prayer for the outsider

The church done well is the closest we’ll see to heaven on earth. But it’s an unfortunate truth that for generations, much of the American church was mostly heaven for well-educated and experienced men. Influence has been exercised by those with seminary training, those voted into church office, and a handful of wealthy, generous givers. Traditionally, mostly older men. That’s given all of us a chance, at some point in our church lives, to feel left out. For many, their chance never comes.

This morning, as I read through chapter 3 of Ephesians, I’m thinking of all the women who have served faithfully in traditional (read “kitchen, nursery and Sunday School”) roles while longing to be more involved in discipling. I’m thinking of everyone who ever felt too young or too under-educated to be taken seriously in a congregational meeting. I’m thinking of everyone who has ever felt like an outsider during worship or fellowship because they were culturally, ethnically or racially different. 

I’m thinking of the Christians my brother works so faithfully with who face persecution in their home countries but witness and preach anyway. I’m thinking of all our black and brown-skinned brothers and sisters who are being told right now that talking about race is divisive and distracts from the gospel. I’m thinking of every woman, child or young person who ever got that patronizing pat on the head or the outright command to be quiet and listen.

For all of you, here’s the prayer that Paul prayed for the new Gentile Christians struggling to figure out how to worship with Jews this Jewish savior. It’s my prayer for you today, from Ephesians 3:14-21: 

“For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge —that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”

May you find in Jesus all the belonging you long for, because when you do that we’ll want to be in your church.