be careful what you quote
Over the years I have had many people tell me that I am naïve to speak about poverty as though it is something that can be overcome. This happened most recently when I was wearing a ONE Campaign T-Shirt that has the words, “The campaign to make poverty history.”
What is interesting to me is that the ones who most often condescendingly make comments to me, are ones who call themselves “followers of Jesus.” More times than I care to count I have people ask, state, or remind me of the Bible by quoting Jesus who said, “Just remember, Jesus said, ‘The poor you will have with you always …’” My usual response is to ask, “And what words comes directly after that?”
According to the Gospel of Mark, the rest of the sentence is, “…and you can help them any time you want.” Jesus says this because some of the disciples are upset about how money is being used, and claim it could go to help the poor. But there seems to be another layer to Jesus’ teaching.
Jesus’ statement about the poor, is his quote of Torah. Perhaps Jesus was using an ancient artful teaching tactic called remez. Which means “hint”. Rabbis did this by quoting one piece of a verse in Scripture in a teaching or a discussion. Remember, that many in Jesus’ day would have had much of the Hebrew Scriptures memorized. So if they quoted one part of a verse, they knew that their students would know the context of the verse, and probably be able to quote the rest of the verse.
Jesus used this method of teaching often. When Jesus told the religious that had made the temple into a “den of robbers” he was quoting the prophet Jeremiah. In Jeremiah 7, the prophet says to the people of Israel, “Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury, burn incense to Baal and follow other gods you have not known, and then come and stand before me in this house, which bears my Name, and say, "We are safe"—safe to do all these detestable things? Has this house, which bears my Name, become a den of robbers to you?”
Jesus is saying a little more than, “You are ripping people off.” He is calling them murderers, adulterers, liars, and pagans.
We see this again in Matthew 21 where it says, “… when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things [Jesus] did and the children shouting in the temple courts, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David,’ they were indignant.” How did Jesus respond? With a hint, or remez? He quotes Psalm 8 saying, “have you never read, ‘From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise’”? The Psalmist also writes in this Psalm, “…you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.”
Jesus is communicating something to them using remez. He is telling them they are his foe, and God will silence them.
When he is chided by his disciples, he quotes what has become a familiar verse related to poverty. Many have used this verse to excuse themselves from pouring themselves into helping the poor. The attitude seems to be, "If Jesus said, 'The poor will always be hanging around ...' then what good is it going to do to help them?" But Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 15, saying, “The poor you will always have with you …” Which is interesting because the full context of this portion of Scripture says,
“There need be no poor people among you, for in the land the LORD your God is giving you to possess as your inheritance, he will richly bless you, if only you fully obey the LORD your God and are careful to follow all these commands I am giving you today.”
Interesting. God says, “If you do things my way there will be no poverty.” But God seems to know that even his own people will not do things entirely right so he speaks about the fact that there will be poor people in the Land. So he continues,
“If anyone is poor among your people in any of the towns of the land that the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward them. Rather, be openhanded and freely lend them whatever they need … There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward those of your people who are poor and needy in your land.”
So for those who so quickly want to quote Jesus saying, “The poor will be with you always …” I say quote away! You are only reminding all of us that if we follow God there does not need to be poor among us, and if there is that we should be openhanded toward all of those who have need.
What is interesting to me is that the ones who most often condescendingly make comments to me, are ones who call themselves “followers of Jesus.” More times than I care to count I have people ask, state, or remind me of the Bible by quoting Jesus who said, “Just remember, Jesus said, ‘The poor you will have with you always …’” My usual response is to ask, “And what words comes directly after that?”
According to the Gospel of Mark, the rest of the sentence is, “…and you can help them any time you want.” Jesus says this because some of the disciples are upset about how money is being used, and claim it could go to help the poor. But there seems to be another layer to Jesus’ teaching.
Jesus’ statement about the poor, is his quote of Torah. Perhaps Jesus was using an ancient artful teaching tactic called remez. Which means “hint”. Rabbis did this by quoting one piece of a verse in Scripture in a teaching or a discussion. Remember, that many in Jesus’ day would have had much of the Hebrew Scriptures memorized. So if they quoted one part of a verse, they knew that their students would know the context of the verse, and probably be able to quote the rest of the verse.
