The Perfect Prayer for the Age of Terrorism

“This, then, is how you should pray… Thy kingdom come…”

Matthew 6:9a & 10a

I have to admit that once again I am conflicted.  Since I heard about the terror attacks in Paris, my thoughts, emotions and reactions have been pulled in many different directions.   My first reaction was anger – anger at the evil of what those terrorists did in Paris. Like many I have wanted swift retribution.  I’ve wanted the borders closed here and in America, stopping the flow of refugees from the Middle East.  But then my conscience speaks and reminds me that 99 out of 100 of those refugees are just people fleeing for their lives, looking for someplace safe for themselves and their children to live.  I am reminded of what I heard Ed Westcott (Director of LCMS World Missions back in the 1980s) in a sermon when refugees were coming to the USA on boats from Cuba and many college students were coming from other countries to study in America.  There was a lot of fear and resentment among Americans.  It was in my heart too until Dr. Westcott reminded us that many of the people coming to the US were from countries where we could not take the Gospel.  Now God was bringing them to us in America.  He was giving us the opportunity to tell them about Jesus.  Then when they returned to their home countries they would take the Gospel with them, to places where we could not go.  This is true right now – in the midst of this crisis God is bringing people to us from places we can’t go with the Gospel. 

So all the emotions are there – anger, fear, resentment, compassion, love, a desire to think and feel and act towards all involved in a way that reflects who our God is! I bet many of you are conflicted like me.  What should we do?  Well when I am confused I find that the best thing to do is take it to God in prayer.  In fact Jesus Himself has already taught us a simple prayer to use in this age of terrorism – “Thy kingdom come…”

That prayer brings together all our conflicted thoughts.  On the one hand Government is a part of God’s kingdom.  With this prayer we are asking Him to guide our governments to react properly, to punish evil doers and protect us from harm.  We are praying for our Lord to end terrorism, to do justice and restore peace among nations.    That’s the proper God given work of government.  . 

“Thy kingdom come…” We are also asking our God to bless and grow His kingdom of grace… to bless the work of His church in telling the good news of His love and forgiveness. God is bringing all these people to us.  So we pray to Him - “Lord help us, as believers, to extend Your kingdom by telling them about Jesus, about His death and resurrection, about the grace and forgiveness He offers to all who believe.”  We are praying for God’s Spirit to work faith in the hearts of those He is bringing.

“Thy kingdom come…”  With these words we are especially praying for ourselves, for God to work in our conflicted hearts. Luther explained this prayer in his Small Catechism. “The kingdom of God certainly comes by itself without our prayer but we pray in this petition that it may come to us also.”  In other words, “Lord by your Spirit be at work in my heart that I might repent of all evil, turn to you in faith and follow you.  By Your grace rule in my heart that I might think, speak and act towards others in accordance with Your love towards me.”

“Thy kingdom come…”  Finally, with these words we are asking our Lord to do the one thing that will restore justice and peace, once and for all.  With these words we are praying the final prayer found in the Bible, at the end of Revelation - “Amen! Come Lord Jesus.”

Am I saying that we should pray that God should at one and the same time, work through government to punish the evil doers and at the same time use us to share His love with everyone, even the terrorists?  Are we praying for Him to turn every heart towards Himself, even the hearts of those who hate us? Yes!  This prayer says all those things.  It’s the perfect prayer for the age of terrorism.  “Thy Kingdom Come!”  Amen!