A Call to Prayer

Marriage. Life. Religious liberty. They are all deemed “controversial” in the public square, buzz words for “Don’t talk about this at the neighborhood party” or, “Stick to discussing the weather and sports…just to be safe.”

And yet each topic matters. Fundamentally, they matter because people matter. And people matter to us as Lutherans because they matter to Jesus.

We teach about these issues, we communicate and catechize about them, and we work to establish offices because we desire to bear witness to Christ, even in the public square, even in a culture where people don’t want to hear about Him.

Remaining faithful

This month, as our nation prepares to swear in a new president, we ask you to join with your fellow LCMS Lutherans in prayer—for our churches, for our members, for our country, for her elected leaders. That, of course, is your joy and challenge in this intensely politically charged atmosphere: to remain faithful, to stay the course, to pray!
Our Lord hasn’t left you alone to be a voice for His gift of marriage or to speak for the value of the lives He creates. He remains with you. He is not absent. He is still at the helm, the head of the body, still leading, still guiding.
As you pray, know that as Christians we are together bearing witness to Christ in and by all that we do, speaking truth in the public square, at our own kitchen tables and over our backyard fences, remaining firm in the faith. And we trust that God—in His perfect time and way—will work all things for His good!

Holy Father, as Your People, we turn to You, our only refuge in every need. You see how confused and concerned our nation is. Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy!

Show us the path forward that we, our elected leaders and those who have authority over us may be faithful in the vocations you have given us to do. Cause us to be uncompromising witnesses to Your will and Your ways, both in our homes and in the public square.

Help us to proclaim in Christ the gift of forgiveness for every sin we have committed, every time we have not spoken the truth in love, every instance where we have remained silent. Give us a voice to speak for the unborn, the joy to lift up the gift of marriage, and the willingness to speak on behalf of people of faith who are, even now, persecuted for their faith in You.

We have no right to ask this, save through the merits and meditation of Him whose blood atones for the sin of the whole world, even Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

How can I get involved?

• Watch for insight from President Harrison. A special mailing from President Harrison will be headed your way soon, and you won’t want to miss it.

• Keep on top of the issues. Email freetobefaithful@lcms.org to get the latest on the Synod’s Free to Be Faithful work as well as the Lutheran Center for Religious Liberty.

• Pray! Print out a copy of the above prayer as a reminder to pray for the president, elected leaders and the nation.

• Learn more. Visit lcms.org/lcrl to learn about the Synod’s work to establish an office in Washington, D.C.