On Following a New Generation with a New Voice

Let me explain why I listen to the survivors of the Florida shooting when they say that our thoughts and prayers are unwelcome, and frankly, agree with them.

The gist of my point is not that prayer as such is an abomination, but that bullshit prayers are. Obviously you and I are not into bullshit prayers. Clearly we're among the sincere ones. But I think we (and the religious and spiritual leaders of America) are too easy on ourselves. The young people in Washington DC today protesting with a 'lie in' / 'die in' are showing us the way. https://www.mercurynews.com/.../photos-students-stage.../

What they are doing is what our generation of leaders in the church, the pastors, elders and deacons etc. should have been doing years and years ago. We have been the shepherds who have been silent. We have been the shepherds who betrayed the generations younger than us by being silent when we should have spoken, who have preferred the status quo than to protest. Our generation of spiritual leader failed the children when it was on us. It was always on us and we have failed. We should have been doing the die-ins and lie-ins. We should have been staring down the culture of guns and violence that has come to supplant Jesus' teachings on peaceableness and non-violence.

When these young people in Florida tell their Senators and House Reps and the President that their prayers are bullshit they are telling the leaders of this country that they are whitewashed tombs that look beautiful on the outside with their thoughts and prayers, but are corrupt on the inside, willing to take money for their silence and inaction. But if you listen carefully and discern the spirit of their pain you will also hear that the spiritual leaders of this nation, including you and I, are included in their cries. We have let the NRA and the American obsession with guns and violence define the spiritual and moral landscape. Our generation of spiritual leaders have been so busy praying and doing church that we have failed to be the salt that we are called to be. 

But when the shepherds fail, God's Spirit always raises up a generation who will lead. That generation is standing up now and showing us the way. They are asking us to listen to them and to walk with them in solidarity. And, much like Isaiah, they are telling us that our public prayers are no longer welcome. And so, while I agree with you wholeheartedly on the principals of contemplative action, there comes a time when if it is plain that the prophetic imagination has failed a generation of leaders we who were called and did not answer must reckon with why.