Jesus used this method of teaching often. When Jesus told the religious that had made the temple into a “den of robbers” he was quoting the prophet Jeremiah. In Jeremiah 7, the prophet says to the people of Israel, “Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury, burn incense to Baal and follow other gods you have not known, and then come and stand before me in this house, which bears my Name, and say, "We are safe"—safe to do all these detestable things? Has this house, which bears my Name, become a den of robbers to you?”
Jesus is saying a little more than, “You are ripping people off.” He is calling them murderers, adulterers, liars, and pagans.
We see this again in Matthew 21 where it says, “… when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things [Jesus] did and the children shouting in the temple courts, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David,’ they were indignant.” How did Jesus respond? With a hint, or remez? He quotes Psalm 8 saying, “have you never read, ‘From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise’”? The Psalmist also writes in this Psalm, “…you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.”
Jesus is communicating something to them using remez. He is telling them they are his foe, and God will silence them.
When he is chided by his disciples, he quotes what has become a familiar verse related to poverty. Many have used this verse to excuse themselves from pouring themselves into helping the poor. The attitude seems to be, "If Jesus said, 'The poor will always be hanging around ...' then what good is it going to do to help them?" But Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 15, saying, “The poor you will always have with you …” Which is interesting because the full context of this portion of Scripture says,
“There need be no poor people among you, for in the land the LORD your God is giving you to possess as your inheritance, he will richly bless you, if only you fully obey the LORD your God and are careful to follow all these commands I am giving you today.”
Interesting. God says, “If you do things my way there will be no poverty.” But God seems to know that even his own people will not do things entirely right so he speaks about the fact that there will be poor people in the Land. So he continues,
“If anyone is poor among your people in any of the towns of the land that the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward them. Rather, be openhanded and freely lend them whatever they need … There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward those of your people who are poor and needy in your land.”
So for those who so quickly want to quote Jesus saying, “The poor will be with you always …” I say quote away! You are only reminding all of us that if we follow God there does not need to be poor among us, and if there is that we should be openhanded toward all of those who have need.
the greatest threat
I recently received a very abrupt email from a person who did not like something I wrote or said. This person wanted to tell me very candidly that what I wrote or said was not in agreement with his or her belief. Therefore, this person, in an angry and defensive tone, told me what he or she believed. Then before closing the email got in a good one liner about my appearance or character – or maybe both as I am trying to forget the nasty comments (yet now I write about it?).
This is not the first time I have received mean spirited emails from people. I have been confronted by people in parking lots outside of church buildings. I have been called all sorts of names (if you really want to know my top five email me). I have been accused of siding with one group or another. I have received phone calls from angry people about this or that. This is not the norm, but it does happen.
Over the years I have begun to see a pattern emerge. That being, the greatest reaction from people is when an idea is presented that is contrary to their own. Mind you, it is not when I or anyone vehemently attack their position and say it is wrong. Simply articulating a thought or an idea that is not in agreement with their's gets the blood pumping. Asking a penetrating, open-ended question that causes them to encounter their own belieds can cause all sorts of responses.
The greatest threat it seems is not a frontal assault. Rather, it is engaging a new or different idea or asking new or different questions. It is taking a good hard look at the unknown and walking straight into it.
I have to be honest when I say I am not sure why this is. Perhaps because we as a people have been told the answers our whole life, and told we are never to question them. New thoughts, ideas, or questions can do just that. I would be interested to hear what your thoughts are on why this is. Feel free to comment.
This is not the first time I have received mean spirited emails from people. I have been confronted by people in parking lots outside of church buildings. I have been called all sorts of names (if you really want to know my top five email me). I have been accused of siding with one group or another. I have received phone calls from angry people about this or that. This is not the norm, but it does happen.
Over the years I have begun to see a pattern emerge. That being, the greatest reaction from people is when an idea is presented that is contrary to their own. Mind you, it is not when I or anyone vehemently attack their position and say it is wrong. Simply articulating a thought or an idea that is not in agreement with their's gets the blood pumping. Asking a penetrating, open-ended question that causes them to encounter their own belieds can cause all sorts of responses.
The greatest threat it seems is not a frontal assault. Rather, it is engaging a new or different idea or asking new or different questions. It is taking a good hard look at the unknown and walking straight into it.
