My prayers are especially for the Church, the Body of Christ, the Bride of Christ.  For if the Church is set right, the lost will automatically be saved – as revival history attests.

A.  First, I pray for three revaluations within the Church:

1.  Devalue self, envalue Christ (in self & others)

*  To de-emphasize personal achievement and the ‘resumé mentality’, and strive instead to affirm others in their accomplishments (Ro. 12:15; 1 Th. 2:19-20)
*  To strive for Christian works which are truly “Christ’s work through me”, not “My works for Christ”. (Romans 15:17-18, Luke 17:10)
*  To derive satisfaction in the accomplishment, whether or not Christ chooses to accomplish through me.
 

2. Devalue and de-emphasize man’s construction, envalue and appreciate  God’s creation

*  Our works can never match God’s.  There is no comparison between a house and a living tree – yet we destroy whole forests to build houses!
*  Our ultimate job was to care for God’s creation, not to reshape it in our preferred image.
*  Consider the doctor’s role in the healing process.  The doctor does not heal the body -- rather, the doctor creates conditions so that the body can heal itself.  Our role vis-à-vis the environment should be of a similar nature -- but currently, it is not so.   We create environments which require continual chemical and mechanical  intervention.  Our lawns and gardens always need fertilizing, weed- and bug-killing, mowing, and watering.  We do not create self-sustaining natural environments, because we are dissatisfied with what comes naturally: this is characteristic of our entire lives (Proverbs 27:20), not just our treatment of the environment.
*  Instead of paving over everything, we should make way for God to express His glory through His living creation.
*  We need to rearrange our lives so that we require far less infrastructure: and then tear down  unnecessary buildings, rip up excess concrete, and return to life and nature as much of our surroundings as possible.
 

3.  Devalue and de-emphasize possession, envalue and take joy in sharing & efficient use of resources

* ‘Man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions’ (Luke 12:15).
*  To share means to make good, efficient use of God-given resources (Matthew 25:21).
*  The results of efficient sharing are:  Simplicity of lifestyle, clarity of thought,  removal of distractions (Mark 4:19), proper alignment of priorities (Matthew 6:33).
 

B.  Second, I pray for an overall restructuring of the Church

The Church must become a community within the community, not a separate community.  ‘Churches’ as we know them should cease to exist.  Instead, they should be replaced by a network of groupings of believers; where each community (i.e. neighborhood, workplace, interest group, etc) should have its own believer group or groups  (1 Tim. 2:8; Matthew 5:13-15)  which meet, worship, pray, and support each other as a part of (and not apart from) their daily life’s activity (Heb. 3:13, 10:24-25, Gal. 6:2).
 

C.  Third, I pray for a motivational and sociological revolution in science and technology, to be spearheaded by the Church.

1.  Motivational:

*  No more science for science’s sake.  This has destroyed science, just as art for art’s sake has destroyed art.
*  Science and technology driven by a vision for positive spiritual change:
*  Scientific inquiry moved by compassion and concerned awareness of human needs and environmental possibilities
> The desert shall bloom like the rose (Isaiah 35:1-2).
 > Springs in the desert (Isaiah 41:17-20)
*  Technology which truly extends human potential, and enables us to live in right relation to world: (Isaiah 11:6-9)

2. Sociological

*  Scientific and technical learning via the discipleship or atelier model  -- a “waterfall” approach to technical education where young people learn, and then immediately teach to the next level what they have learned.  Implement this especially in the Third World.
*  Practicing scientists and engineers educating students on a regular basis (semester sabbaticals), especially in the Third World.
*  Retreat centers where scientists and engineers can withdraw for inspiration, but also to have contact with young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, to encourage them in science.
 

©2002 CrossPollen. CrossPollen articles may be copied without permission from the author AS LONG AS (1) the article content is not changed (2) the original copyright notice is included. If you have been stimulated or challenged by these articles, please consider making a financial contribution to CrossPollen."Do not muzzle the ox who threshes the grain... If we sowed unto you spiritual things, is it a great matter if we shall reap your carnal things?"(1 Corinthians 9:9-11) Please contact us via e-mail. Thank you!

CrossPollen e-mail: thornroot@juno.com

Copyright © 2002 CrossPollen Last Revised: November 9, 2002