Looking Back: Prayer – The Church’s First Work

From January 1964

We ought to take up what the Moderator has said and face what it means.

Has prayer priority in our congregations? This is a searching question, for it applies everywhere.

If we are caring about the sick is prayer for them our first concern?

If we are teaching the children do we first of all, and every week, pray for grace and wisdom to teach them Christ – not about Christ but Christ?

If we are visiting as elders or as ministers is it after prayer that we set out?

If we have to choose a minister is prayer – fervent, persevering prayer – our first action (not just ‘opening the meeting with prayer’)?

If money is required for an essential cause, are we called together in the first place to submit our need in prayer to God and to ask in faith for what His work requires?

This is the question: Is prayer essential? Is it our first work for Christ? Is it the beginning of everything?

We are not so different from unbelievers if we go about the Church’s work in any other way. If we organise and teach and do our service, and then perfunctorily ask God to prosper what we have done, or decide to do, we are only adding a religious gesture to our human endeavour.

Dr Stewart’s call, taken seriously, would shake our methods and our priorities in most congregations.

-       Via Veritas Vita

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