THE DANGER OF TOKENISM

by Glenice Mills

We live in a world of slogans, sayings and catchy themes. Language is a subtle way the enemy can numb us to believe lies and say things that have no foundation on fact, truth or wisdom. We say things not realizing the power of the words we speak.

I want to address something that is being blithely spoken at this time, which is a part of our language, but is a very serious thing to speak.

Everywhere at the moment after the Paris bombings, leaders, Christians and peoples from all nations are saying, “My thoughts and prayers are with those in Paris”. Words are cheap. If we are truly honest we are probably thinking of other things and our prayers may be a quick ‘Help the people in Paris Lord’ and then we get on with our own thoughts and prayers for our own needs and wants.

Many who don’t know the Lord as Saviour still pray and that is the marvel of mankind that has this deep innate seed on the inside of all to reach out to God in prayer.

I am not being critical or judgmental because the truth is the Lord hears our prayers, He knows our hearts and I know He is grieved about what is happening in Paris and in the world. Rather I am challenging the heart intent behind the words we speak or more importantly what we don’t speak.

I fear tokenism is behind a lot of things and our religiousness will have us speak things that we have absolutely no intention of actually carrying out. I wonder how many people who have said the words ‘my thoughts and prayers are with Paris’ have actually sat down, sought the Lord for His heart for Paris, or whatever is on His heart in France or other nations that are also experience devastating things.

Tokenism means granting minimum concessions, making a token effort. I think we are all guilty of this in some measure, however we need to be very careful particularly as Christians when we give our word to someone that we carry it out. So perhaps we need to be more mindful of what we commit to saying and doing?

My question is: from what heart intent is these prayers for Paris being offered up? Emotion is powerful but the foundation of the emotion is critical. Sadly many are praying for Paris out of fear and anger. What ‘religion’ is the base from which these prayers are being said? What false foundation are these prayers based on? Man’s opinions? False peace? Do the people really care or they only doing ‘the right thing’ from pretense?

Many prayers are to a god, but not to Father God, through Jesus Christ our intercessor. Does God hear these prayers?

I have no doubt that many Christians are burdened with Paris and France right now and this is rightly so. Others have burdens for other nations, people or situations. The Lord reveals His heart to His people and we all have a responsibility to stand with, pray, love and support those who need us. Prayer is not just words it is actions. Prayer is a free will choice, not an obligation.

Let’s seek God for His perspective on some things. Yes He is a God of love, compassion and mercy, however let’s be on target and pray what He wants us individually to pray, not from wrong emotions, obligation or because it’s the right thing to do. Let’s not say, “I’ll pray for you” and go on our merry way with no intention of doing what we just said. Watch out for tokenism – it is subtly in our culture and speech. Let’s come back to what God says.

Let’s not forget this:

James 5:16
Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The EFFECTIVE prayer of a righteous man avails much.