Prayer and Political Activism
President Barack Obama and his allies are committed to passing certain utopian government programs which they possibly believe will help people. Since many are in great opposition to being forced into programs which they have not voluntarily chosen for themselves, Democrats seemingly have felt the need to ratchet up the force; using trickery, bullying, and thug tactics as if the end is so holy it justifies any means. These “progressives” may or may not see themselves as dictators. If they do, they do not seem to care. But what if there was an even better way to accomplish their goals?
Meanwhile, freedom lovers, those who don’t want to be forced into such pie-in-the-sky programs, and don’t want their income stolen (taxation) to pay for such programs can be seen wringing their hands, screaming at town hall meetings and 9-12 Project rallies, threatening political genocide, and even entertaining ideas of seceding from the Union or armed revolution. But what if there was a better way to assure their freedom?
What if both sides, the dictators and the freedom lovers, could find a better way?
What if a better way is taught by Jesus Christ?
Jesus Christ teaches that earth is not what it seems, and earth can be changed by spiritual power. “….for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.” (Matt. 17:20)
In his modern day revelation to earth, A Course in Miracles, Jesus teaches us to think of our world (and everything in the earthly realm) as a dream. The dream changes constantly as our mind changes. There is nothing in earth that cannot be changed by changing our mind. Miracles are possible because changing our mind is possible.
“Miracles are thoughts. Thoughts can represent the lower or bodily level of experience, or the higher or spiritual level of experience. One makes the physical, and the other creates the spiritual.” (ACIM Chap. 1)
What if it is not necessary to use force, trickery, bullying, thug tactics, majority rule dictatorship, demagoguery, screaming in streets, threats, or armed revolution to achieve what you want to achieve on earth?
What if the most efficient way to change the world is prayer?
“Prayer is the medium of miracles. It is a means of communication of the created with the Creator.” (ACIM Chap. 1)
“The Bible emphasizes that all prayer is answered, and this is indeed true. The very fact that the Holy Spirit has been asked for anything will ensure a response.” (ACIM Chap. 9)
But isn’t political activism a form of prayer?
Technically, yes. There is no question political activists desire certain outcomes, and we’ve emphasized in past articles that all desire is prayer … the stronger the desire, the stronger the prayer. Yet activism springing from desire alone is certainly not the most efficient form of prayer.
Is there a more powerful prayer?
Desire is one thing. But desire in accord with the power of Jesus Christ is quite another. This may require some explanation.
Obviously when prayer is directed toward affecting earthly outcomes there are two possibilities for the source of such prayer:
1) the urge to pray comes from one’s ego and the prayer is directed toward gaining an ego-vested interest;
or,
2) the prayer is guided by our Holy Spirit and serves the interests of all.
Ego prayer contains correction
It is a saving grace of the human condition (ego) that as human beings we cannot summon the full power of God to bring about ego-vested interests on earth … and those ego-vested interests which we are able to bring about cannot be long maintained. You might say that prayer which is not fully from God cannot be full of God.
Since the ego is like an airplane flying off course, there will always be a portion of the prayer’s answer which is our Holy Spirit working for course correction. Because of this (some would say “luckily”) it does no permanent damage to pray for ego-vested interests because the complete answer to such prayer contains the seeds of ego-sabotaging correction. For example, you might get your “prosperity” (as defined by you), but you’ll get the “taxation” (pain, sickness, and suffering) that you need to nudge you back on course.
Spiritually guided prayer is 100% creative
As differentiated from ego-vested prayer, any prayer which is guided by our Holy Spirit (and therefore uses the power of Jesus Christ) serves everyone’s highest interest (although this is not always apparent to ego) and can conceivably reach immediate creativity if the mind has been cleansed of ego-vested interests. Therefore all true spiritual teachers teach a very important initial lesson: want nothing in particular on earth and ask only, “Holy Spirit, what would you have me pray for?” Or to put words in the mouth of Jesus, “Even if I had an ego-vested preference (which I don't) … nevertheless thy will be done.”
The real winner is always God
This leads us to a second important lesson which all true spiritual teachers emphasize, a lesson which recognizes the end result of the saving grace mentioned above: ultimately God wins. Or stated another way, although we may be guided to act, and even act powerfully like George Washington, there is never any reason to worry, fear, or even give thought to outcomes because … God is in charge.
Then why pray at all?
We want to pray about everything, base our life on prayer, because prayer, whatever form it may take, is communication with God; or communion with God. It is the medium of miracles, which means that prayer itself, irrespective of possible outcomes, allows expanded love, greater joy, deeper peace … opens darkness into light, lifts earth to heaven. Prayer helps our Holy Spirit shorten the time of ego-lesson learning and makes more immediate the achievement of divine goals. Prayer speeds up the ultimate experience of everlasting happiness for all.
But what if both sides politically are praying?
If everybody is praying, everybody wins.
When 9-12 protesters pray for "the survival of the republic" and President Obama's allies are praying for "change and a totally new foundation", the truth is God is ultimately in control and the answer to both prayers is always above and beyond what what is being imagined.
Nonetheless, let’s rephrase the words of Jesus so the lesson becomes clear for those who feel the need to engage in political activism:
“….for verily I say unto you,
If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed,
ye shall say unto this government,
move hence;
and it shall move;
and nothing shall be impossible unto you.”
"...nor will people say, 'Here it is,' or 'There it is,' because the kingdom of God is within you." (Luke 17:21)
Click below for more information on A Course in Miracles Light Sessions:
Holy Instant Christian Fellowship in Salt Lake City
