Faith

Matthew 21:22 - "Whatever you ask for in prayer, you will receive if you have faith."

So here is a text with which I struggle, because the world does not work that way. I suspect we've all prayed for something we did not get. Many people get around this by assuming that we must pray for something good and worthwhile. 1> That's not what he said and he just finished telling them they could move mountains with faith. 2> Bruce Almighty. Remember that film? Remember the scene in which he's trying to answer prayers through the computer and there are so many he just can't keep up so he answers them all with yes? Then chaos ensues because some of those prayers directly contradict each other. So, that's probably not the best explanation.

I've heard the idea that if you have faith, then your desires will align perfectly with God's will. That is a dangerous idea. We already have a tendency to make God in our image, which leads to harmful things being done in God's name. Yet, with a lot of prayer and working to get our own ego out of the way, with the help of spiritual directors, we might come closer to God's will. Even so, our prayers will not always be answered, "yes."

I've heard the rationale that maybe you don't have (enough) faith if you don't get what you pray for. This, of course, is the phrase turned around. Yet, how many of us have prayed for someone to live. What about the slaves who prayed for freedom and never saw it? More slaves died than were freed. Since many of them were in fact Christians before they were kidnapped and brought here, it's not fair to say they didn't have faith. I think all three of these ideas are ways to get around what Jesus said rather than try to struggle with what he meant.

Jesus is still talking to them as a group rather than individually, but I'm not sure this helps. Yet, it points to a truth that is missing if he's talking to them as individuals. When Jesus calls us to follow, he's calling us to service, to work with him. I want to share a joke that illustrates this point. A person wanted to win the lottery and prayed every day, "God, please let me win the lottery." Week after week they prayed, and week after week, nothing. Finally, God spoke, "Do me a favor. Buy a ticket." We are called to do our part. Prayer is important and so is action. Jesus called his church to work with him to end injustice, free the prisoners, and ensure human flourishing. The church did, and does, fall short of that ideal. Individually and collectively, we need to repent and repair the damage. Those would be faithful actions!

It's easy to think that there isn't anything we as individuals can do. We think our meager contribution will not make a difference. Perhaps because we are not trusting the Spirit. Such trust is hard, yet if Jesus has called us, he'll find a way - once we begin to put one step in front of the other. Will we dare to follow?