Donald Miller’s Democratic Convention Prayer Video
“I make these requests in the name of Your son Jesus, who gave his own life against the forces of injustice.
Let Him be our example…Amen”
Amen.
Los
Technorati Tags: Donald Miller, Democratic Convention, Prayer
RAIN IT DOWN
Thanks Los!
Was looking for it…had to change 3 channels only to hear the end of the prayer.
Let him be my example! Amen.
That…. freakin’…. rocks! And he’s lost a lot of weight! Looking good Donald!!
THAT WAS SICK!!!! I LOVE THAT “LIBERAL CHRISTIAN!” SO GLAD HE ANSWERED THE PHONE.
BTW, the “LIBERAL” thing was sarcastic. Hope that came through.
Thanks for posting that.
Wow. Very cool!
yea dude, real good. Amen, indeed.
donny boy is looking good. that is such a superficial thing to say. but boy cleans up nice.
I think Cameron Strang was right, Donald MIller is more famous, and this prayer was pretty dope.
On a side note… that freakin’ mouse hand drove me bonkers the whole time it was sitting there. Kinda annoying.
amazing prayer
i would have gotten nervous and recited Ben Stiller’s prayer in “Meet the Parents”…
Seriously: we are living in revolutionary times…and unique and profound things are happening in ways that should be getting our attention…
hope were awake
Loved most of it. I wish he would have left out some of the Democratic policy issues, but well done overall!
If my husband dies, I’m marrying Donald Miller.
Is that inappropriate?
Anyway, thanks.
That was a powerful prayer for sure. I tend to lean Republican most of the time, and the more “democratic” issues that he prayed for I believe are things we should not as our “political beliefs” should support, but as sons and daughters, and brothers and sisters of one another and of this nation should support and pray for.
Great stuff.
http://www.vagabondrunn.wordpress.com
Got home from a meeting to read that my wife – the one I’m married to and sitting right next to on the couch – has her eyes set on Don Miller. Maybe should I read all the comments more often…
Beautiful!
great prayer… not sure what “democratic policy issues” where in there (single moms, people not causes, health care for who does not have any, paying teachers like my brother, eduaction?)
…just wondering
So I’m slow, but it didn’t even occur to me that it was Donald Miller until I saw Carlos’ twitter…then I had to rewatch the video. He looks much better than a year ago! Awesome prayer.
as an immigrant to this country. still trying to figure out all these democratic and republican stuff. just wondering… if those are democratic policy issues, then what are the republican issues?
and as a christian… what are the christian policy issues?
I think by “democratic policy issues” he meant more like “sayings you could imagine hearing at a democratic political rally.”
Stuff like:
“…the courage to work together to finally provide health care to those who don’t have any..”
“…Help us figure out how to pay teachers what they deserve…”
“…the balance between economic opportunity and corporate gluttony…”
“…restore our moral standing in the world…”
I guess to me, when I heard it, that middle section sounded a little bit like when your pastor would close the service in prayer, and his prayer would basically be a way to rehash whatever his three sermon points were.
“Dear God, help us to , while not forgetting to . We ask for your strength to .”
But, despite this debate, I think we must focus on what is truly important: that man is a lady killer!
We could start with the beatitudes, or maybe the great commission, but I think we need to dwell more on “Love God, Love People”.
cool stuff! some interesting dialogue from a post i did on this today too:
http://brianwurzell.wordpress.com/2008/08/25/donald-miller-prays-at-the-democratic-national-convention/
word. And, “We’ve tried to figure out these problems by ourselves, but they’re still there. So we need your help.”
I thought it was interesting how the producer/camera crew had such a hard time finding shots of people who were actually praying (ie. not talking, moving around, looking irritated, rolling eyes, etc.). You might need to watch the actual HI-DEF version on the DNC site to actually catch the various expressions in the background.
I can’t imagine it was easy for him to pray in front of an audience so thick with atheists, agnostics, humanists and the like. Bold move – slightly generic, cliche, and weak – however, huge props for having the guts to do it!!
A little disappointed in the choice of “issues” in the prayer – but also keeping the audience in mind I think it was pretty safe.
I have to admit – and I feel a little bad for being so honest – he’s a total pawn in this situation – a virtual HOOK to procure the “20something Christian” vote. I mean, if you can get a postmodern christian icon to declare his support (however fractured it is) for the Democratic Party it’s a sure bet that you’ll also secure a few thousand votes from his loyal, yet politically undecided readers.
Let’s be honest – the Obama campaign is speaking the language of the younger voter. They understand the culture today FAR BETTER than the Republican party (comprised largely of old, white, stubborn, rich guys who don’t value the younger vote) Donald became a Dem tool and I predict more “use” of him before election day 2008 arrives.
