I've made the decision that I'm going to attend this gathering. There are two primary reasons.
I'm attending because I believe that unified, focused prayer is highly important. From the founding of Mission Houston, we have worked diligently to stimulate the common practice of unified prayer in families, neighborhoods, congregations, and communities. I believe that unified, focused prayer changes things. This gathering holds the possibility for a large, unified and focused prayer gathering. I don't want my fears to stand in the way of something that could alter the spiritual climate of our city and our nation.
I'm attending because I love and trust Doug Stringer. Doug is one of the leaders of the Church in Houston. He has a 25+ year track record of integrity in our city and in ministry around the world. In some ways, he and I see the world differently, but we have forged a friendship over two decades, and we share a heart for the transformation of the city. Doug has been instrumental in shaping The Response, and after writing my last post, I had a face-to-face conversation with Doug. He assured me that this is not going to be a partisan political event, and he told me what he plans to do - as the point person on the stage at the event - if someone tries to take the event in that direction. I don't trust that there won't be people who will attempt to use the day for partisan politics. I do believe that Doug will keep his word about how the stage will be manage in order to achieve the purposes of the day.
So, at the end of the day, I've decided that I'm attending - and I'm inviting you to attend. I'm prayerfully hopeful about the possibilities the day holds.
5 comments:
I'm not attending. It isn't the governor's job to lead a prayer meeting. It isn't his job to convene one group of Christians. And the list of "national endorsers" has me even more concerned. Clearly he's pandering to the theocrats like David Barton. With other Christian, Jewish, Muslim, etc., leaders, I've signed onto a letter that the ADL is circulating, calling on the governor to step back and cease to divide the state according to religious lines. We don't need this.
"In March 1797, Samuel Adams was 74 years old. He had served God and the people almost his entire life. He had been a delegate to the Continental Congress, was a voice and signer of the Declaration of Independence, served as a United States Congressman, a member of the Massachusetts convention that ratified the U.S. Constitution, served as the lieutenant governor of Massachusetts, and in his final years served as the Governor of Massachusetts.
One of his responsibilities as the Governor was to issue an official proclamation for the commonwealth of Massachusetts. His did not resemble todays proclamations issued by Governors to promote tourism, celebrate sports victories, or recognize beauty queens, state fairs, and cooking festivals. On March 20, 1797, founding father Samuel Adams, now Governor of Massachusetts, issued an official state proclamation calling for a "Day of Solemn Fasting and Prayer" in Massachusetts....On that day, "Ministers of the Gospel" with their respected congregations" were asked to "assemble together and seriously consider, and with one united voice confess our past sins and transgressions, with holy resolutions, by the Grace of God, to turn our feet into the path of His Law---Humbly beseeching Him to endue us with all the Christian spirit of Piety, Benevolence and the Love of Country; and that in all our public deliberations we may be possessed of a sacred regard to the fundamental principles of our free elective civil Constitutions..."
As Governor, Adams also called on the people of Massachusetts to pray for the state's businessess, its industry, its education system, for the other American states, and for the national government. "And I do hereby recommend," he added, "that all un-neccessary labour and recreation be suspended on the said day." The proclamation concluded with an official request that would undoubtedly seem startling to many in a distant, future America:
"I concede that we cannot better express ourselves than by humbly supplicating the Supreme Ruler of the World---That the rod of tyrants may be broken into pieces, and the oppressed made Free---That wars may cease in all the Earth, and that the confusions that are and have been among the Nations may be overruled for the promoting and speedily bringing on the holy and happy period, when the Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ may be everywhere established, and all the people willingly bow to the Sceptre of Him who is the Prince of Peace."
By issuing such an official proclamation, were the governor and legislatures of Mass. violating the U.S. Constitution? Not to their thinking...."
Hank, for me it is not a question about whether Governors can be involved in matters of Faith. I believe they can and should.
For me, it is the stands that this particular Governor has taken that, in my view of the things, stand in direct opposition to God's concern for the poor, the orphan, the widow and the alien in our land. Samuel Adams had a long track record of clear unequivocal commitment to all of the people - the common good - not just his political party or his socio-economic peers or his ethnic group.
Jim ... Using your arguement, where does that leave the mayor of Ninevah? And some other leaders mentioned in scripture who were not even believers but considered evil leaders in their day with serious social justice inadequacies.
Hank
So, How did it go for you?
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