It’s making the headlines everywhere your turn. Your favorite news app, the tv, the newspaper, and any other place where information is being shared, the Baltimore riots. While many are writing about various aspects of this issue, I simply want to encourage Christians to respond in a thoughtful, gospel centered, and God honoring fashion.

First, the affects of these riots will surpass just the city of Baltimore and will be the baseline that others will turn to as tragedy occurs in other cities just as Baltimore is responding to the events surrounding Freddie Gray’s death. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr helps us understand the rationale for riots as he states,

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A riot is the language of the unheard – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
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In regards to the limitations of riots Dr. King states further:

The limitation of riots, moral questions aside, is that they cannot win and their participants know it. Hence, rioting is not revolutionary but reactionary because it invites defeat. It involves and emotional catharsis, but it must be followed by a sense of futility. – Martin Luther King, Jr.

Therefore we are always faced with the question of response. How do we respond in light of such tragedy, pain, and heartache? I believe the mandated response for all believers is – Prayer.

Unfortunatley, this may be the most overlooked or assumed response. In fact, many of us say we are “praying” but never actually spend time in intentional prayer for all those affected by the riots. This may be partially because we lack a proper understanding of the theology of prayer. What actually occurs when we pray? Let’s start with a definition of prayer. Harpers Bible Dictionary states:

Prayer is – the act of petitioning, praising, giving thanks, or confessing to God; it is expressed by several different words in both the OT and NT. Prayer can be individual or corporate, audible or silent. It is conditioned by the biblical understanding of God as a personal being who hears the prayers of his people. 

If we believe that our prayers are heard by the creator of the universe who is personal and takes active part of human history, this should motivate us to spend dedicated and intentional time in prayer. Here are 3 ways we can be in prayer for all those affected in the Baltimore riots:

1. Pray for the family of Freddie Gray – This family is hurting, confused, and dealing with so much pain and agony. Pray that the Holy Spirit would bring comfort, understanding, and peace to this family. Further, pray for salvation and the Holy Spirit’s effectual calling of these family members.

2. Pray for the police and law enforcement – Police and law enforcement have put their lives on the line and their bodies in danger to protect the city and other people. Pray for peace for the families of these officers. I can only imagine the countless wives, children, husbands, mothers, and fathers that wait anxiously for their loved ones to come home.

3. Pray for the Gospel to transform the city of Baltimore – While this riot is a poor attempt to cause transformation and force politicians, judges, and law enforcement officials to hear the voice and concern of those rioting, the only true source of change and transformation can be through the power of the Gospel.

The Gospel is the ONLY means of effective transformation for the city of Baltimore via @muddamalle
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Finally, pray that the Gospel would invade the lives of every person living within the city of Baltimore. Pray for the pastors and churches in the city that are facing the daunting task of shepherding and counseling countless families.

If you made it through this entire post, pray right now. #PrayForBaltimore

^[1] Paul J. Achtemeier, Harper & Row and Society of Biblical Literature, Harper’s Bible Dictionary (San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1985), 816.

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Some of you may have opened up this post simply because you doubt we can learn anything from Charles Darwin. In most cases I would agree with you, however, I recently came across a fragment of a letter he wrote to his children. I’ve been re-reading John Pipers, Desiring God. Piper unpacks Darwin’s comments to his children as they relate to church leaders. Darwin writes,

“Up to the age of 30 or beyond it, poetry of many kinds…gave me great pleasure, and even as a schoolboy I took intense delight in Shakespeare… Formerly pictures gave me considerable, and music very great, delight. But now for many years I cannot endure to read a line of poetry: I have tried to read Shakespeare, and found it so intolerably dull that it nauseated me. I have also almost lost any taste for fine scenery, but it does not cause me the exquisite delight which it formerly did… My mind seems to have become a kind of machine for grinding general laws out of large collections of facts, but why this should have caused the atrophy of that part of the brain alone, on which the higher tastes depend, I cannot conceive… The loss of these tastes is a loss of happiness, and may possibly be injurious to the intellect, and more probably to the moral character, by enfeedbling the emotional part of our nature.” – Charles Darwin

First, let me make an assertion that Darwin’s loss of awe and wonder of poetry, nature, and music are directly tied to his position on a creator and a life long pursuit to deny the existence of God. If we hold to a position that there is not a creator who masterfully crafted and spoke all things into existence, it is not difficult to gradually lose your amazement. Life begins to become apathetic and ultimately you begin to lose hope all together.

Dr. Piper correlates what Darwin experiences with what is occurring in churches around the world. It seems that somewhere along the way, we are in danger of losing our sense of wonder and awe as we become routine in our approach to church services and tradition. Piper says,

“For many, Christianity has become the grinding out of general doctrinal laws from collections of biblical facts. But childlike wonder and awe have died.” – John Piper

Dr. Piper is absolutely correct and his observation is something that pastors and church leaders should consider as they diligently prepare for their church services. The danger that Dr. Piper points out is the loss of childlike wonder and awe as we continue in the rhetoric of church and tradition without a sense of joy and exhilaration that comes from the daily pursuit of the Gospel. The question then remains, how can church leaders curb the tendency to fall into this routine that results in a numbness of sensation? As I’ve traveled and had the opportunity to meet with a variety of churches that span various traditions, here are two practices that seem to be helpful.

1. Create a framework that allows for creative expression

The challenge for some ministry leaders is the “tradition” that is created from doing the same thing over and over. Sometimes our processes become static which creates an environment where creative expression can be challenging. Creating a framework that allows breathing room for creative expression allows for various opportunities that can help to facilitate and reinforce that sense of wonder and awe when we are exposed to the beauty of the Gospel.

2. Have a creative team

Not everyone is creative. The great thing about the body of Christ is that everyone has a skill set. There are inevitably people within your church that have insane creative genius. Tap into that! As you prepare for a new sermon series bring that team into the creative process and consider ways to bring the Bible to life through various mediums. Last year, the best creative conference that I attended (in my opinion) was SALT Nashville. I happen to know the guy and team behind the conference and was able to be apart of the conference. It was incredible to see pastors and church leaders leaving the conference feeling equipped. Part of the equipping was stepping into a story that was unpacked in each session. Sometimes, we have to have an experience which in turn opens up an array of opportunities that could work within our own context.

If you are looking for some further ideas or resources here are some recommendations:

• SALT Nashville – This conference is quickly becoming the premiere conference in the creative space
• Stephen Brewsters Blog – Stephen is a creative genius who leads the creative team at Cross Point Church in Nashville. What I love more than his work is his desire to equip and help the church to pursue excellence in the area of the arts.
• Linger Conference – This conference is hosted by Shane and Shane. Shane and Shane have become some great friends and I love their passion for the church. This year at Linger they are creating a “Creative Day” before the Linger Conference. I would highly recommend this. Also, I’ll be there teaching a workshop on Logos Bible Software and how theology is the catalyst that empowers the creative. Make sure you come and say hi!
• Desiring God – Dr. John Pipers book is much more than a book for creatives. Through the course of its pages you will find yourself encouraged in your daily Christian walk. Possibly, the most encouraging thing about this book is the emphasis it places on making much of God which goes hand in hand with enjoying Him.

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