Prayer Thought: Say Something
“Say something, I’m giving up on you. I’ll be the one, if you want me to. Anywhere, I would’ve followed you. Say something, I’m giving up on you. And I am feeling so small. It was over my head. I know nothing at all. And I will stumble and fall. I’m still learning to love. Just starting to crawl. Say something, I’m giving up on you. I’m sorry that I couldn’t get to you. Anywhere, I would’ve followed you. Say something, I’m giving up on you. And I will swallow my pride. You’re the one that I love. And I’m saying goodbye. Say something, I’m giving up on you. And I’m sorry that I couldn’t get to you. And anywhere, I would have followed you. Oh-oh, say something, I’m giving up on you. Say something, I’m giving up on you. Say something.”
Songwriters: Mike Campbell/ Ian Axel
This is a beautiful, ethereal ballad, yet strikingly sad and meant to be a song about heartbreak. I’m struck by these lyrics because if we peer closer into the meaning of the song, though it’s talking about the breaking up of a couple, I believe the message is very similar to the message that many professing Christians are saying to the Lord. The whole exvangelicalism paradigm and deconstruction of one’s faith basically declares that those who are doing this are “in control” of their own lives and giving God an ultimatum to speak or do something for them. And if He doesn’t in the allotted time expected by said person, they ditch their faith and become angry at God and other believers. At the very least they think we, as Christians, are being brainwashed and can’t think for ourselves.
What I would say to this, and HAVE said to this, is those who are doing the work of “deconstruction” don’t have any idea what that word really means in the first place. I’ve had too many conversations with people who have said, “I’ve been hurt by the people in the church” or “the church has made me feel guilty about sin my whole life, so I’m done feeling horrible about myself and you can take your Jesus somewhere else because He doesn’t understand my pain!” These sorrowful and hurt people are not deconstructing their faith, they are destroying it due to the “experiences they’ve had in the church.” Deconstruction is: a way of understanding how something was created, usually things like art, books, poems and other writing including systems of belief. Deconstruction is breaking something down into smaller parts. It looks at the smaller parts that were used to create an object or a system of beliefs. As a proper definition, deconstruction connotes that a reconstruction will form in its place; that is, the activity of CONSTRUCTING something again. Many, if not most of the folks I’ve talked to about this, are swearing off God and the church altogether…DESTROYING not deconstructing.
First of all, I’d like to say I’m so deeply sorry people have felt this way about their relationships in the church. But in the next breath I have to say the church IS NOT GOD. The church is the people of God who are messed up and muddy sinners just like every one of those who are “deconstructing” their faith. Second, I would point out that many of these individuals are arguing their point from a very emotionally driven standpoint and that’s never a good balance. We must aspire to have knowledge of the holy character of God if we are to have a balanced view of our world, which includes a proper understanding of Christianity and the gospel. The gospel is what people MUST focus on…what WE must focus on as fellow believers. The life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ is our only hope, our only, freedom, our only purpose for living with any joy, our only truth instead of doubt. Unfortunately, people are going to fail us. Even the most godly people in this world are as filthy rags without Christ (Is. 64:6).
So, what does all of this mean for us as we continue to develop our lifestyle of prayer? We are living in a time where people need something or someone to blame for their hurt and disillusion. This is nothing new by any means. But I believe some, once solid Christians, are stepping away from their faith due to being hurt by people inside and outside the church, an inability to connect knowledge with experience on their hearts, and the unfortunate loss of taking worldly thoughts and mantras captive to make them obedient to Christ. These and others are reason enough to pray diligently, deliberately, and often. For starters, we need to pray for those who have been slowly drifting away from the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ to find their satisfaction in Him, not in others or what others have done or could do to/for them. Next, we must be willing to be very honest with ourselves about our own doubts and uncertainties. As long as we are on this earth, the Enemy will try whatever he can to derail us…even if it’s just a seed of doubt or a seething instance of anger against someone that he continues to bring to mind. Pray and be alert. Pray and focus on those who are teetering on the edge with one foot in the world and one foot on the side of Christ and the Kingdom.
The Lord has never nor will ever give up on us. Even when we cannot hear Him say anything. He is committed to completing what He started in each one of us, which includes those who have been drifting or have decided to search for greater meaning and purpose outside of a relationship with the Holy of Holies.
Prayer Action:
This week, pray for those you know who are hurting due to what they believe came from the church. Pray for their hearts to be adjusted and changed so they see Jesus instead of the sinfulness of man. Pray for the opportunity to have conversations with these people in your life. They need truth, but they need it to be done in love and without a judgmental spirit. Delight yourself in the Lord as you pray for these searching people, believing that He will do immeasurably more than any of us could ever ask or imagine.
Blessings,
Clay
Clayton J. Elliott, Kontaktmission USA
Director of Pastoral Ministries and Prayer
clay@GoKMUSA.org