Same Prayers, Different Day
In the weeks and months to come, we will begin a series of short articles answering common questions that people ask about the Franconia-Springfield Mission and about the nature of Anglicanism more broadly. Today we will look at how praying written prayers can become a tool for the Holy Spirit to fashion us into the image of Christ. The question is this: Are we being faithful and authentic by praying written prayers? First, let’s look at what is a common objection.
When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Pray then in this way...
(Matt 6:7-9a, NRSV)
The objection is that any form of pre-scripted prayer expresses both disobedience to Jesus and an inauthenticity on our part. So much of our life stories go into these kinds of arguments: perhaps we grew up in a home that regularly prayed, but we never saw life change. Perhaps we went to a church that prayed scripted prayers and we never experienced spiritual vitality in our own lives or the lives of others. All Christians have some form of written liturgy: This could be the baptist pastor beginning the service with “The Lord is risen” and expecting the congregation to respond with “The Lord is risen indeed”; it could the Catholic Mass where the only thing potentially unscripted is the priest’s sermon. While it could be said that heavy scripts produce inauthenticity, but it also happens that some of the least scripted kinds of churches can also be filled with the most deviant ideas about God and become harbors of hypocrisy. Jesus has the same warning for all disciples: Be authentic and remember that the length of one’s prayer does not count for more or less in God’s economy.
Jesus warns people not to “…heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do,” a prohibition which takes aim at those pagans (i.e., non-Jews) who think they can placate and appease God through rhetorical polish, prayer length, and possibly even magical incantation. This is not how God’s economy works; and I can appreciate how an experience of the church might feel like this: some have experienced very un-Christian behavior from people who pray long and often with little (or no) life transformation. This was a constant problem in the Old Testament (cf. Mic 6:6-10) and it was a problem in Jesus’ day amongst pious Jews (Matt 6:5-6) as well as among pagans (Matt 6:7-8). The problem was not written prayers, but inauthenticity and an incorrect knowledge of God. Notice that when the disciples ask how they ought to pray, He does not say “Pray however you feel like praying at that moment,” as though authenticity were the only criteria of formative prayer. Instead, Jesus says, “Pray like this…” and so offers them both a prayer and a template. Written prayers accompanied by authenticity and a right understanding of God accomplish much in the divine economy and our own transformation.
The Book of Common Prayer
The great Anglican theologian, C.S. Lewis, wrote a book called Letters to Malcolm: Chiefly on Prayer, which is a manual on prayer in the form of letters to a recipient who is not real, but whose concerns and objections are very much based upon reality. In his second letter to Malcolm, he gives three reasons why he finds written prayers to be helpful (and in Lewis’ context written prayers refer to those which come from the Book of Common Prayer):
First, it keeps me in touch with ‘sound doctrine’. Left to oneself, one could easily slide away from ‘the faith once given’ into a phantom called ‘my religion’. Secondly, it reminds me ‘what things I ought to ask’ (perhaps especially when I am praying for other people)…Finally, they provide an element of the ceremonial. On your view, that is just what we don’t want. On mine, it is part of what we want…We ought to be — sometimes I hope one is — simultaneously aware of closest proximity and infinite distance.”
Do Anglicans still pray in their own words? Absolutely! As our Catechism says, “I should pray the Lord’s Prayer, the Psalms, the collected prayers of the Church, and my own prayers as the Spirit leads me.” (To Be a Christian: An Anglican Catechism, §158).
The Book of Common Prayer, which we use at the Franconia-Springfield Mission, collects the Psalms, Scriptures and prayers of the Church into a prayer “rule.”I realize that the word “rule” sounds restrictive, but there are times when rules are helpful. For example, how many family board games have been ruined when people make up rules as it goes along? The rules of the game create clarity and facilitate enjoyment in community. A rule that govern our lives and prayers can be useful because we are people with disordered affections, wayward proclivities, and who are affected deeply by the changes of the world around us.
The Book of Common Prayer functions as a “rule” of prayer for us, cultivating in us a life of intention, helping us grow to love and glorify God more fully. It orders our moments and seasons of life and worship, training our hearts to worship the Lord in Spirit and Truth, creating an authentic and vibrant people who are growing in the love of Christ (cf. To Be a Christian: An Anglican Catechism, §224, 246, 248).
My Story
It may surprise you to know that I did not grow up Anglican. I came to faith in Christ and had many of my formative discipleship years in a fundamentalist stream of protestantism. I am grateful for the ways that this tradition taught me to have a high view of preaching and of the Scriptures. I was not introduced to Anglicanism until I was in my mid-twenties and my introduction came in the form of morning prayer (a service in the Book of Common Prayer also called the Daily Office) at a local church. Prior to that introduction, I had been committed to daily Scripture reading (often called “quiet times” or “devotionals”), but this new experience was different. It felt like the first time I was properly taught to pray the Scriptures rather than merely read them.
After entering the candle-lit chapel in silence, I would kneel in the stillness of the space, asking God where He might be present today. The chapel never had more than 6 or 7 people, but the experience of praying each morning next to men, women, and children from different backgrounds and of various stages of life taught me that even though the words may feel the same, it is me who changes each day. It taught me to move from confession to thanksgiving authentically every morning and evening, asking where the Holy Spirit was present in the moments and interactions of each day. It reoriented me to God, others, and myself, reminding me that God is Holy and to be revered while still remaining intimately present.
How to pray
VIRTUAL COMPLINE
In this pandemic, I believe this Book of Common Prayer forms the rule of prayer that our hearts need to order what feels unruly and ever changing. It teaches us how to come to God in grief and lamentation, in repentance, and in authentic joy for His great acts of salvation. This season is forming us into one of our core values, which is to live the kind of life outlined in the Book of Common Prayer. Growing as a disciple of Jesus does not stop during a pandemic and although we cannot be in physical proximity together, we can share a prayer life. We have been praying Compline together on Wednesdays, but if you would like to learn more about how to pray the Book of Common Prayer personally or lead it in your household, here are three resources:
How to Do Morning Prayer. This article has helpful instructions in leading daily prayer (also called the Daily Office).
Praying Around the Table: Making a Prayer Space in Your Home. These are practical suggestions about creating sacred space at home.
Contact me. Let’s pray the prayers together, or just talk about what has been encouraging or challenging with praying these kinds or written prayers. If there are other resources that would be helpful during this pandemic I want to help you find them.
Let’s pray together and be transformed as we become a community that is authentic and learning to grow in the love of Christ through our common rhythms of prayer.
In Christ,
Fr. Morgan Reed+