We know the Scriptures that say that we are to “pray continually” (1 Thess. 5:17 NIV). We believe in the power of prayer, that “…the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” (Jas. 5:16 NIV). We find consolation in knowing that “…the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayers…” (1 Pet. 3:12). So why don’t we pray more? Particularly, why don’t we pray more for one another?

To steal a line from Captain Renault in the movie Casablanca, we know to “round up the usual suspects” when we look for reasons we don’t pray more: we’re busy, tired, distracted, overwhelmed, sick, worried, anxious, sinful… We’ve heard lessons on these, and we know that prayer is actually the unused antidote for all of these and more (Phil. 4:6). The above reasons also affect our praying for one another, but it gets more complicated. Prayer for one another is impacted by knowing and caring about one another’s lives and needs.

Knowing One Another

First century fellowship among Christians was deep and intimate. They “…were of one heart and of one soul… they had all things in common” (Ac. 4:32, also Ac. 2:44). What happened to one body part was shared by the whole. “And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it” (1 Cor. 12:26). Fellowship is to take us into the struggles and triumphs of daily living. Knowing what to pray for requires knowing one another.

Knowing requires telling.

“Confess your trespasses to one another and pray for one another…” (Jas. 5:16). How many of us could benefit from the prayers of others, but we don’t tell anyone? How many of us need the prayers of healing mentioned in James 5:13-16, but we don’t call the elders? The Psalmist wrote: “When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long” (Psa. 32:3 ESV). Why do we do this? We are suffering physically, emotionally, or spiritually, but we don’t tell anyone. What could possibly be overpowering our faith in the power of prayer? Consider these:

Pride

We don’t want people to think less of us, to think we are weak or needy or complaining, so we don’t say anything. We know prayer helps, but our pride keeps other people from knowing and therefore praying for us. Pride can kill prayer.

Fear

We fear people will talk behind our backs. We fear others will think it is too small or too big of a thing to pray about. We sometimes wait until there is more clarity or certainty to ask for prayers when it is the murky, uncertain times for which prayer is most designed. Fear can kill prayer.

Feelings and Personality

Sometimes we just don’t feel like talking about a problem. It may be tied up in personality or culture, but we may just not be the kind of people who talk about our problems. True faith in prayer pushes us to act outside of who we are and what we feel. Feelings and personality can kill prayer.

Helping Ourselves

We are sometimes silenced by the idea that we need to help ourselves as much as possible before we ask others to pray about it. Brothers and sisters may be shocked to learn of our desperate situations, situations that might have been avoided had we gotten others and prayer involved. Prayer should be a first resort, not a last resort. Although we do participate in some solutions, strong self-sufficiency and self-reliance concepts can kill prayer.

The fact is, prayer for one another often doesn’t happen because we simply do not know about one another’s needs—and we don’t know the needs of one another because we allow carnal thinking and faithlessness to keep us from asking for prayers.

Not Approachable

Individuals and congregations can certainly do a lot to be more open and approachable. This is part of the love that Jesus says marks us as His disciples (Jn. 13:35). We must not ask people to tell us their needs, then react poorly or not at all (Jas. 2:16) when they do and expect them to continue to do it. However, people of true faith will not be deterred by unapproachable people. They will seek out and find caring, loving, praying people and ask for prayers.

So maybe our struggles with prayer aren’t just the usual of being busy, tired, and distracted. Maybe pride, fear, feelings, personality, or self-sufficiency have hijacked our willingness to be open and even vulnerable with one another. And that is robbing us of the prayers of the righteous that we know are “powerful and effective” (Jas. 5:16 NIV).

When I was working with the church in Davenport, Iowa, several years ago (before we were able to build our own building), we met in an old one-room schoolhouse. This arrangement seemed unique to a local television station, so it contacted us about coming to one of our assemblies and taping the service for a feature segment on their newscast.

We were happy to receive any publicity we could get, so we gave permission for people from the station to come to a Sunday morning worship. The day arrived and, for the first time, every man, woman and child in the congregation was there. Funny, isn’t it, how the possibility of being on television inspires people?

As we were about to begin our worship, the lights from the cameras were turned on and produced a surge that blew the one electrical fuse in the building. The news crew gathered up their equipment and discreetly left without any footage whatsoever.

This got me to thinking about what motivates people to attend worship and reminded me of a story I read that took place in a simpler time when Herbert Hoover was President of the United States.

President Hoover was traveling from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, after attending an event at which he had given a speech. Accompanying him were his wife and one cabinet member. As they traveled by car on the following Sunday morning, they came to a little church building by the side of the road. Noting that it was time for worship, they decided to stop and attend the service.

Only thirteen people attended the service that morning. Those who did attend and the man in the pulpit were happily surprised when the President of the United States came in and sat down with them in worship. They were further pleased by his generous contribution when the offering was taken. Before nightfall, the whole community had heard of the honored guest at the little church, and many regretted not being there.

I wonder how many of us would miss services if we knew that a President of the United States would be in attendance? If only Christians would realize that One much greater than the President is present every time the saints meet, maybe they would make more effort to be there.      

In the wake of the May 14th racially-motivated shooting in Buffalo, New York, President Biden observed that, “White supremacy is a poison.” Amen! I don’t often agree with the rhetoric of politicians, and while I strongly suspect that the antidotes to this poison which they might propose will be woefully inadequate and misguided, I can affirm this simple statement: white supremacy is a poison! It is a poison as potent and deadly as any godless and warped doctrine of men. It is a poison of the mind which poisons the well of humanity..

