The Divine Conspiracy, part 3
Chapter 7 is entitled “The Community of Prayerful Love.” This one chapter is a book in itself — the scope is very broad. The basic message is of how to interact with others – without condemnation, and by asking. Willard’s base is Matthew 7:1-12
The logic is as follows:
1. We try to manage each other
- by correcting them, telling them what they do wrong
- with a heart of anger and condemnation
- inappropriately pushing on them things they are not ready to hear
2. God’s way is different:
- It uses the strength of a request to bring people together
- the strength of request is also at the heart of prayer
3. The Lord’s Prayer is an example of this relationship of requests
I found the meat of this chapter to be in several different quotes. I have already shared some of them here and here, as I was reading them before the 2008 November election. Read thoughtfully through these additional quotes.
On managing others:
The problem with pearls for pigs is not that the pigs are not worthy. It is not worthiness that is in question here at all, but helpfulness. Pigs cannot digest pearls, cannot nourish themselves upon them….. The point is not the waste of the “pearl” but that the person given the pearl is not helped.
On the strength of the kingdom in community (via Bonhoeffer):
among those who live as Jesus’ apprentices there are no relationships that omit the presence and action of Jesus. We never go “one on one”; all relationships are mediated through him. I never think simply of what I am going to do with you , to you, or for you. I think of what we, Jesus and I, are going to do with you, to you, and for you.
On the reason for prayer:
If you have a friend who is addicted to heroin, however, or lost in the jungles of intellectual faddishness, then whatever else you may do to help him, you had better pray. Not just because “fixing him” is beyond you, but because it is good it should be beyond you.
On what to pray about:
Accordingly, I believe the most adequate description of prayer is simply, “Talking to God about what we are doing together.” That immediately focuses the activity where we are but at the same time drives the egotism out of it. Requests will naturally be made in the course of this conversational walk. Prayer is a matter of explicitly sharing with God my concerns about what what he too is concerned about in my life.
and:
Prayer as kingdom praying is an arrangement explicitly instituted by God in order that we as individuals may count, and count for much, as we learn step by step how to govern, to reign with him in his kingdom.
and on trials:
The last request in the Lord’s Prayer is the revelation of a God who loves to spare his children and will always do it upon request unless he has something better in mind, which he rarely does.
Where does this leave me? With a God of utter power and control over my life, who invites me to rule his kingdom with him. With a God who encourages me to influence those around me, but to influence with humility and request rather than condemnation and forced wisdom. And with a God who longs to walk with me through life, to give me his good things, if I would only admit my utter failure to do good, be good, on my own.
