Anyway, he gave the prayer last night at the DNC. His acceptance of the offer does raise serious questions about his approval of the Democratic Party's pro-abortion and pro-gay agendas (both of which he refuses to condemn, in this interview). But leaving all that, what a wonderful opportunity this was for him to share the gospel with so many people. What a great chance for him to send out the message of God's transforming love through the death of His Son, Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of sin. Did he take that opportunity? Did he talk about Jesus? See for yourself (beginning with his introduction to the prayer, from his website):
I was honored to deliver the closing prayer at the DNC on Monday night. Evangelical voices have been scarce within this party, perhaps since the Carter administration. But as strides are being made on key issues of sanctity of life and social justice, as well as peaceful solutions to world conflicts, more and more evangelicals are taking a closer look at options certain members of the Democratic Party are beginning to deliver. There is a long way to go, but sending a message to Washington that no single party has the Christian community in their pocket, thus causing each party to carefully consider the issues most important to us, is, in my opinion, a positive evolution. I am glad that, for the most part, the dialogue has been constructive and positive. Will you join me in keeping the conversation thoughtful and not reactionary?
That said, I was honored to speak to, and especially pray with and for, the DNC. Here is the full text of the prayer:
"Father God,
This week, as the world looks on, help the leaders in this room create a civil dialogue about our future.
We need you, God, as individuals and also as a nation.
We need you to protect us from our enemies, but also from ourselves, because we are easily tempted toward apathy.
Give us a passion to advance opportunities for the least of these, for widows and orphans, for single moms and children whose fathers have left.
Give us the eyes to see them, and the ears to hear them, and hands willing to serve them.
Help us serve people, not just causes. And stand up to specific injustices rather than vague notions.
Give those in this room who have power, along with those who will meet next week, the courage to work together to finally provide health care to those who don’t have any, and a living wage so families can thrive rather than struggle.
Hep us figure out how to pay teachers what they deserve and give children an equal opportunity to get a college education.
Help us figure out the balance between economic opportunity and corporate gluttony.
We have tried to solve these problems ourselves but they are still there. We need your help.
Father, will you restore our moral standing in the world.
A lot of people don’t like us but that’s because they don’t know the heart of the average American.
Will you give us favor and forgiveness, along with our allies around the world.
Help us be an example of humility and strength once again.
Lastly, father, unify us.
Even in our diversity help us see how much we have in common.
And unify us not just in our ideas and in our sentiments—but in our actions, as we look around and figure out something we can do to help create an America even greater than the one we have come to cherish.
God we know that you are good.
Thank you for blessing us in so many ways as Americans.
I make these requests in the name of your son, Jesus, who gave his own life against the forces of injustice.
Let Him be our example.
Amen."
That was pretty sad. A lot of stuff gone wrong there, but here is the main problem: "I make these requests in the name of your son, Jesus, who gave his own life against the forces of injustice." This is the oh-so-popular-nowadays 'social gospel' at work. Jesus the fighter of social injustice. The problem is that we don't see that Jesus in the Bible, or in any other account of him for that matter. The Bible doesn't say anything about a Jesus who gave his own life 'against the forces of injustice'; the Bible says he gave his own life against the forces of Hell! He gave his life in our place, to forgive our sin! WE deserved to die for our sin, and Christ was crucified IN OUR PLACE. That is why we hear that he gave his life as a 'ransom' for many - because he stepped in and accepted the punishment that we justly deserved. This Jesus who gave his own life against the vague forces of injustice is a work of pure fiction. And he certainly isn't what Miller and the social gospel-ites think he is: comforting. Jesus the fighter of injustice is comforting because he makes me feel good about myself when I "follow Jesus' example", when I give the beggar a dollar, when I attempt to feed the poor and pray for health care and college for the kids. But that comfort is short-lived, and that false Jesus brings absolutely NO comfort when the real issue sinks in: I am a miserable sinner, and all my meager attempts to be a fighter of injustice get me nowhere when it comes time to be judged. And remember who's going to do the judging: Christ! Are we really so naive and self-involved to think that we can one day stand before Christ and say, "I followed your example! I fought injustice!"?
Donald Miller hasn't said anything new. J. Gresham Machen combatted this nonsense in the 1920s. So when, in 2008, Donald Miller says, "Let Him be our example", Machen says, in 1923,
"Why then did the early Christians call themselves disciples of Jesus, why did they connect themselves with His name? The answer is not difficult. They connected themselves with His name not because He was their example in their ridding themselves of sin, but because their method of ridding themselves of sin was by means of Him. It was what Jesus did for them, and not primarily the example of His own life, which made them Christians.
But the example of Jesus is a perfect example only if He was justified in what He offered to men. And He offered, not primarily guidance, but salvation; He presented Himself as the object of men's faith. That offer is rejected by modern liberalism, but it is accepted by Christian men.
There is a profound difference, then, in the attitude assumed by modern liberalism and by Christianity toward Jesus the Lord. Liberalism regards Him as an Example and Guide; Christianity, as a Savior: liberalism makes Him an example for faith; Christianity, the object of faith."
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