“Hard Places”

One of the more difficult things that I am ever called upon to do is lead a public prayer, and I believe that is true of most men.  Not only are we concerned about speaking in front of a group, leading the prayer implies that we are going to say something that is relevant to the lives of the people that are there.  One of the problems that I struggle with (and it may be true of most preachers), is that I have a tendency to preach when I pray.  But, I suppose we all do what we are most comfortable doing.

It has always been impressive to me to listen to men pray, that after they got through, you could tell they KNEW who they were talking to.  I have mentioned names in other devotionals of men like that, and my dad could be included in that group.  I suppose that it was the “stage fright” that he felt, that made his voice break a little when he led a prayer — but it just increased the reality of what he was doing to me.  I always felt closer to God, when I listened to him pray.

I don’t know how you teach someone to lead a public prayer.  I suppose you could share the principles of public speaking, study the prayers of Jesus (and other prayers in Scripture), and then practice writing out prayers.  But I am sure that most of us would still struggle with some of the same problems that we have always had.  One of the things that we often do, is repeat the things that we have heard someone else say.  I have been going to church services for over 60 years, and there are some cliches that I have heard over and over again.

I was reminded of one of those cliches in reading of Matthew 11 this morning.  Have you ever heard someone pray “and Lord we are mindful of those who are spreading the Gospel in the hard places”?  Usually, by saying that, they were thinking of those who sere serving the Lord by preaching in places other than the United States.  Here’s the passage that made me think of that this morning.

Then he began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent. “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you.”  (Matthew 11:20-24, ESV)

You might be wondering how that passage and praying for those in “the hard places” relate to one another.  Well, my usual reaction to this is “sometimes the hard places are not always where we think they are.”  I need to stop right here, and express how much admiration I have for those that do mission work outside our country.  They face hardships, problems, and conditions that I can’t even begin to imagine; and I don’t want anyone to think that I am devaluing what they are doing.  But, I believe that Satan has had a devious plan to strangle Christianity in America, and it’s working (in my opinion).  He has made Christianity acceptable in our country, and we have gotten comfortable in our practices and lifestyle.  As we have gotten comfortable, Biblical principles have become less and less important to us.  Now, the tide of popular opinion is turning against Christian beliefs and practice, and we don’t know quite what to do.  Some are trying to use government and elections to reinforce “Christian values”, but Satan has moved the majority of our country past that.  Even in Bible-believing, conservative churches, many people don’t want to hear a message of a “radical” Christian lifestyle — that challenges our comfortable way of life (and some don’t even want to preach it).  The result is that almost all religious groups are shrinking, and those that hold no religious belief are increasing.  Who would have thought that would happen in our country (and our region), where the Bible and churches were an integral part of life?

Well, I tell you who would have thought this:  the same one who thought it would be more tolerable on the day of judgment for Tyre, Sidon, and Sodom than for Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum!!!  Jesus recognized that at times privilege leads to neglect, and those cities where He walked, taught, and did miracles wanted nothing to do with the Kingdom.  I see the same thing happening in our country, to our people and churches.

In my opinion, things are going to get worse before they get better.  But as they do, and Christians become more and more the outcasts of society; the kingdom will get stronger.  It won’t be because of new laws, evangelical strength at the polls, or mainstream churches.  It will be because the people of God will allow their faith to make them take living for Jesus seriously.  They will pray, study, and walk by faith — trusting that God will give them the strength to persevere.  May God increase their tribe.  Amen.