Francis Frangipane says "to reach our cities, Christ must reach his church".
"He must convict our hearts of the arrogance and pride, the jealousy and selfish ambition that have clouded our vision," says Frangipane in his book The House of the Lord: God's Plan to Liberate Your City from Darkness. "We must be cleansed of these sins so Jesus can unite us against evil."
I believe these words are as true today as they were when Frangipane wrote them 25 years ago.
Frangipane was a pastor in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, at the time he wrote his book. He took part in a multi-church prayer effort in his city and the rate of violent crime in Cedar Rapids dropped 17 per cent.
It's encouraging to me that some churches in our city and others are working to bring us together as believers to spread the love of God - and the good news of Jesus - to the people around us. But I believe this outreach needs to spread much more widely, especially in prayer.
It's not easy to drop the barriers between churches. We may have strong theological or cultural differences which stand in the way. I realize I'm as stubborn - and as prejudiced - as anyone in these areas.
But, Frangipane and his fellow pastors in Cedar Rapids decided to go beyond these cherished positions and pray together. They did not abandon their theologies. Instead, they came together on the solid ground of a shared faith in Jesus as their saviour and Lord.
Frangipane says we Christians are a major obstacle to God bringing love and healing to our cities.
He notes Jesus' words in Luke 13 where he laments that Jerusalem has rejected his attempts to bring people into his kingdom.
"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God's messengers! How often have I wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn't let me."
Then, Christ forecasts the ultimate result - the destruction of the city. Jerusalem was destroyed less than 40 years later by the Romans.
"The lack of blessing in our cities is not God's fault, nor is it only because of the sins of the world," writes Frangipane. "A number of national problems are because the church has been caught up in its own agendas and programs.
"We have disdained Christ's call to obedience and prayer."
May the Spirit of God awaken us.
"He must convict our hearts of the arrogance and pride, the jealousy and selfish ambition that have clouded our vision," says Frangipane in his book The House of the Lord: God's Plan to Liberate Your City from Darkness. "We must be cleansed of these sins so Jesus can unite us against evil."
I believe these words are as true today as they were when Frangipane wrote them 25 years ago.
Frangipane was a pastor in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, at the time he wrote his book. He took part in a multi-church prayer effort in his city and the rate of violent crime in Cedar Rapids dropped 17 per cent.
It's encouraging to me that some churches in our city and others are working to bring us together as believers to spread the love of God - and the good news of Jesus - to the people around us. But I believe this outreach needs to spread much more widely, especially in prayer.
It's not easy to drop the barriers between churches. We may have strong theological or cultural differences which stand in the way. I realize I'm as stubborn - and as prejudiced - as anyone in these areas.
But, Frangipane and his fellow pastors in Cedar Rapids decided to go beyond these cherished positions and pray together. They did not abandon their theologies. Instead, they came together on the solid ground of a shared faith in Jesus as their saviour and Lord.
Frangipane says we Christians are a major obstacle to God bringing love and healing to our cities.
He notes Jesus' words in Luke 13 where he laments that Jerusalem has rejected his attempts to bring people into his kingdom.
"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God's messengers! How often have I wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn't let me."
Then, Christ forecasts the ultimate result - the destruction of the city. Jerusalem was destroyed less than 40 years later by the Romans.
"The lack of blessing in our cities is not God's fault, nor is it only because of the sins of the world," writes Frangipane. "A number of national problems are because the church has been caught up in its own agendas and programs.
"We have disdained Christ's call to obedience and prayer."
May the Spirit of God awaken us.
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