I have to be honest when I say I am not sure why this is. Perhaps because we as a people have been told the answers our whole life, and told we are never to question them. New thoughts, ideas, or questions can do just that. I would be interested to hear what your thoughts are on why this is. Feel free to comment.
shalom, salaam, peace part 3
This is an urgent topic. This group calls violent jihad the most “urgent topic.” While it is urgent – is it really the most urgent?
What about the global water and sanitation crisis that is killing millions every year – far more than violent jihad? What about the AIDS pandemic that is killing millions every year – far more than violent jihad? What about famine and hunger that is killing millions every year – far more than violent jihad? What about extreme poverty that forces over a billion people to live on less than a dollar a day?
Maybe the solution to violent jihad could be bound up in solving these very things. Colin Powell, a decorated United States General said, “The war against terror is bound up in the war against poverty.”
If we as Christians put our efforts into loving this world things may look a little different. If we are serving people with no strings attached will they really want to threaten us? If are giving the thirsty clean, cold water will they want us dead? If we are empowering women to care for the children, thus seeing a drastic reduction in the infant mortality rate, do we need clandestine evenings to speak about our security?
Much of this conversation is about being right, not being loving. Much of this conversation is about strength, not about being broken. Much of this conversation is about the God of Abraham being on one side or the other. But we cannot forget God is with us if we are with him, and he is a God of peace.
The Kingdom calls us to a difficult place. It calls us to give up our sense of entitlement to what we believe are our rights, and pursue the cause of peace. This does not mean roll over and accept our fate – it means actively loving our enemy. Feeding them, clothing them, caring for them as people – as we would a brother or a sister – as we would a fellow child of Abraham. Maybe in this we will find shalom, salaam, peace.
shalom, salaam, peace part 2
My question of those sons of Abraham who are Christians comes out of a letter I recently saw sent to privileged undisclosed recipients. The letter was sent by a Christian organization at the behest of the organization’s leader inviting a special group to an almost clandestine dinner. Their featured speaker has a world of military, law enforcement, and security experience. The evening is to address, in their words, “… the threat of violent jihad.”
The letter goes on to state that the most basic values that we hold dear will be threatened if we do not act intentionally and swiftly. They are calling on U.S. citizens to come together to address the most “urgent topic” pressing on us today.
As a Christian I find this all a bit interesting on many levels. I could speak about the fact that this is a Christian organization that put out a letter that speaks of “radical Islam” and its affect on the “United States.” Keep in mind, this letter comes out of a Christian organization that has no official affiliation with the United States Government. Yet they set up the tension to be between Islam and the United States.
Is it possible that we should be addressing this issue from the posture of the Kingdom of Heaven and not the United States? Certainly, nations and governments have their responsibilities and policies. But are we not called first, foremost and exclusively to pledge our allegiance to a blood stained cross, and not the flag of any nation?
If we approach this discussion with a Kingdom perspective we are introduced to quotes like:
“Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you.”
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” (Coals were a symbol of purification not torture).
“Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing …Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.”
As a son of Abraham I am called to seek peace. As a son of Abraham I am called to bless the violent jihadists. As a son of Abraham I am called to love all people without preconditions. As a son of Abraham I am called to pray for those who hate me and wished I were dead. As a son of Abraham I am called to pursue peace.
Maybe we speak about this at a "national security" level because it is easier then to navigate around these ideas that run deep in the Kingdom of Heaven. Maybe we do all we can to objectify our “enemy” because then we can live with our security and their destruction a little easier. Maybe we speak of country rather than faith because then we can detach ourselves from the radical teachings of Jesus who preached the Kingdom not a country.
The letter goes on to state that the most basic values that we hold dear will be threatened if we do not act intentionally and swiftly. They are calling on U.S. citizens to come together to address the most “urgent topic” pressing on us today.
As a Christian I find this all a bit interesting on many levels. I could speak about the fact that this is a Christian organization that put out a letter that speaks of “radical Islam” and its affect on the “United States.” Keep in mind, this letter comes out of a Christian organization that has no official affiliation with the United States Government. Yet they set up the tension to be between Islam and the United States.
Is it possible that we should be addressing this issue from the posture of the Kingdom of Heaven and not the United States? Certainly, nations and governments have their responsibilities and policies. But are we not called first, foremost and exclusively to pledge our allegiance to a blood stained cross, and not the flag of any nation?
