if that is all you know...what else do you do?
Just pray without ceasing...it makes a difference for everyone...
Hello,
Since I was asked to "check this out," here goes.
The point is not is God on our side, but rather, are we on God's side? Whose on the Lord's side? Isn't that the Bible, or maybe it's just Timothy Wright? LOL
Seriously, the challenge raises problems even with what Bishop Rubin did do, though I'm sure he was sincere. What do we pray for, when we seem to pray for one side or the other?
The Lord's prayer is "They will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven."
The problem is when we determine God's will is for us to be against someone else. Now, I think Biblically we can be against someone and for God. But how should we be against them?
Dr. King was against racists whites. But he was not seeking prayers that we overcome them by killing them.
It's hard for most Americans to get a grip on Christians who do not get high off of God empowering our troops to shoot and kill more Iraqis. Obviously, our lack of Patriotism is like a cardinal sin.
It's the presumption that America is a Christian nation, and that anything its government does, which is cloaked in religious (note: not Christian) rhetoric, like our "fight against the evil doers," (what is this, Marvel comics warfare) is the Christian thing to do.
Bishop should have thought through all the components of this issue, then preached on it, then led the congregation in prayer.
Nationalism is at the heart of so many of the problematic assumptions he may have encountered, because he dared to pray for a perceived "enemy," which if anything, is doing exactly what Jesus told us to do. And I don't know if they need to see the error of their ways. What if the error is complicity with a fictitious government set-up almost entirely by American troops, meaning if the troops leave, the present Iraqi government would most likely collapse.
Ok, let me stop.
Marlon
When I read this blog my mind went to the scripture verse that speaks about, Who am I that thou art mindful of me? and the song that Fred Hammond coined regarding this scripture...Called me friend. I think that when we have entered into a relationship with God he is in favor of us and favor isn't fair. Unfortunately, for those who don't know the true living God they don't get this unmerited favor but they are indeed still loved by God and his creation so that in itselfs means we have to love and pray for them (Iraq Soldiers; my prayer is for peace and that they learn who the true and living God is before its too late. (This was an excellent topic to reflect upon)
I've never understood the idea that God bless specific people, groups, countries, whatever.
I think its selfish to believe that one person, group, country or whatever has the "in" with the creator of all things.
I believe that everyone is being blessed by God and that blessings can often feel like a loss or even death, but they have affected us to change ourselves...and what a blessing the opportunity to change and make better can be.
I am happy your father made the remark...that was a blessing.
and a chance for those who were there and those who might read about his action through your blog to change their thinking about how they send loving energy through prayer into the world.
Shawna
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