Did You Think to Pray?
Vincent Miller, in his book Consuming Religion: Christian Faith and Practice in a Consumer Culture, talked about the commodification of religion in our modern society. There are many examples that can be given of this, but I think my favorite example is the church’s love for and adoration of Mother Theresa. [1] Modern Christians will go so far as to have shirts printed up with her on them with a catchy saying. They’ll wear these fashionable shirts while drinking their fancy coffees and listening to music on their iPhones. All of these behaviors are completely opposite of the things Mother Theresa stood for in her life of poverty to help the poor in India. [2] In our thirst to get it right – we get it wrong.
In Dr. Clark’s research, he focused on worship to order Christians around the body of Christ. [3] In thinking about this, and in reading Jenny’s post on this topic of simplifying one’s Christian life [4]… I wanted to concentrate on what I think it means to simplify the Christian life.
I have been a part of churches that have fed people’s consumeristic needs. They’ve wanted more lights, louder music, different styles of worship, a bigger coffee bar, a variety of programs, and so on. Once you start adding, it seems like it is just never enough. People always are wanting something more. They want the next new thing.
I have also been a part of churches that have been very simple. Just the basics were offered. But the important things were there – the teaching of the Word, worship, prayer.
There was a great revival in the 1950s in the Hebrides, in Ireland. It actually began in 1949 and lasted three years, until 1952. The preacher, Duncan Campbell, says of that place that the ground had been saturated in prayer before he ever arrived in 1949. That’s the first thing that is notable about this revival. Two housebound sisters began the prayer with all-night vigils for their church and community. Secondly, there was a great conviction of sin as a result of the prayer. Third, God was given all the glory, even many years later. No preacher, nor did the praying sisters receive the glory for the revival that took place there. [5] When they prayed, they claimed Isaiah 64:1, “Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down…”, [6] and for three years in the Hebrides, He did.
(Duncan Campbell with the two praying sisters)
What I think it boils down to is this… seeking the Lord humbly in prayer, teaching the Word and worshipping Him.
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[1] Vincent Miller, Consuming Religion: Christian Faith and Practice in a Consumer Culture (New York, NY: The Continuum International Publishing Group, Inc.).
[2] W. David O. Taylor, “Review of Vincent Miller’s ‘Consuming Religion’,” Diary of an Arts Pastor, March 27, 2010, Link.
[3] Jason P. Clark, “Evangelicalism and Capitalism: A Reparative Account and Diagnosis of Pathogeneses in the Relationship” (2018). Faculty Publications – Portland Seminary, https://digitalcommons.georgefox.edu/gfes/132.
[4] Jenny Hale, “Lisa’s Story: A Practical Attempt at Clearer Living,” DLPG01, April 01, 2023, Link.
[5] Pastor Pope, “When Heaven Came Down,” ChristChurchBaptist.org, March 23, 2010, Link.
[6] Crossway Bibles, ed. 2007. ESV: Study Bible: English Standard Version. ESV text ed. Wheaton, Ill: Crossway Bibles, 930.
About the Author
Tonette Kellett
Missionary, teacher, Bible student, traveler ... Having lived in Kenya and Korea, I now live in Mississippi and work with the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians.3 responses to “Did You Think to Pray?”
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Hi Tonette
Great use of a historical revival as an example of your point. I’m curious what you connect with in church after your experience in the flashy and the simple church? I often find it difficult to worship in church since I’m often too involved in the production of the worship service.
Tonette,
You have this incredible ability to find an example or two of people you have known (or heard about), who exemplify what you are trying to share. You have done this in this post. I love that you share about unsung hero’s.
You state things so simply and beautifully. Thank you for role modeling simplicity and beauty in what you communicate.
I read this line several times:
“In our thirst to get it right – we get it wrong.”
I would love to hear more of your thoughts on this.
I am curious how this relates to your classroom and how you teach. How do you keep things simple and the important things at the forefront of what you teach?
Thanks for sharing. Do you believe that those who are in tuned to the want or need for material things have less of a relationship with God than those who don’t.