Patterns of Prayer - Week 4

(One small disclaimer: this has been the toughest blog to write so far. If I have stepped on toes or offended, I apologize, but I believe this is an area in need of great prayer!!)

Church: (n) Webster’s defines it as a building for public worship.
Wikipedia says it is an association of people with a common belief system
How do you define it? What do you see when you look at the church?

This weeks focus is going to be on the church here in the United States. As we have been praying, we’ve gone from the centerpoint of looking at patterns in ourselves, then we’ve moved to our family and friends. Last week we looked at our patterns towards those “invisibles” around us, and so now our focus extends out another circle – to that of the church in America.

When David and I first joined OC, we were challenged by some words from our team leader. He said (after spending many years overseas), “the rest of world is watching the US church”. At first this seemed like an overstatement, but we began to ask ourselves…What does the rest of the world see when it looks at the US church?

Here are some possible (and ugly) descriptors: individualistic – the focus is on ME, consumeristic – the organization exists to serve ME, lack of unity – let’s separate myself from those different from ME, institutionalistic (is that a word?) – I am obsessed with the size of MY institution and holding on to MY position…are we noticing a pattern???

On the other hand, one of the most beautiful metaphors for the church is that of a Bride. She comes down the isle - stunning in her beauty, overflowing with love for her Groom, the center of attention, yet all her attention is on him. What are the patterns the US church needs to adopt to become this radiant Bride? How do we get there?

Praying Lent:
Pray for the revealing and conviction of the ugly patterns the church here in America so readily falls into. Pray she comes to a place of confession, repentance and a new reliance on her Groom (God). Pray for unity.

Living Lent:
Find a beautiful picture of a bride, frame it and put it somewhere you will see it often. Use it as a reminder to pray for the US church and for yourself, as you may be a part of the Bride here in the States.