Courageous move, Don, but I really hate to say it – I think you just got owned.
*Good dodge Cameron – the Dem party wanted your undecided readers and you didn’t hand them over. Wise and well played.
May God have mercy on us this election and the next 4 years.
that may have been one of the highlights to me, because of lot of the rest of it turned my stomach but I don’t care what political side you are on, when it’s good, say it good… that was good.
It was good!
Does not matter where, when, or which political side your on.
Good is Good.
Thanks Posting and Recording.
Great stuff. Thanks so much for posting… only caught the tail end of it last night. Love the site and the tat!
You asked earlier about who had the stones…That prayer was the stonesiest prayer he could possibly had prayed. I wonder how many democrats got mad when they heard him say some of that stuff. And I wonder how many republicans are getting mad this morning as they read or watch what he said.
And that’s why I love Donald Miller. On a side note, I’m going to guess he’s looking so good from spending his summer biking across the country for Blood:Water Mission. That would probably do it.
Was it a prayer or a speech? I couldn’t tell. No one ever prays like that!
Most prayers seem to be for the ears of men rather than the ear of God. This sounded more like a liberal speech. Only under socialism would the government “provide” much of any of the stuff they “provide.” I will not watch any of the convention unless there is a big fight with the Clintons. What if McCain announced Hillary as his vice president during Obama’s speech, and all the Clinton supporters get up and walk out. Cool.
just saying…
Well done Don. I didn’t recognize him at first. He’s lost a lot of weight in a year. At Labor Day Retreat last year he was pretty big. Well done on the prayer and in losing that weight.
I couldn’t believe the amount of people who were still moving around, talking, and looking around while “The Don” was praying.
I watched it live in HD on the web and it took the camera man 20 sec to find someone else praying or bowing their head, haha.
Solid prayer but that had to be a tough atmosphere to pray in.
That is exactly what a Christ Follower should do. You want me to pray…. sure, when and where?
Amen!
I find it interesting that there is such an issue over “Separation of Church and State” until it comes in handy for them. We can’t pray in schools, we can’t have the ten commandments up but when we want to get the Christian votes we can have somebody stand up and pray for us at the convention.
Just my thoughts…
Don Miller means well I am sure. I love his books. But, here is a question.
Do you not think it is interesting that us Christians are still so naive, gullible and ridiculous to be used by both parties for their purposes? Obama and McCain do not speak for our faith, right? Or, am I wrong? Just asking.
I don’t know why, Los (and fellow Ragamuffins), but this whole turn of events just doesn’t sit well with me. Since when is prayer something so politically charged? I mean, I have to give it to Don for saying what he said…but I tend to agree with Andy and Mandy’s reactions. I’m still dealing with the way Cameron Strang was treated in all this, too. I’ve heard so many mixed reactions to the whole thing, and Hannity and Colmes kinda pissed me off last night.
But I digress…
Change is afoot. I think our generation (especially the Christians) are waking up to a new reality.
While I agree with most if not all of what Donald says in his prayer, I was left wondering if that is a prayer we should be hearing more in our churches and not in a political arena. It is my opinion that the church has abdicated much if not all of its social responsibility to the government. I know that is a broad generalization as there are hundreds if not thousands of churches that do wonders on the social justice front. My point is that we as Christ followers should be providing the “services” that are so deemed so critical by “the least of these” and not relying on the government to do so. Furthermore, I believe if the Church (big C) would reengage this responsibility that perhaps the country would more fully understand the message of Christ and His Cross. We would be known for what we stand for instead of all that we are against.
Andy, the democratic policy issues were two…universal health care and raising the minimum wage. Those are specific to the democratic party’s method of achieving justice, and it seemed too much like pandering to me. But again, I agreed with the other 98% of the speech, so I’m just nit-picking here…
I guess the thing that troubles me are what people are claiming to be the “issues” in the prayer. And calling it weak?? I thought it was great.
Civil religion at its finest.
chris: i used the word “issues” in the political sense of the word. “issues” are topics that are discussed in political conversation. Not “issues” like “problems”. And “weak” as in not powerful. Not intended in a derogatory way – but as a description of the way a prayer in this setting is crafted to dance around the “elephant in the room” (no pun intended, though it would have been a good one).
What about “convict us of our failure to recognize the rights of the unborn and the original intention of marriage and family”?? Or “Give us wisdom to properly see evil and to stop calling wrong right and right wrong”?? THAT would have been powerful.
Again – I love the guy and respect him greatly for his own courage and willingness to pray in that context.
Hi Los, what do you think paul or peter would have prayed, given that opportunity? i’m not sure they’d've spoken on policy/agenda stuff.. but rather maybe have spoken about the good news, repentance, salvation?
-dp.
