Prayer as a tool for social reform

#898 for broadcast on 2CH Sydney, 25 May 2014.

Getting arrested for praying in public is catching on, if recent events drawing attention to the plight of asylum seekers and the Abbott Government’s response is any indication.

The actions, dubbed “pray-ins,” saw church leaders sitting on the floor in the electoral offices of Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten, praying and reading from the Bible in a bid to encourage immigration policy reform.

Gosford Anglican Church minister, the Reverend Rod Bower, says “Australia now finds itself in the midst of a perfect storm for the emergence of faith-based activism,” and conditions are ripe for a prophetic movement of biblical proportions.

It’s not for everyone, but it’s good to see thoughtful non-violent protest by Christians aimed at addressing some of our nation’s most unjust and intolerable policies. One wonders if similar protests will target contested policies on more personal moral issues.

I’m Rod Benson for the NSW Council of Churches.