No phrase dominated the public prayers, particularly of laity, during my religious upbringing more than the appeal for God to “lead, guide and direct us.”
While as redundant as an “added bonus,” it was as rightful a request as it was a repeated one.
At the heart of the prayer is a humble, thrice-stated request for divine direction. I think about such experiences and traditions — often fondly and nostalgically — and am grateful for their shaping influence.
Yet questions arise: What were the results of such persistent prayers? Did God offer direction as requested — and, if so, how was it received and followed?
More bluntly, why were there not major breakthroughs in which the Spirit of God led, guided and directed the congregation away from the social sins of the day?
Was there never a time during scripture reading, meditation and prayer, a powerful sermon or an extended invitation hymn when the Spirit led, guided and directed a congregation to the rude awakening that slavery, discrimination or any other crime against humanity at the time didn’t align with following Jesus?
Limiting such questions to a narrow time frame lets too many of us off the hook. Honesty and humility require asking similar questions of ourselves.
The church has a long history in which the need for divine guidance has been repeatedly voiced but the cultural realities remained unchanged — despite their clear contrasts with the biblical revelation that culminates in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.
Did God really lead, guide and direct people of faith to build a new family life center but not to challenge and change discriminatory housing practices? Or to provide adequate housing to those in need?
Did God really lead, guide and direct those voicing such words to proudly surpass their annual missions giving goal — so people around the world could hear about Jesus — while continuing to demean persons of color and oppose racial equality and justice in their own community?
Can we even imagine a church gathering for worship in our lifetimes during which a layman gives the morning prayer, beseeching God to “lead, guide and direct us” — and the Spirit complies, and it lands in their minds and hearts?
Mid-sermon the pastor stops his prepared message and says, “We might need to think again about this verse that says, ‘A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.’”
The praying layman stands and says, “You’re right, pastor. I see now how not just our church but all of us around here have gotten some things seriously wrong.”
“Maybe God is leading us to love those we’ve not really loved,” says a woman who doesn’t typically speak up in church and would never be called on to lead in prayer.
Others chime in and talk about how many of their attitudes and actions — though common in their culture — don’t align with what Jesus said and what God has just revealed to them in response to their prayers for divine guidance.
Honest to God, I’ve never heard such a story.
Did all those prayers simply run aground on an already established and firmer faith — an entrenched, socially-shaped belief system formed by fear and familiarity?
Oh, it seems the Spirit could convict someone of skipping church to fish or having a bit too much fun on Saturday night. But not about unloving and unjust societal matters clearly at odds with the biblical truths about human equality and the need to put the interests of others ahead of oneself.
Most importantly, is there any potential for such breakthroughs today amid Americanized Christianity’s overwhelming support of a damaging and often hateful nationalistic theocracy — filled with disregard for the ways such public policies harm the most vulnerable?
Is it even remotely possible that God might speak some truth about the continuing dismissal of truthfulness in favor of the untruthful comfort of power, preference and privilege — and it be heard and heeded?
Does God “lead, guide and direct” us through Bible study only to gain enough head knowledge to cobble together some verses to defend our inflexible beliefs — even when at odds with Jesus?
Are petitions for God’s guidance even really prayers if they don’t accompany a willingness to make changes that align our attitudes and behaviors with what Jesus said marks his followers?
And do people drive by our churches and wonder, “Why so many words and so little difference?”
Imagine praying: “Lead, guide and direct us, O God, beyond our comforts and cultural constraints so we reflect Jesus more than our surroundings.”
And meaning it. And doing something about it.
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Editor Emeritus of Good Faith Magazine and Director of the Jesus Worldview Initiative.