I thought his comment on Jesus “giving his life to fight injustice” mixed with his comment on the world not knowing the “hearts of regular Americans” was a bit odd.
While I know Christ died so we could join his Kingdom of Love and Grace, He also died so we wouldn’t receive our just reward (read: Hell). We’re not the victims, but the perpetrators.
And as for the “hearts of regular Americans”, most folks I know (and love) are selfish jerks. They can be polite and civil, but, on the whole, the “regular Americans” I know (and love) are sinful and bad.
Those comments smell a bit of: “people are really good inside” to me. That doesn’t seem like the world I know, sadly.
“I make these requests in the name of Your son Jesus, who gave his own life against the forces of injustice.
Let Him be our example…Amen”
“Amen.
Los”
Do you really Amen(meaning you agree)this statement?
It sounds pretty, but it leaves me scratching my head.Is he saying that Jesus Christ laid his life down because of injustice? Did the Creator of this universe give His only Begotten Son because our rights were violated? As if we (the sinful human race) didn’t deserve to be the ones to die. We deserved a death like that, but instead He took our place. We weren’t wronged. We were wrong! He paid a debt He did not owe, because we owed a debt we could not pay. (Matthew 20:28) He gave His life so that we could be forgiven. FORGIVEN. (Matthew 26:28) There wouldn’t be any need of forgiveness had we done nothing wrong. We couldn’t and can’t cry injustice, because we were and are fully guilty.
My intent is not to spark a debate, but I just couldn’t let this one go. I hope you understand.
GID said exactly what I was mulling over all day.
Jesus died for INJUSTICE?!
i thought it was great.
may God use the prayer of don miller to shape our nation.
“may God use the prayer of don miller to shape our nation.”
Or at least to fund health care, pay teachers better.
Sorry, I had to…peace….
glad i wasn’t the only one thinking this —
but isn’t it BECAUSE of God’s justice that demanded the sacrifice of His precious Son? yes, I think that’s what the Word says.
i guess i do sorta get what he was meaning, in a demo-sycophant sort of way.
and dang, he’s looked good!
Should have listened to Prager on this today. He was hot about this prayer. He felt Don was taking God’s name in vain. It did sound more like a political speech than a prayer. It took a political agenda and said it was God’s agenda. Not that this is not something you may firmly believe, but in reality is it something God believes. What are the “Forces of Injustice”? Is that what Christ died for? Maybe, I am just not sure what they are. If by Forces of injustice you mean sin then sure, but if by that you mean some don’t have health care then I am not sure I am tracking with you. We are commanded to care for those in need. By us caring does that mean we make everyone have to give? Where do I fail? How have I failed? It is easy to pray a prayer like this one at the exclusion of individual responsibility.
BTW loved Blue like jazz.
Peace
Nathan
Prager!!
As someone elsewhere has commented, it pretty fascinating how different the take is in different corners of the Christian family.
i love don miller, but it’s amazing to me that we are all congratulating HIM about a prayer. sounds like a speech to me. it appears it was meant for humans to hear, not not for worship and adoration towards to God. that may not have been his intent, i can’t judge that. i’m only saying what it sounded like.
we’re all guilty of this, though.
downtownblogs
Kyle and GID are right on. You may like what this man had to say, but it isn’t the truth. Jesus didn’t give his life against the forces of injustice, he laid down his life to take on himself the JUST (not injust) wrath and punishment of a holy God for the sin which we have perpetrated against him.
So the prayer may sound nice and all but it doesn’t even make sense, it’s way off the point of the Gospel and it makes me wonder if Don Miller even knows the Jesus in who’s name he is praying?
to quote Amy Storm:
“If my husband dies, I’m marrying Donald Miller.
Is that inappropriate?”
To that I say:
…if my wife dies I’m marrying Donald Miller…is that inappropriate?
j/k, but Donald Miller rocks my face off!
I’m intrigued that so may people are ticked off by the “injustice” comment.
Jesus’ death saves us from a lot of things. If those of us who claim to be his followers truly follow his example, then “injustice” is absolutely one of them. Jesus fought injustice with his life and teachings to a point that the unjust killed him. Then he rose…kind of sticking it to injustice again (and, of course, doing so much more).
The average Christian’s unwillingness to fight injustice–or even be disturbed by it–is what makes me wonder what gospel people are reading, rather than Don’s prayer. Sure, it sounded like political pandering at places, but I sincerely believe that, no matter what you think the solutions are, we really should be concerned with and be prayerfully considering every issue he mentioned.
I truly believe that the cross isn’t just about heaven and hell. It’s about life and death. Life and death includes NOW.
Jesus didn’t die to save us from injustice.
Jesus died to save us from the JUSTICE of God’s wrath against our sinful nature that is due to us.
Those are two different things, and two different gospels, which Paul said we should be aware of in the last days.