I wonder what the strangest prayer is that you’ve prayed recently? Last week I found myself praying for the executives of an energy company. Never done that before. But it seemed important. The company I get my energy from tries to generate their electricity and gas by greener methods; they’re in trouble from the price rises; and I wanted to pray for all those who will be challenged by rising bills, and that these troubles don’t move us back to fossil fuels, but help us make the change to greener energy. We can pray about anything. God cares about everything in this world he made, so we can it bring it all to him.
Shortly before the pandemic, Christian Aid did a large piece of research into what young people thought about the church and the environment. The results were fascinating. As you might expect, young people really cared a lot about the environment. And they judged the church by what they saw and heard. Young people took the church seriously if they heard it talking about creation care and doing practical things like installing solar panels. But if there was silence, or hypocrisy, then that switched the young people off.
What we do, or don’t do, about God’s creation can become a stumbling block, as Jesus describes in our Gospel reading. The church can be doing all sorts of good, but if we’re not taking creation care seriously, then that’s a stumbling block that could make people fall. Carelessness here can switch people off the gospel message. I’m not saying that environment is the only thing the church should speak about. Nor am I saying that the church should become an environmental campaign body. People do understand that the church points to Jesus.
For example, at the beginning of this year the Diocese of Bristol began a series of conversations called Transforming Church Together. We wanted to talk to people across the Diocese- those in church and those who aren’t – and find out what they thought about the Church of England in our region, and what we should be concentrating on. The most important thing; for young and old, for Christian and interestingly non-Christian, they saw the most important priority for the church as Helping people follow Jesus. Closely followed by Supporting People and Worship.
Our calling as Christians is to let the light of Christ shine. To enter the Kingdom of God and to support others in doing so. To reject evil and share the message of Jesus. We are called to respond to God in worship, in serving one another and caring for God’s world. Making common cause with others, as in v. 40.
So as part of our Christian vocation, we protect the environment, and that includes through prayer. You’re in the second week of your series and today’s theme is Praying for our home planet and its people. The reading from Esther reminds us of the power of prayer, and how Esther commanded her people to pray that they might be delivered from attempted genocide.
When we are praying, we can intercede for those who are in authority. For the leaders of the nations and their advisors as they prepare for COP26. For those who make policy, for those who campaign and challenge, for those who lead in industry and agriculture. These are the modern day Esthers who need our prayers.
In James Chapter 5, verse 13, it says ‘Is anyone among you in trouble, let them pray.’ The passage continues, “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” (5:16b) and gives the example of Elijah praying for no rain and then praying for rain which led to fruitful harvests (5:17-18). Surely we must pray for those who are already enduring the effects of climate change, like the inhabitants of the low-lying island nations and those in Madagascar suffering severe drought.
Our prayer must be accompanied by action, yet it is the gift of the church to pray for our home planet and its people. When we commit these things to God, we pour our hearts, we do something that makes a difference, and we combat the anxiety and powerlessness that many, especially young people feel about climate change. Prayer has an amazing ability to give us peace but not complacency.
So what does James say about prayer? Firstly, pray whatever the circumstances. In v13: ‘Is anyone among you suffering? They should pray. Are any cheerful? They should sing songs of praise.’ Commit everything to God in prayer. Pray before that important meeting, the right things to say and do. Pray before catching up with your friends, give thanks for the good things in the day, ask forgiveness when it goes wrong, pray for openness to see God at work in whatever comes.
Recently I’ve been reading that classic autobiography ‘God’s Smuggler’ by Brother Andrew. There are wonderful stories of committing everything to God, of events working out in his perfect timing, of border guards looking for contraband Bibles and missing them when they were in plain view. Brother Andrew trusted God, prayed and obeyed. It’s a wonderful little book, thoroughly recommended.
Secondly, pray together. In v.14 ‘Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the Lord’s name.’ I remember the healing service in one of the churches I went to. It was gentle, peaceful and beautiful. A lot of music, simple words, the sacramental anointing with oil. Where people were open to being touched by God and receiving whatever blessing he brought –physical, emotional or spiritual.
When I was vicar just up the road in Lechlade, my son was born early after a car accident. In the dark days that followed I knew there were people all round the world praying for him. It’s strange how prayer works out. Living fifteen years is itself a miracle, but he is still wheelchair bound and dependent on oxygen. Illnesses which were supposed to get worse year on year have improved. He cannot speak, but he communicates using a spelling board, campaigns for other disabled children, and has achieved more than many of us do in a full lifetime. He is the most contented and integrated person I know. Has he been healed? Not at all in some ways. Profoundly in others. I am hugely grateful to those who have prayed for him – perhaps some of you did – and those who continue to do so.
Thirdly, v16 tells us that confession is important. If you have someone you can trust, then the mutual accountability of confessing and praying for one another can be very supportive. Confession, whether to one another or direct to God, is cleansing and helps us get our priorities right. I find that my prayers for Transforming Church include quite a bit of confession – for the times when the church has failed in its welcome, not valued children or the vulnerable, forgotten its calling. Those prayers focus me back on Jesus.
Fourthly, pray fervently. V.17 tells us that Elijah was a human being like us, he prayed fervently that it might not rain and for three years and six months it did not rain, then he prayed again and the heaven gave rain and the earth yielded its harvest. Jesus teaches us a lot about how to pray. Be humble, be direct, bring your needs to God without embarrassment. Seek his will, seek his Kingdom, claim the promises he has given. Pray in secret, pray regularly. Be persistent, keep on coming back and don’t let go. But don’t go on at length, don’t make a show of it or use fancy words. Prayer is talking with God, so talk like you do to your closest friend.
Finally, pray for those who wander. As it says in verse 20 ‘you should know that anyone who brings back a sinner from wandering will save the sinner’s soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.’ Are there people you know whose faith seems to have withered? Don’t give up on them, keep on praying. Someone once said ‘We have to pray with our eyes on God, not on the difficulties’
This isn’t quite the same, but are there people who have lost connection with the church family during Covid? There are lots of reasons why folks might not be coming to church or logging in to online worship. Understandably, many are still concerned about getting ill, or suffering poor mental health. What are we doing to keep in touch with them? Can we foresee a time, when, God willing, all this pandemic is over, when it might be possible to have a Back to Church Sunday? A celebration of being able to come back? An event to mark it, and a chance to invite those who lost touch?
If you do that pray. But time’s so short – that’s what I find myself thinking as I dash from one thing to the next. That’s the temptation. Funny thing is though, when I do pray, the time I have is so much better. I think more clearly, I know what I’m aiming at. If I’ve prayed I’m nicer to know, I’m better at hearing what God’s up to in the conversations and circumstances. It is worth making time for prayer, it may be necessary to give things up to do it. For time spent in prayer is never time wasted.
RevChristopherBryan 