American Fervor

"Help us to share, to serve and to seek the common good of all." - Rick Warren, inauguration of Barack Obama

Inauguration prayers say something about where we are as a people.

In years past and in better health, Billy Graham, most important of the 20th century evangelicals, and later his son Franklin have delivered the opening prayer. In 1977, Jimmy Carter called on William Ragsdale Cannon, a liberal, anti-Vietnam Methodist pastor.

This year Barack Obama called on Rick Warren, who defines faith in God as seeking after purpose and whose small group ministry has built one of the largest congregations in America, and Joseph Lowery, a Methodist who has struggled for Civil Rights. Both men follow Jesus; Jesus leads them to do different things in his service.

Historian Simon Shama says that American religion is all about "fervor". Fervor is what American faith brings to the public square. Fervor begs us to serve God. And religious fervor begs Americans into service for truth, justice, and equality. The church has no candidate or political office; no law can or should be tied to religious commitment; yet faith always demands service to the community and, in most religions and denominations, calls for a transformation of society. Pastors have, over the years, called America to change.

Joseph Lowery and Rick Warren can offer powerful prayers at the same inauguration, asking God to do very different things for America.

Rick Warren begged God to help us "remember that we are Americans, united not by race or religion or blood, but to our commitment to freedom and justice for all" - acknowledging our unity. Joseph Lowery prayed "work for that day when black will not be asked to get in back, when brown can stick around ... when yellow will be mellow ... when the red man can get ahead, man; and when white will embrace what is right" - acknowledging the challenges of our diversity.

May we show our fervor and zeal for God by what we do. May we transform America....

In his fervor,
Morgan Whitfield