If we approach this discussion with a Kingdom perspective we are introduced to quotes like:
“Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you.”
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” (Coals were a symbol of purification not torture).
“Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing …Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.”
As a son of Abraham I am called to seek peace. As a son of Abraham I am called to bless the violent jihadists. As a son of Abraham I am called to love all people without preconditions. As a son of Abraham I am called to pray for those who hate me and wished I were dead. As a son of Abraham I am called to pursue peace.
Maybe we speak about this at a "national security" level because it is easier then to navigate around these ideas that run deep in the Kingdom of Heaven. Maybe we do all we can to objectify our “enemy” because then we can live with our security and their destruction a little easier. Maybe we speak of country rather than faith because then we can detach ourselves from the radical teachings of Jesus who preached the Kingdom not a country.
shalom, salaam, peace part 1
When I was young we used to sing a song that made little sense. The lyric was …
Father Abraham had many sons,
Many sons had father Abraham,
I am one of them and so are you …
Then you would have to wave an arm, a leg, spin around. It was about as meaningful as the Hokey Pokey. Recently, however, the phrase “sons of Abraham” has taken on new meaning, not just for me, but globally. For it is the “sons of Abraham” that represent the three largest monotheistic religions. Judaism, Islam, and Christianity.
It is well known that there has been mounting tension in recent years between the sons of Abraham. The religions themselves have been cloaked under the banner of nations. Israel. The United States. Afghanistan. We use other words to minimize the religious overtones of the conversation. Words like terrorist, military, security. This has become a conversation about politics, national security, and war.
But underneath it all there are the “sons of Abraham.” Staring each other down, guns locked and loaded, all ready to defend or attack in a moment’s notice. The passion behind this tension is more than political. It goes to the very foundation of life for billions of people worldwide. It goes to religion.
As I view this religious hostility being played out on the world’s stage under the banner of nations, I have been interested in the Christian response. This is because I am a son of Abraham, I am one of them, and so are you … I am a Christian. Admittedly I do not know the breadth and depth of the Muslim faith and tradition, nor the Jewish faith. I do however, know a little about the Christian faith and our tradition.
It is my scant knowledge of the Christian tradition that has led me to write about the Christian response to all of this. And, since we are all sons of Abraham, I ask those of Jewish faith and Muslim faith if we can once and for all lay down our guns for the pursuit of shalom, salaam, peace.
I am not so naïve as to believe that I have the perfect answer to the tension that exists that will once and for all solve the problem. I do however, believe that systemic change begins one person at a time. And so for me, I wish to take the first step.
Father Abraham had many sons,
Many sons had father Abraham,
I am one of them and so are you …
Then you would have to wave an arm, a leg, spin around. It was about as meaningful as the Hokey Pokey. Recently, however, the phrase “sons of Abraham” has taken on new meaning, not just for me, but globally. For it is the “sons of Abraham” that represent the three largest monotheistic religions. Judaism, Islam, and Christianity.
It is well known that there has been mounting tension in recent years between the sons of Abraham. The religions themselves have been cloaked under the banner of nations. Israel. The United States. Afghanistan. We use other words to minimize the religious overtones of the conversation. Words like terrorist, military, security. This has become a conversation about politics, national security, and war.
But underneath it all there are the “sons of Abraham.” Staring each other down, guns locked and loaded, all ready to defend or attack in a moment’s notice. The passion behind this tension is more than political. It goes to the very foundation of life for billions of people worldwide. It goes to religion.
As I view this religious hostility being played out on the world’s stage under the banner of nations, I have been interested in the Christian response. This is because I am a son of Abraham, I am one of them, and so are you … I am a Christian. Admittedly I do not know the breadth and depth of the Muslim faith and tradition, nor the Jewish faith. I do however, know a little about the Christian faith and our tradition.
It is my scant knowledge of the Christian tradition that has led me to write about the Christian response to all of this. And, since we are all sons of Abraham, I ask those of Jewish faith and Muslim faith if we can once and for all lay down our guns for the pursuit of shalom, salaam, peace.
