{"id":589,"date":"2009-09-20T21:39:18","date_gmt":"2009-09-20T21:39:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/progressiverevival\/2009\/09\/praying-for-peace-is-not-as-ea.html"},"modified":"2009-09-20T21:39:18","modified_gmt":"2009-09-20T21:39:18","slug":"praying-for-peace-is-not-as-ea","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/progressiverevival\/2009\/09\/praying-for-peace-is-not-as-ea.html","title":{"rendered":"Praying for Peace (is not as easy as it sounds)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Praying for peace is not as easy as it sounds.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>Praying for peace requires two separate but related beliefs.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>The first belief is that prayer ‘works’ and that our meditations and\/or petitions to God can affect the material world and can change our individual and collective lives.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>The second conviction is that peace is worthy of the effort of prayer, that peace should be a goal for each person, and not to rest on the more realist (cynical) view that war and conflict are inevitable. \u00a0<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

Today is the International Day of Prayer for Peace and it is a day of hope mixed with…desperation.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>Prayer becomes most urgent \u00a0<\/span>in moments when we don’t know where else to turn both in our personal lives and, as in the case with this day of peace, in our world.\u00a0<\/span>I am involved with an organization called Fellowship in Prayer that was founded 60 years as a response to the urgent crisis posed by the atom bomb which held (and still holds) the possibility of destroying all life on the planet.\u00a0 Fellowship in Prayer <\/span>called upon people of goodwill, across all religious traditions, ‘East and West,’ to come together to pray<\/span> for peace.\u00a0 <\/span>For the last sixty years people in Fellowship in Prayer\u00a0have been praying for peace, and one could say successfully, as the world has so far avoided nuclear destruction.\u00a0 <\/span>Yet given the seemingly intractable conflicts that continue around the world, the need for prayer, and those dedicated to prayer, seems \u00a0<\/span>greater today than ever before.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/font><\/p>\n

On this day many groups from across the religious spectrum are praying for Peace. And even if it is not easy, you too should pray for peace today and every day.\u00a0Praying for Peace means you are making a spiritual statement that yes, what I do with my spiritual practice matters, that my meditations can change myself, but also have the power to change the world. \u00a0Or for me, as a Christian, praying for peace is a faith statement that God does hear our prayers in the hour of our deepest need, that\u00a0God has\u00a0a hand\u00a0in\u00a0this world, that God can change me, and that God can transform the world – and that God wants peace. \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/font><\/p>\n

Praying for peace is one of the most faithful acts one can make. \u00a0Jesus said, that those who make and pray for peace will be called the Children of God.\u00a0 Even if it is not easy – pray for peace!<\/span><\/span><\/font><\/p>\n

Here is a prayer that I wrote for those working in International Relations and Statecraft. \u00a0It was included in the book Prayers for the New Social Awakening<\/a>. \u00a0And below that you will see the original advertisement for the Fellowship in Prayer from 1949.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A Prayer for Those Working in International Relations and Statecraft<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n


\n
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Sovereign Lord,<\/p>\n

We pray for the people who are charged with safeguarding our
\nnation as they bridge culture, race and religion to painstakingly negotiate
\nterms of trade and forge alliances of security.\u00a0 <\/span>May they view their task as sacred and be filled with hope, creativity
\nand endurance as they develop bonds among nations that are mutually beneficial
\nand will produce lasting peace and respect among all peoples. Lord, help our
\nleaders to look beyond grand palaces and corporate offices to carefully
\nconsider the effects that the policies they are creating will have upon the
\nhumble homes of the average citizen around the world.\u00a0 <\/span>May America be girded by the spirit of cooperation and
\ngenerosity that recognizes the needs of others alongside our own so that the entire
\nworld might enjoy a common wealth of food, drink, shelter, education and
\nrecreation<\/p>\n

Lord, may America not succumb to the sin of imperial
\ntemptation, rather tether us to our religious commitment of servanthood.\u00a0 <\/span>May we use our power in concert with
\nthe international community so that we might collectively bring in a new era
\nmarked by justice and peace. \u00a0<\/span>Let restraint
\nand compassion stay the cruel hand of war that slays the young and leaves
\nsocieties broken and bloody.\u00a0 <\/span>May
\ncool minds prevail in seasons hot with destructive cycles of revenge.\u00a0 <\/span>In combating the evils of this day let
\nus not become what we despise.\u00a0
\n<\/span>Rather hold us fast to our conviction that living without intimidation or
\ndeprivation is a human right in our own country as well in others.<\/p>\n

