J. Kevin Butcher's Blog

There’s a big prayer rally going on at Ford Field tonight and I’m not sure why I feel compelled to say a few words about it – and I’m not sure if anyone really cares what my opinion is – but here goes.

But initially, let it be said loudly and clearly – I BELIEVE IN PRAYER.  I pray all day…every day.  I have 17 journals of prayers to my Abba Father dating from 1995.  I set aside time to specifically talk to Abba almost [can’t say “every” or I’d be lying] morning.  I love praying with my brothers and sisters.  I believe in the power that comes through prayer.  I believe God has chosen to enact His will on the planet through prayer.  I believe prayer is the way we put on the armor of God [Ephesians 6:18].  I believe God heals through prayer.  I could go on but you get the point.  I love my Abba so much and so desperately need to connect with Him that I literally can’t not pray.

Nevertheless, I’ve got to admit that I’m a little concerned about “the Call”.  I ain’t judgin’…in fact, from what I understand, about 20 folks are going from the church I pastor.  That’s cool.  But here’s a couple thoughts about why I personally just can’t get into it.

First, I am increasingly not about big events.  Of course, there’s nothing inherently morally wrong with a big event – and I’ve been involved with many and have preached at more than a few – but what do they really accomplish in the long run?  Or maybe a better way to ask the question is – If the resources and time and energy put into a big prayer event at Ford Field were put into all of us in Detroit living out Jesus’ call to love one another with foot-washing, sacrificial, “I will die on a cross for you even if you are my enemy” kind of love…I wonder if the results wouldn’t be more deep and lasting and Kingdom.  The early church didn’t have the resources or organization or facilities to do any big events and they grew from 10,000 to 15 million in 250 years.  According to the ancient documents [like Aristides’ letter to Hadrian in the early 2^nd century], all they did was sacrificially love one another and their communities.  Sometimes [and again, I ain’t judgin’, just sayin’] I wonder if we do big events because in the long run they “cost” less in terms of our hearts, lives, flesh, dying to self…they hurt less, they look and feel great at least for a moment, everybody gets a buzz and we go home feeling good about ourselves…but I wonder what tangible good the huge prayer rally does Johnny who’s lying drunk on our church porch or Samson who’s about to be sentenced to federal prison or the sister who’s battery died and she struggled to get to work this morning or the brother struggling with cancer at St. John’s…what if we didn’t go to the stadium and just went and hung out with folks like the ones I just mentioned and prayed for them…and prayed with them…and not just today in a one-time event but tomorrow and the next day and the next day.  I really just wonder why we continue to be enamored and have to be about this big event stuff.  I don’t know for sure but I’m not positive Jesus would have been all about it if He was here.  And yeah, He did engage in a few big events of His own – like the feeding of the 5,000 – but He always seemed reluctant around crowds and always seemed really pumped and excited to touch the one.  What about us?

And second, in terms of this particular big prayer event – I wonder a little about the theology behind it.  From what I understand – and I’m sure my understanding isn’t perfect – the sincere followers of Jesus who put together “the Call” believe that there are territorial spirits over cities like Detroit that will only be defeated – and I emphasize “only” because I sense that is what is believed – by 24/7 prayer effort.  Somehow, so the theology goes, when we pray, we “smite” the demon powers and eventually pummel them to the point that they literally “fall from heaven”, their rule is over and the way is paved for the coming of the Kingdom of God.  But here’s my question:  can we really show from Scripture that there are territorial spirits over areas and cities?  I know the argument from Ephesians 6 [as well as from Daniel’s apocalyptic images] and I understand the Greek language and the suggested meanings behind “principalities and powers in heavenly places” and I’m not saying there isn’t a “hint” of Satanic, demonic organization.  But…does the Scripture really outline in detail – anywhere – the extent of our Enemy’s organization and is there really a detailed, outlined strategy for “blowing them off their thrones in the heavens” SIMPLY AND ONLY through prayer?  If there is, I just don’t see it.  Again, I believe prayer is a powerful part of our God’s strategy to defeat the Evil One in battle – in the world, in our families, in our personal lives and the battle we fight with our habits, addictions, sins, and flesh – but there is also love and righteousness and forgiveness and making peace with our enemies and scraping maggots out of leper’s wounds and feeding the hungry and wrestling with the Word and surrender and so much more.  I’m not suggesting that those involved with “the Call” don’t believe in any of those things – but it feels like to me that in this kind of prayer movement, there is such an emphasis on “24/7 prayer bombarding and defeating the demonic world, in and of itself” that it is out of balance and a bit skewed and potentially might even hinder the body of Christ from being about some of the other Biblical stuff necessary to win the war against evil.

So, what am I doing today while some folks are at “the Call” – and by the way, many of them – even some of the organizers – close, dear friends of mine and sweet brothers and sisters in Christ…well, I’m praying for all of them, for everyone at Ford Field, and for Detroit – but then again, that’s what I do all day every day.  And I’m meeting someone who is struggling and needs a brother and meeting someone else who wants to launch more deeply into Kingdom ministry and studying the Scripture a bit and making a few calls to some hurting folks and going to the funeral home to grieve with another brother and then spending some time with my bride of 34 years whom I’ve neglected this week because of the wounds of precious human beings bleeding all over the place that I’ve been called to attend to.  And I pray that somehow, our God will bless in His way and His time both the efforts of those at “the Call” – as well as the humble attempts to follow His Son of those of us who just felt like it wasn’t for us.