From a netfriend:

Thank you for your comments John, I feel that I need to respond to your encouragement about the US President George W. Bush being a man of prayer and Christian faith. I want to say that I am pleased that President Bush proclaims faith in Christ, and that he prays about his leadership role. I do have a number of questions however about the nature of his prayers and the role his faith plays in making decisions about the current Iraqi crisis.

I was disappointed to learn that President Bush was not requesting prayer that war would be averted. I was disappointed that President Bush was not requesting prayer for the creativity of the Spirit of God to bring about the kingdom of God through the gospel of Jesus Christ.

As I understand it, the Gospels portray a Jesus who is tempted by demonic forces to take the world for God by the force of his own glory (Matt 4:1-11 & Mk 1:21-27 for example). The gospel of Mark in particular tells the story of a Jesus who went into combat with the forces of evil, not with the might of his godly power but with the rebuke of healing and restoration to community. The demons represented the social, political, religious and spiritual powers that were oppressing the people of God. What broke their power was the refusal of Jesus to play their game, the game of power, prestige and military force. Instead Jesus went about healing and creating community and breaking down power structures by these simple actions. It seems to me that what the prayers of President Bush and those Christians who support him in this military action are actually encouraging is the perpetuation of the demonic lie that Jesus refused to entertain.

Mahatma Gandhi once said, “The only people on earth who do not see Christ and his teachings as non-violent are Christians.” (Radical Readings Diary, SCM Press, London, 2002). It is tragic to me that self professed Christian leaders in this world are so willing to entertain the demonic lie that Jesus spent his whole time combating with his willingness to offer healing and community to those who were suppressed by it.

The whole purpose of the church of God on earth is to act as midwife at the birth of the kingdom in this place. Military action will never bring about the presence of the kingdom that Jesus proclaimed.

My prayer for President George W. Bush is this,

God of life, may the terror end? By the fresh wind of your Spirit teach the leaders of the West a different way to defuse the terror. Protect the family of President Bush and all our families. Keep us from visiting terror on the families in countries whom the West names as its military targets. Teach President Bush, Prime Minister John Howard and all leaders the way of Jesus Christ. The way that reaches out to touch the untouchable, that forgives the enemy, that welcomes the unwelcome, that proclaims judgement on injustice by refusing to participate or retaliate in like kind, that rebukes hate with kindness, war with reconciliation, violence with love, judgement with mercy.

In the name of Jesus.