Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Progressive Christian
Why Progressive Christians Should Pray

Why Progressive Christians Should Pray

Last updated on: September 14, 2015 at 10:11 pm by J. Dana Trent

1 Comment

Why Progressive Christians Should Pray 2015-09-14T22:11:12+00:00 J. Dana Trent

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

While many bemoan the decline of the American religious, one fact remains: religiously affiliated or not, 55 percent of people in the United States pray each day. Though institutional religion may be going out of style, this ancient spiritual practice seems to be holding steady.

But, why, as a nation that is allegedly turning more secular, are we still praying?

“I’ll pray for you,” is a common phrase in my Southern state, signaling the conclusion of a social encounter. It can be a statement of sincerity or contrition, backed by with actual embodied prayer, or neglected as a nicety. But, for many members of the Christian community, praying for others can conjure up images of past disappointment: “Does prayer really work?” even the devoutly religious might ask, having been burned by unanswered supplications and closed doors.

Prayer among Progressive Christians is further complicated by the loud, evangelical stereotype that dominates politics and 24-7 media cycles. Non-Christians associate evangelism with the entirety of the tradition, forcing more welcoming and affirming congregations to re-think how they conduct prayer practice in order attract new generations and cheerlead: “we are not like them.”

That’s why, when my liberal Baptist Church holds its annual prayer and healing service during morning 11:00 a.m. worship, it’s met with suspicion—even by me, a seminary graduate and self-described “open-minded” Christian. We’re the type of congregation who does not shed our shells quickly or easily. In lieu of vulnerability, we operate as stoics. Enlivened, healing prayer might be something our members practice in private, but no runs down the center aisle asking for healing prayers at the conclusion of Sunday service. Instead, we fall into the Progressive Christian trap of “living” a robust religious life in which our academic brains and social justice actions receive all the exercise, but our sincerest soul practice is left behind.

During the annual healing service hour, our sanctuary is divided into prayer stations. Amid trepidation, hesitant university professors and community activists initially remain glued to their seats, filled with wonder as to who will actually go forward for prayer.

What happens next is an emotionally salient act totally out of character for many Progressive Christians. One by one, despite suspicion, parishioners give way to curiosity, humbly shuffling to the stations, unsure of how this will all play out. No more than three minutes later, shells are shed, suffering is revealed, handkerchiefs are retrieved, and tears flow. The once shut-out mystical healing power of God is welcomed again, and a hand might even be lifted overhead. Perhaps our physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual pains have not been completely eliminated, but a small piece of healing faith has been renewed.

If this works so well once per year, how might the Progressive Church re-discover the ancient practice of healing supplications in a more frequent way?

Bruce Epperly, theologian and pastor, says that Progressive Christians can “reclaim the power of prayer and divine healing” by “liberating [ourselves] from conservative … understandings of prayer and divine activity.” Epperly writes that Progressives must be “imaginative in our prayers … open to God in new ways of partnership with God through prayer, healing touch, meditation, affirmations, and social concern.”

Millennials, who are “leaving the church in droves,” site the inauthentic nature of modern Christianity as the reason for their exodus. This anti-church recoil of young people is reinforced by the fundamentalist Christianity that dominates American culture. When hate and exclusivity are held in tandem with Hollywood-esque demonstrations of “prayer” that degrades others, Millennials have all the more reason to reject a faith that, doesn’t seem to attend to real people and real suffering. Millennials long for a Church that will hear their questions, and sit with them in their pain—a church that will seek to heal the wounds of exclusions brought against LGBTQ persons, minorities, and the poor.

Perhaps riding the wave of Brene Brown’s “Power of Vulnerability,” is the answer for today’s failing churches who desire a re-discovery of ego-stripping transparency. Perhaps the mainline Christian Churches should work to self-identify as “praying churches” that invite authentic moments of brokenness during worship, instead of focusing on the prosperity of some, and hate for others.

The annual healing prayer service in my Progressive Christian church is an imperfect spiritual practice that gives us room to re-image our partnerships with God. Each year, I am reminded that prayer is something the church can and should do well and repeatedly, continuing to reflect on Jesus’ ministry as a radical healer. While the deep study of scripture and advocacy for the marginalized are hallmarks of liberal Christianity, mysterious spiritual ways of being in relationship with God and others should be, too.

Image: Shutterstock.com

J. Dana Trent is an author and teacher. A graduate of Duke Divinity School, she is ordained in the Southern Baptist tradition. Her awarded winning book, Saffron Cross: The Unlikely Story of How a Christian Minister Married a Hindu Monk tells the story of her eHarmony-born interfaith marriage. Dana blogs at jdanatrent.com and tweets@jdanatrent.

progressive christianity

spiritual heaing

spirituality

Previous Post

September 4, 2015

Labor (Day) of Love

Next Post

September 15, 2015 Why Philly is the Perfect Place for the Pope to Denounce the Death Penalty

Recent Comments

1 Comment | Leave a Comment

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Advent Author Interviews Battle Over the Body and Blood of Christ Bearing Beauty Book Reviews Christian Education christian spirituallity christianity Christmas Church Church Leadership Contemplation Creation Care Death and Dying Death Penalty Disruptive Change Disruptors Series Easter Education Evolution and Faith Future of Progressive Christianity Gun Violence Health & Wellness Holy Week Interfaith Israel-Palestine Leading Differently Lent LGBTQ Living with Cancer Meditations on the Cross Mental Illness millennials Mimetic Mondays Monday Meditations Movie Reviews New Monasticism Pando Populus Parenting Patheos 10+1 Q&A Series PC(USA) Politics Pop Culture Practical Theology Series Prayer progressive christian Race Relations Reformation religion Religion and Politics Religion in America Rethink Church Social Justice Spirituality Spirituality of the Body Stump a Scholar Technology and Faith Thanksgiving Theodicy Trust Me Church Uncategorized Why I'm Still Christian Youth Ministry

Select a Month December 2025 April 2025 January 2025 September 2023 September 2022 May 2022 February 2022 January 2022 November 2021 October 2021 May 2021 February 2021 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 June 2020 May 2020 March 2020 June 2019 March 2019 January 2019 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Which prophet challenged the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Elijah Elisha Isaiah Jonah