I am not so naïve as to believe that I have the perfect answer to the tension that exists that will once and for all solve the problem. I do however, believe that systemic change begins one person at a time. And so for me, I wish to take the first step.
the capacity of love
I spent time with a good friend this morning who was talking about Martin Luther King, Jr. He quoted a piece of a sermon given by Dr. King. I later found the sermon to which he referred and read it in its entirety online ... Below is an excerpt that sermon entitled "The American Dream" that was give at Ebenezer Baptist Church, Atlanta, Georgia, on 4 July 1965.
History is the long story of the fact that privileged groups seldom give up their privileges without strong resistance, and they seldom do it voluntarily. And so if the American dream is to be a reality, we must work to make it a reality and realize the urgency of the moment. And we must say now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to get rid of segregation and discrimination. Now is the time to make Georgia a better state. Now is the time to make the United States a better nation. We must live with that, and we must believe that.
And I would like to say to you this morning what I’ve tried to say all over this nation, what I believe firmly: that in seeking to make the dream a reality we must use and adopt a proper method. I’m more convinced than ever before that nonviolence is the way. I’m more convinced than ever before that violence is impractical as well as immoral.
If we are to build right here a better America, we have a method as old as the insights of Jesus of Nazareth and as modern as the techniques of Mohandas K. Gandhi. We need not hate; we need not use violence. We can stand up before our most violent opponent and say: We will match your capacity to inflict suffering by our capacity to endure suffering. We will meet your physical force with soul force. Do to us what you will and we will still love you.
We cannot in all good conscience obey your unjust laws, because noncooperation with evil is as much a moral obligation as is cooperation with good, and so throw us in jail. We will go in those jails and transform them from dungeons of shame to havens of freedom and human dignity.
Send your hooded perpetrators of violence into our communities after midnight hours and drag us out on some wayside road and beat us and leave us half-dead, and as difficult as it is, we will still love you.
Somehow go around the country and use your propaganda agents to make it appear that we are not fit culturally, morally, or otherwise for integration, and we will still love you.
Threaten our children and bomb our homes, and as difficult as it is, we will still love you.
But be assured that we will ride you down by our capacity to suffer. One day we will win our freedom, but we will not only win freedom for ourselves, we will so appeal to your heart and your conscience that we will win you in the process. And our victory will be a double victory.
Oh yes, love is the way. Love is the only absolute. More and more I see this. I’ve seen too much hate to want to hate myself; hate is too great a burden to bear.
I’ve seen it on the faces of too many sheriffs of the South—I’ve seen hate. In the faces and even the walk of too many Klansmen of the South, I’ve seen hate. Hate distorts the personality. Hate does something to the soul that causes one to lose his objectivity. The man who hates can’t think straight; the man who hates can’t reason right; the man who hates can’t see right; the man who hates can’t walk right.
And I know now that Jesus is right, that love is the way. And this is why John said, "God is love," so that he who hates does not know God, but he who loves at that moment has the key that opens the door to the meaning of ultimate reality.
the success of the church
There has been a lot of talk about successful churches as of late. One can attend conferences to learn what is it that makes a successful church. There are books written about what makes a church successful. There are many who are looking out for a the silver bullet. The are many who want to know the one thing that will make a church successful.
The problem with this train of thought is that there are many different opinions about what makes a church successful. One common denominator seems to be church growth. The bottom line, for some, is, “How many people are showing up on a Sunday morning?” Perhaps there is a better way to think about this.
After spending a week in Dominican Republic, I was reminded of something that I experienced when I spent time with several churches in Mozambique. When we sat with the pastors and asked them, “What do you need?” and “How can we support you in what you are already doing?” The immediate response was to tell us about the communities they were in.
In DR, the Haitian pastors told us about the refugee villages, and the high level of HIV/AIDS among those who live there. We were told about the needs in the slums of Puerta Plata. We were told about the need for proper documentation for Haitians so they can work and be enabled to feed their families.
Their focus is serving those who are in a bad spot – the poor, the sick, and the marginalized. Thinking about this for a time, I then asked about success. They then spoke of those who had new homes built – homes that would not flood after a rain. They spoke about support coming to them so that refugees could get documents that would allow them to work. They told stories of healing.
On Sunday we gathered with our brothers and sisters at the church’s building. A few showed up. Yet as I sat and listened to songs sung in Creole and Spanish I knew that I was with a successful church. Which reminded me of a statement Jesus made.
