FW: Join Us as We Pray for Our Nation on Religious Freedom Day

 

Join together with Dr. Greg Seltz at the Lutheran Center for Religious Liberty and your fellow LCMS Lutherans in prayer for our nation on Religious Freedom Day, January 16, 2018.     A Call to Prayer for Our Nation Religious liberty. Life. Marriage. These are fundamental, foundational truths that make life worth living for all people. So, how come they are all deemed so "controversial" in the public square? Why can't you rejoice about such things, or just be thankful at the party, the family gathering, or the neighborhood picnic? When did life get reduced to talking about "the weather and sports…just to be safe?" (Even that's not safe today either, right?) But these topics matter. Why? Because people matter. And people matter to us as Lutheran believers because they matter to Jesus. We teach about these issues, communicating our points of view clearly and faithfully. We are working hard to open the Lutheran Center for Religious Liberty in Washington, D.C., because we want to bear witness to Christ in the public square — even in a culture where many people don't want to hear about Him. Stand for the Truth because you love people! It's time. January and February are months where our nation celebrates liberty and life, fundamental truths that still matter in our culture. January 16 is Religious Freedom Day commemorating the principles that undergird the first amendment of our constitution. January 19 is the Pro-Life March in Washington D.C. where people from all walks of life, stand together for the sanctity of life for all people. And, February 1 is National Freedom Day, commemorating President Lincoln's freeing of the slaves and the passage of the 13th amendment. Religious liberty, life, marriage: these things mattered then and they matter now — not only for us, but also for our children and our grandchildren. So, please join with us at Lutheran Center for Religious Liberty and with your fellow LCMS Lutherans in prayer — for our churches, for our members, for our country, for her elected leaders. That, of course, is our joy and challenge, together, even in this intensely politically charged atmosphere: to remain faithful, to stay the course, to pray because people matter! But as you pray, remember that our Lord is at work before and after our prayers calling people to himself. He is the strength for us to pray. He is the power for us 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. And now, as your Lutheran Center for Religious Liberty in Washington D.C., we are speaking that truth in the public square with you, for you, for our churches, schools and universities. In all we do together in Christ's name, we trust that God—in His perfect time and way—will work all things for His good! So please pray with us. Holy Father, as Your People, we turn to You, our mighty fortress, our refuge in every struggle and need. Our nation is confused about so many things, even those things that are fundamental to who we are as human beings created in your image to love as you have loved us. Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy! Show us the path of service so that we might encourage our elected leaders and those who have authority over us to be faithful in the vocations you have for them to do. Cause us to be uncompromising witnesses to Your will and Your ways, both in our homes and in the public square because your love, your truth truly set us free. Help us to proclaim in Christ the liberty and freedom that comes from the gift of forgiveness for every sin committed, every opportunity missed to speak 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 of our own, save through the merits and mediation 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 the Executive Director of the Lutheran Center for Religious Liberty, Dr. Gregory Seltz. A special mailing from Dr. Seltz will be headed your way soon, and you won't want to miss it. Keep on top of the issues. Visit the Lutheran Center for Religious Liberty's Facebook page for devotions about liberty, life, marriage and education and two-kingdom commentary on issues of the day. And soon you will receive an opportunity in your email inbox to sign up for weekly devotion emails presented by the LCRL. Pray! Print out a copy of the above prayer as a reminder to pray for the president, elected leaders and the nation.   Home | Privacy Policy | Email Preferences Follow the LCRL on Facebook The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod 1333 S. Kirkwood Road | St. Louis, MO 63122  lcms.org     It's easy to update your Email Preferences. Be sure to add mission.advancement@lcms.org to your address book or safe senders list so our emails get to your inbox. You may also review our Privacy Policy.