Politically correct prayer

Prayer for Israel is not common practice in most churches. Sometimes because Israel is regarded as just one nation among others. Or it is the Palestinians that favour our prayers. Are they not the oppressed which the church is called to support? More and more we hear the argument that one can only pray for Israel if this is in balance with our prayer for the Palestinians. I call this an attempt for politically correct prayer.


However, prayer is not about our judgement concerning who is right and who is not. There are many nations who oppress their subjects. Some oppress other nations economically to keep up a certain standard of living for themselves... Which nation can escape God's judgement? Indeed, we need to pray for the nations! But our prayers are not meant to reflect our politically correct judgements. Prayer is our response to the call from God to join Him preparing the coming of His kingdom. And His kingdom is headed by the king of the Jews. Remember what was written above the cross of Jesus? "Jesus of Nazareth, king of the Jews."

Let us not be inspired through what media tell us about the aggressor and the victim. Let us first of all be moved by God's word. There we read that Israel is part of His strategy to reach the nations. Jesus said to the Jews: "you will not see me again until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'" Praying for Israel is praying for the coming of His kingdom. It has nothing to do with our politically correct judgements. But with joining the moving of Gods Spirit. Let us pray for Israel.

Gilbert Lammerts van Bueren, october 2009