John the Baptist sends his disciples to ask Jesus if he was the one to come. He was sending his disciples to Jesus to find out if he was Messiah, if he had come to establish his kingdom. Jesus’ response is simple. He says, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.” Jesus does not just say “yes.”
He tells John’s disciples – “Yes, and this is what the kingdom looks like.” The kingdom is here now, and the Church is to be the embodiment of that kingdom. When we think about success then, maybe we should measure it against this. Maybe we should ask, “Is there healing, renewal, love, and hope?”
What would it sound like to answer the question, “What does success look like in your church?” with the answer – “The hungry are fed, the naked are clothed, the poor are seeing justice, the sick are being healed, the prisoners are being visited, the thirsty are receiving clean water …” That sounds like success, but only because it sounds like the kingdom.
The problem with this train of thought is that there are many different opinions about what makes a church successful. One common denominator seems to be church growth. The bottom line, for some, is, “How many people are showing up on a Sunday morning?” Perhaps there is a better way to think about this.
After spending a week in Dominican Republic, I was reminded of something that I experienced when I spent time with several churches in Mozambique. When we sat with the pastors and asked them, “What do you need?” and “How can we support you in what you are already doing?” The immediate response was to tell us about the communities they were in.
In DR, the Haitian pastors told us about the refugee villages, and the high level of HIV/AIDS among those who live there. We were told about the needs in the slums of Puerta Plata. We were told about the need for proper documentation for Haitians so they can work and be enabled to feed their families.
Their focus is serving those who are in a bad spot – the poor, the sick, and the marginalized. Thinking about this for a time, I then asked about success. They then spoke of those who had new homes built – homes that would not flood after a rain. They spoke about support coming to them so that refugees could get documents that would allow them to work. They told stories of healing.
On Sunday we gathered with our brothers and sisters at the church’s building. A few showed up. Yet as I sat and listened to songs sung in Creole and Spanish I knew that I was with a successful church. Which reminded me of a statement Jesus made.
John the Baptist sends his disciples to ask Jesus if he was the one to come. He was sending his disciples to Jesus to find out if he was Messiah, if he had come to establish his kingdom. Jesus’ response is simple. He says, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.” Jesus does not just say “yes.”
He tells John’s disciples – “Yes, and this is what the kingdom looks like.” The kingdom is here now, and the Church is to be the embodiment of that kingdom. When we think about success then, maybe we should measure it against this. Maybe we should ask, “Is there healing, renewal, love, and hope?”
What would it sound like to answer the question, “What does success look like in your church?” with the answer – “The hungry are fed, the naked are clothed, the poor are seeing justice, the sick are being healed, the prisoners are being visited, the thirsty are receiving clean water …” That sounds like success, but only because it sounds like the kingdom.
a prayer for all of us
Today, at the end of the inauguration, Rev. Joseph Lowery, gave the benediction. One day after our country celebrated the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., another iconic leader of the Civil Rights movement stood before our country and led us together in a prayer.
While President Obama’s speech was no doubt memorable. While many will discuss, praise, or argue over Rick Warren. An 87 year-old preacher took the stage, and it is his prayer that I will remember about today.
With a face worn by years of struggle, he spoke words delivered from a heart strengthened by hope, renewal, and living out the realization of Dr. King’s dream. He began his prayer quoting the words of the Negro National Anthem, Lift Every Voice and Sing, and finished by quoting the prophets Micah and Amos.
Here is a transcript of his prayer … may it be ours too.
“God of our weary years, God of our silent tears, thou who has brought us thus far along the way, thou who has by thy might led us into the light, keep us forever in the path, we pray, lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met thee, lest our hearts, drunk with the wine of the world, we forget thee. Shadowed beneath thy hand may we forever stand -- true to thee, O God, and true to our native land.
We truly give thanks for the glorious experience we've shared this day. We pray now, O Lord, for your blessing upon thy servant, Barack Obama, the 44th president of these United States, his family and his administration. He has come to this high office at a low moment in the national and, indeed, the global fiscal climate. But because we know you got the whole world in your hand, we pray for not only our nation, but for the community of nations. Our faith does not shrink, though pressed by the flood of mortal ills.
For we know that, Lord, you're able and you're willing to work through faithful leadership to restore stability, mend our brokenness, heal our wounds and deliver us from the exploitation of the poor or the least of these and from favoritism toward the rich, the elite of these.