God of the Universe, may we forsake the hubris of claiming
\nyou as our private possession, but rather may you claim us as we work for
\nreconciliation and the common good.\u00a0\u00a0
\n<\/span>Lord, may none use religion as a rallying call for national militarism,
\nterritorial expansion or terror based on dangerous readings of sacred texts. Rather
\nlet us recognize the sacred in other human beings from every nation, class,
\nrace or religion.\u00a0 <\/span>Help us to love
\nboth you and our neighbor and thereby fulfilling the great commandment of your
\nSon Jesus Christ, so that through our efforts for peace we might be known as your
\nchildren.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

May America and the entire world be blessed by your continued
\nprovidence in our time and for generations in the future. \u00a0<\/span>May Thy kingdom come, thy will be done
\nthroughout the earth as it is in heaven. Amen.<\/p>\n

Fellowship in Prayer’s Original New York Times Ad in December 12, 1949<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

OUR CALL TO PRAYER <\/span><\/p>\n


<\/span><\/p>\n

PRAYER <\/span><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

an answer to <\/span><\/p>\n

“GOD and the ATOM” <\/span><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

The Ferris Booth advertisement in THE NEW YORK TIMES <\/i>on October third calling upon President Truman to start a “spiritual renaissance” is commendable and sound thinking, generally. However, the final responsibility falls upon each individual who believes in God, regardless of his religious affiliation. The President has called upon all people to take a greater interest in the religious life of each community. Can we expect more? <\/span><\/p>\n

PRAYER IS THE ANSWER:– <\/span><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

The real strength and power of religion can only be exerted through invoking the presence of God in our lives and praying earnestly for the realization of the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of Man toward the consummation of a better understanding in international and human relations. A believer in any faith can do this, as prayer is the means of communication with God in all of the great religions of the world. Prayer for good by believers in God can overcome the oppressors and put to flight the foes of righteousness. <\/span><\/p>\n

IT IS ATTAINABLE:– <\/span><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

As individuals, we conduct business together, we mingle in social life, in sports there are no barriers. Surely we are not so biased that we fail to see the common attributes in other religions. TRUTH, HONESTY, JUSTICE, MERCY are basic elements in every great faith. In seeking God, let us omit the controversial issues. IF WE WILL <\/u>TO DO IT–IT CAN <\/u>BE DONE. <\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

HOW?– <\/span><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

Begin now to pray in your own manner for the things set forth above. Do it frequently or at stated times. Talk it over with your family, your neighbors, your friends, your spiritual adviser. If possible, get your local newspaper to copy this article or comment upon it. Fellowship Circles could be formed. Do not, however, let it interfere with your regular religious duties–rather combine it with them. Our united prayers <\/span><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Praying for peace is not as easy as it sounds.\u00a0\u00a0Praying for peace requires two separate but related beliefs.\u00a0\u00a0The first belief is that prayer ‘works’ and that our meditations and\/or petitions to God can affect the material world and can change our individual and collective lives.\u00a0\u00a0The second conviction is that peace is worthy of the effort…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":51,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[307,26],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-589","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-prayer-and-ritual","category-war"],"yoast_head":"\nPraying for Peace (is not as easy as it sounds) - Progressive Revival<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/progressiverevival\/2009\/09\/praying-for-peace-is-not-as-ea.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Praying for Peace (is not as easy as it sounds) - 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Paul B. Raushenbush is the moderator of the Progressive Revival blog and the Associate Dean of Religious Life at Princeton University. .An ordained American Baptist minister, Rev. Raushenbush speaks and preaches at colleges, churches and institutes around the country including the College of Preachers at the National Cathedral in Washington D.C., The Chautauqua Institute in upstate New York, and the New America Foundation. Rev. Raushenbush has served at Seattle First Baptist Church, the Presbyterian Chaplaincy at Columbia University and as College and Young Adult Minister at The Riverside Church in New York City. He has appeared on ABC World News Tonight and is a repeated guest on CNN. He has been quoted in The New York Times and The Washington Post and is a contributing editor for Beliefnet.com. His first book, Teen Spirit: One World, Many Faiths (HCI) was released in the Fall of 2004. He is the editor of the 100th Anniversary edition of Walter Rauschenbusch\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s book Christianity and the Social Crisis \u00e2\u20ac\u201c In the 21st Century (HarperOne). His work at Princeton includes strengthening the interfaith community on campus. He is the Co-Director of the Program on Religion, Diplomacy and International Relations at The Liechtenstein Institute on Self Determination at Princeton University. Rev. Raushenbush studied religion at Macalester College before attending Union Theological Seminary in New York City where he graduated with distinction.","url":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/progressiverevival\/author\/praushenbush"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/progressiverevival\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/589","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/progressiverevival\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/progressiverevival\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/progressiverevival\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/51"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/progressiverevival\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=589"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/progressiverevival\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/589\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/progressiverevival\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=589"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/progressiverevival\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=589"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/progressiverevival\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=589"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}