I think we need to talk about weaponzied Faith.
We need to talk about people who call themselves ‘Christians’ and weaponize their ‘faith’.
Now some of you will see ‘weaponized and faith’ and think, “Yeah, like in Ephesians.”
1) Belt of Truth
2) Breastplate of Righteousness
3) Shoes of Peace
4) Shield of Faith
5) Helmet of Salvation
6) Sword of the Spirit
No, I am not talking about that. I am talking about the times when people, who usually have no idea what you are talking about, nor do they really care, smile smugly and toss out an “I’ll pray for you.”
‘Okay Judy, you do that.’
I mean, what is the appropriate response? Are you supposed to ‘Out Christian’ them? This isn’t an ‘I’ll pray for you because I care and truly want to help you.’
This is a weaponized ‘I don’t understand or care what you are saying, and I hate to be wrong, so I’ll toss out an “I’ll pray for you’, like a passively aggressive barb that makes me feel morally superior.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I pray regularly for and with others. Jesus himself said that when two or more gather together in his name, there he was in their midst.
But I don’t recall him advising people to toss prayer declarations out like aggressive, weaponized barbs.
Can you even imagine Jesus doin that?
And if you are unsure, please read the New Testament. There is a complete character profile there…a template for us to follow.
So, in case you haven’t, and you would be surprised how many ‘Christians’ haven’t even read their Bibles. He wouldn’t.
Prayer was and is a sacred and beautiful right that we have, this right to reach out to God and call him ‘Our Father’. Jesus had to die a horrendous death on a cross and pay an exceptionally high price for our sins, so that we could be washed clean ad utter those words. Jesus paid for this right, for us, with his very own blood.
I take this very seriously, and anyone who claims to follow Jesus should as well.
So, the next time you find yourself in a conversation or discussion and you feel overwhelmed, or you don’t like the direction it is heading, and your instinct is to toss out one of those prayer barbs, stop. Stop and think about whose blood it was that that bought you the right to bring things to God in prayer.
Remember what prayer was and is intended to be.
Don’t diminish his sacrifice.
Thanks, Carey.