The Point
At the National Prayer Breakfast, the president is not the point. He never has been; he never should be. While our current president seems to think he is the focus of the gathering, it simply isn’t true.
The point is to show the power of the name of Jesus, to prove our Lord right when he said that when he was lifted up, he would draw all people to himself. I was blessed by so many leaders who understood this. From foreign heads of state to CEOs; ambassadors to members of Congress; so many showed they understood our Lord to be greater than themselves.
None showed this more clearly than Congressman Jonathan Jackson. While what he said was of course compelling, how and when he said it provided the clearest image of what it means to live like Jesus, regardless of how others might treat you.
Throughout President Trump’s caustic ramblings, he persistently insulted Democrats in attendance. While this is par for the course for this man, his remarks were particularly revolting given their character and context. At an event devoted to the name of Jesus, this president repeatedly cast doubt on the faith of Democrats and any American who might vote for them. The president seems to believe a lie tragically common amongst American Christians: if you don’t support him, then you can’t possibly support God.
Thankfully, Jesus proved him wrong.
Following the president’s remarks Congressman Jackson’s Republican co-chair—Congressman Ben Cline—rose to pray for the president. While his prayer was certainly genuine, it smacked of partisanship to my cynical mind. Of course—I thought—this member of the president’s party would pray for him.
Then Congressman Jackson started praying. Do yourself the favor of listening to what he said.
At times, Jackon’s prayer certainly had an edge. He invited God to remind President Trump of the pain that his actions have caused to millions of Americans. This is, however, appropriate given the founding principles of the gathering. According to Tim Kreutter—a long-time participant in the Breakfast who hosted a panel on the gathering’s history—this fellowship was always intended to hold any leaders present accountable to the principles of Jesus.
Yet the power of this prayer went beyond its literal words. As Congressmen Cline and Jackson prayed, you could feel a shift in the room. After suffering under the words of someone who so clearly does not understand the point of this gathering for over an hour, hearing actual prayer at the Prayer Breakfast was truly a balm.
Even more important was how Jackson’s prayer so purely embodied the teachings of Jesus. The Congressman literally blessed those who cursed him; he prayed for those who mistreated him. In this, the event provided perhaps the clearest contrast I have ever seen of the ways of America and the ways of the Kingdom of God. After being accused of lacking faith merely because of his political party, Congressman Jackson showed that to be false. In response to petulant self-aggrandizing, a follower of Jesus chose to obey the words of his Lord.
That’s the point of the National Prayer Breakfast: to lift up the name of Jesus, and show what it means to follow him in the midst of division and adversity. Really, that’s the point of any fellowship of believers. It’s not about any of us; it’s about our Lord. The relationships we build; the love we experience; the joy that fills us are all byproducts of rightly placing Jesus where he belongs: at the center of it all.
Lord, help me to remember why I gather with my brothers and sisters. It’s not for me; it’s not to serve my needs; it’s not to make myself known. May every fellowship that bears your name serve only to glorify you, and proclaim your coming Kingdom.