James once said “religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself form being polluted by the world” (James 1:27).  This doesn’t seem like such a radical point of view until one considers the way that the Romans viewed religion.  Borrowing from Richard Horsley’s Jesus and Empire, we can see just as much Romans viewed religion as an extension of the state:

“The most divine Caesar…we should consider equal to the Beginning of all things…; for when everything was falling [into disorder] and tending toward dissolution, he restored it once more and gave it to the whole world a new aura; Caesar…the common good fortune of all…the beginning of life and vitality…All the cities unanimously adopt the birthday of the divine Caesar as the beginning of the year…who was being sent to us and our descendants as Savior, has put an end to war and has set all things in order; and [whereas] having becoming [god] manifest, Caesar has fulfilled all hopes of earlier times…the birthday of the God [Augustus] has been for the whole world the beginning of good news (gr: evangelion) concerning him [therefore let a new era beginning from his birth).” –OGIS 2.#458

When James says the word “religion” and does not include the word “Caesar,” he is subverting empire and committing a crime against the crown.  Not only that, but it is a commentary on the whole power structure of Rome.  How did Rome perpetuate the infamous Pax Romana?  The ‘peace of Rome’ was sustained by taking money from conquered people’s in the form of tribute to the capital and Rome redistributing that money to Roman legions who would, in turn, protect the crown.  While Rome takes from others to protect themselves, the church, as a vital and life-sustaining force for the world, gives to others who cannot protect themselves.

But this is the way that church has always been.  We have always been called to give ourselves away and to show God’s grace by helping the helpless.  We have always been called to share the gospel to all, even if this means great personal loss for ourselves.  We have always been called to carry our cross.  We have always been called, even if it is dangerous…

Divine God,

We look to the holy father, in whom all creation depends by the infusion of the spirit and the particular and powerful world of the son: we worship the holy trinity in spirit and in truth.  We see the elections coming soon, and pray for the candidates.  We pray that you would fill their mind and anoint the winner to do as you would have them do.  Please help them to see that all their power comes from you.

We ask for the healing of Jenna, whose intestines are being eaten out in Bolivian country.  Heal her.

We pray that the sick would be healed.

That the lame would walk.

That the street lights would dance in the kingdom of heaven tonight.

That the heavy laden would sleep.

That the busy would slow down.

That you would be in the midst of all.

Amen.

Holy and divine God,

You, the most holy and high father, to whom we pray are the God of the universe.  We praise your holy name and ask, through the infusing power of your spirit and the word of your Son, to grant our requests today.

We pray for belfast, that you would show all people in the city that you are a god of peace.  We pray that the soldiers being welcomed home would be welcomed peaceably, and that those protesting the war would also be greeted peaceably.  Lord, we want to see your kingdom of peace reach to all corners of the world by the witness of your holy saints proclaiming the message of Jesus Christ–the ultimate willingness death on a cross that subverted an empire of control and the resurrection that broke open the powers of empire with pure light of the Father, the Son and the holy spirit.

We pray for those in the margins, that their carnival will go well and that this community would be able to express the pure and powerful light of Christ to those living in South Central.  We know that you want to do a poweful work there.

We ask that you would take care of Sarah while she is in China.

I ask for a pure and powerful gospel to reach the whole world through the divine light of Jesus Christ, or perhaps, to show them what is already there.

We also concur with John’s prayer list.