I decided to swing by the 9Marks website and noticed there a post by Greg Gilbert entitled, “Why I Pray Publicly for Other Churches.”  In it, Gilbert mentions his practice of praying for local churches, by name, from the pulpit on Sundays.  He notes that doing so usually causes some concern in those who are unfamiliar with the practice.

Believe it or not, the practice of praying for other churches is so rare in many Christians’ experience that many don’t know exactly how to process it. More than once during my pastorate, a visitor to Third Avenue has walked up to me with a very concerned look to express surprise that such-and-such church is having troubles. After all, why would the pastor of one church pray for another church if there weren’t serious problems afoot there?!

Now, this post has really caused me to think and to feel a number of things.  First, I’m struck by the simple and refreshing obedience of it.  Second, I am saddened to realize that I am not surprised that there would be people who instinctively think, upon hearing a pastor pray for another church, that that church must be having problems.  (What does that say about the church in America today?)  Third, Gilbert’s practice likely goes a long way towards combating (a) tribalism (the defensive posture of local congregations concerned only with their own turf), (b) clergy competition, and (c) consumerism (by showing that we really are not about competing against other congregations in an ecclesial marketplace and we are not trying to demonstrate, in ways subtle or explicit, that we are “better” than other churches).

All of that being said, I do realize that there is likely something deficient in approaching prayer from purely utilitarian perspective.  That is to say, we should not pray for other churches because of the effect it might have on our own or even on the ministry in general.  To do so is to introduce ulterior motives into prayer.  So I’m not offering those effects as the goal or purpose of such praying.  I’m simply saying that those are likely corollary effects.  But above all of these should indeed be a simple desire for God to bless other Christian congregations with growth, health, vitality, and the joy and peace of Jesus.

That’s a brilliant, challenging idea from Greg Gilbert.

I’m ashamed I never thought of something so very simple, so very biblical, and so very Christlike.