To be clear, I am defining “white supremacy” as “the belief that white people are superior to those of other races and thus should dominate them.” The same article from which this definition is taken later observes that, “white supremacy has roots in the...doctrine of scientific racism.” In a link to another article, “Scientific racism, sometimes termed biological racism,” is defined as the “belief that empirical evidence exists to support or justify racism (racial discrimination), racial inferiority, or racial superiority. Historically, scientific racism received credence throughout the scientific community, but it is no longer considered scientific. ...Modern scientific consensus rejects this view as being irreconcilable with modern genetic research. ...Scientific racism was common during the period from the 1600s to the end of World War II” (Wikipedia, accessed 5/18/22).

White supremacy” is a relatively modern concept that seems to have found a foothold in the “science” of the “Enlightenment” and has prevailed for several centuries. Of course, the absurdity of “scientific racism” and the awful consequences of this kind of thinking were ultimately revealed in the extremes of Adolf Hitler and his nationalistic workers party (Nazis).

Yet, I would ask this question: if humans are the product of macro-evolution (which is the prevailing “scientific theory”), then on what basis can anyone oppose an evolution of the races and theories about racial superiority through survival of the fittest? The quote above says it is because “modern scientific consensus rejects this view as being irreconcilable with modern genetic research.” Ah! The reason the world rejects “white supremacy” is because of “scientific consensus” influenced by “genetic research.”

The earliest of Christians—long before the so-called Enlightenment—believed that it was from “one blood” that “every nation of men” came to “dwell on all the face of the earth” (Ac. 17:26). Of course, this view came from the allegedly “unscientific” belief that God “made the world and everything in it” (v24). When the so-called “age of enlightenment” came along and deconstructed faith through “science,” racism was just one of its natural fruits.

“White supremacy” is a poison because it springs from pride in self which is fueled by the self-deception of a “science” that prioritizes nature over nature’s Creator (cf. Rom. 1:20-25). Of course, racism is not the only fruit of this obsession with self versus others which plagues our world (e.g. sexual immorality, abortion, divorce, etc.); but, like other issues, racism will not be solved by human ordinances and Supreme Court decisions alone.  

Yes, many professing Christians over the last several centuries bought into the lies of “science” because it validated their positions and privileges and racism. Thus, in their pride and selfishness, they likewise twisted the Scriptures to justify their imagined racial superiority. In so doing, they ignored the scriptural admonition, “Do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality” (Jas. 2:1). 

White supremacy, to again borrow from James, “is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison” wherein “we bless our God and Father [for our privilege], and with it we curse men who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouths proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so!” (Jas. 3:8-10, emphasis mine).

So, while racist distortions of Scripture by some religious individuals and institutions have certainly given occasion for unbelievers to blaspheme God, the solution to racism is just as certainly not to abandon our Creator for “modern scientific consensus.” The solution is also not found in the promises or platforms of any political party. The antidote to the poison of “white supremacy” (or any other self-exaltation) is to acknowledge our Creator and to repent and humble ourselves before Him.

Let’s keep this perspective as the rhetoric of another political season heats up. Watch your tongue! Let those who identify with Christ rise above the fray, looking unto Jesus and remembering that the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but they are mighty!

God loves everyone (Jn. 3:16). We are to love as God loves (Jn. 15:12). It is a trademark of Christ’s followers (Jn. 13:35). Love “keeps no record of wrongs” (1 Cor. 13:5 niv). “Love does not delight in evil” (1 Cor. 13:6). “Love will cover a multitude of sins.” (1 Pet. 4:8)

Now apply this to literally everyone (Matt. 5:44). Apply it to church and government leaders who have made mistakes during the pandemic. Apply it to political leaders you fervently disagree with. Apply it to people who are criminals.

The world keeps its lists of wrongs and humiliates people with their sins. The world rejoices when bad things happen to those it dislikes. We are tempted to join the world. Instead, join God in expressing extraordinary love.

How rewarding it is to hear Christians singing songs in praise to God and words of admonition and encouragement to one another! Conversely, how discouraging it is to witness some Christians barely opening their mouths while a congregation is being led in worship.

Speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs is not merely a suggestion—it’s a command connected with being filled with the Spirit (Eph. 5:18-19). It is also a means of teaching and admonishing one another (Col. 3:16).

With this in mind, perhaps there should be more emphasis in our preaching and teaching about the benefits and obligations of worship in song. Singing is a responsibility and a reflection of the grace in our hearts to the Lord. Not all of us have natural musical talent, but this doesn’t mean that we should excuse ourselves from this important means of worship or feel inhibited from “singing out” praise to God “in the midst of the congregation” (Heb. 2:12).

I’ve noticed that many young children in assemblies of the saints are not joining in as we worship in song. This causes me to wonder if any time is being spent praising God in song in their homes.

Some of my best memories of childhood are of what my family called “the lesson” when we would read from the Bible, sing, and pray. And some of my favorite memories as a parent are of long road trips when one or more of my children would break out in song or ask that we sing as we drove.

My children are all grown up now with grown children and grandchildren of their own, but when we get together during holidays and at other occasions, there is always a time set aside for singing to the Lord. The children are not off playing while the adults sing but are willingly joining in. Sometimes we sing long enough that some of the younger ones fall asleep—to the praise of God.