We thank you for the empowering of thy servant, our 44th president, to inspire our nation to believe that, yes, we can work together to achieve a more perfect union. And while we have sown the seeds of greed -- the wind of greed and corruption, and even as we reap the whirlwind of social and economic disruption, we seek forgiveness and we come in a spirit of unity and solidarity to commit our support to our president by our willingness to make sacrifices, to respect your creation, to turn to each other and not on each other.
And now, Lord, in the complex arena of human relations, help us to make choices on the side of love, not hate; on the side of inclusion, not exclusion; tolerance, not intolerance.
And as we leave this mountaintop, help us to hold on to the spirit of fellowship and the oneness of our family. Let us take that power back to our homes, our workplaces, our churches, our temples, our mosques, or wherever we seek your will.
Bless President Barack, First Lady Michelle. Look over our little, angelic Sasha and Malia.
While President Obama’s speech was no doubt memorable. While many will discuss, praise, or argue over Rick Warren. An 87 year-old preacher took the stage, and it is his prayer that I will remember about today.
With a face worn by years of struggle, he spoke words delivered from a heart strengthened by hope, renewal, and living out the realization of Dr. King’s dream. He began his prayer quoting the words of the Negro National Anthem, Lift Every Voice and Sing, and finished by quoting the prophets Micah and Amos.
Here is a transcript of his prayer … may it be ours too.
“God of our weary years, God of our silent tears, thou who has brought us thus far along the way, thou who has by thy might led us into the light, keep us forever in the path, we pray, lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met thee, lest our hearts, drunk with the wine of the world, we forget thee. Shadowed beneath thy hand may we forever stand -- true to thee, O God, and true to our native land.
We truly give thanks for the glorious experience we've shared this day. We pray now, O Lord, for your blessing upon thy servant, Barack Obama, the 44th president of these United States, his family and his administration. He has come to this high office at a low moment in the national and, indeed, the global fiscal climate. But because we know you got the whole world in your hand, we pray for not only our nation, but for the community of nations. Our faith does not shrink, though pressed by the flood of mortal ills.
For we know that, Lord, you're able and you're willing to work through faithful leadership to restore stability, mend our brokenness, heal our wounds and deliver us from the exploitation of the poor or the least of these and from favoritism toward the rich, the elite of these.
We thank you for the empowering of thy servant, our 44th president, to inspire our nation to believe that, yes, we can work together to achieve a more perfect union. And while we have sown the seeds of greed -- the wind of greed and corruption, and even as we reap the whirlwind of social and economic disruption, we seek forgiveness and we come in a spirit of unity and solidarity to commit our support to our president by our willingness to make sacrifices, to respect your creation, to turn to each other and not on each other.
And now, Lord, in the complex arena of human relations, help us to make choices on the side of love, not hate; on the side of inclusion, not exclusion; tolerance, not intolerance.
And as we leave this mountaintop, help us to hold on to the spirit of fellowship and the oneness of our family. Let us take that power back to our homes, our workplaces, our churches, our temples, our mosques, or wherever we seek your will.
Bless President Barack, First Lady Michelle. Look over our little, angelic Sasha and Malia.
We go now to walk together, children, pledging that we won't get weary in the difficult days ahead. We know you will not leave us alone, with your hands of power and your heart of love.
Help us then, now, Lord, to work for that day when nation shall not lift up sword against nation, when tanks will be beaten into tractors, when every man and every woman shall sit under his or her own vine and fig tree, and none shall be afraid; when justice will roll down like waters and righteousness as a mighty stream.
Lord, in the memory of all the saints who from their labors rest, and in the joy of a new beginning, we ask you to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to get back, when brown can stick around, when yellow will be mellow, when the red man can get ahead, man, and when white will embrace what is right.
Let all those who do justice and love mercy say, Amen."
Help us then, now, Lord, to work for that day when nation shall not lift up sword against nation, when tanks will be beaten into tractors, when every man and every woman shall sit under his or her own vine and fig tree, and none shall be afraid; when justice will roll down like waters and righteousness as a mighty stream.
Lord, in the memory of all the saints who from their labors rest, and in the joy of a new beginning, we ask you to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to get back, when brown can stick around, when yellow will be mellow, when the red man can get ahead, man, and when white will embrace what is right.
Let all those who do justice and love mercy say, Amen."