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Donald Miller at the DNC Tonight

Posted Aug 25, 01:29 PM | 2 comments | by Editor | Link

Donald Miller, author of the best-selling Blue Like Jazz, will be giving the closing prayer of benediction tonight on the opening night of the Democratic National Convention in Denver.

Miller has announced he will post the text of his prayer on his website before leaving his hotel to go to the Pepsi Center. Twitter users can get notification by following donmilleris.

Cameron Strang, publisher of RELEVANT magazine, was originally scheduled to give tonight’s benediction, but decided to back out after learning that it would take place on the main stage as part of the national TV broadcast. Strang (who’s father Stephen Strang has been a vocal critic of Barack Obama) explained, “During this political process, my desire is to keep an open dialogue with both campaigns and talk about the issues that matter to my generation of Christians. If my praying on opening night at the DNC would be perceived as showing favoritism or incorrectly labeling me as endorsing one candidate over the other—rather than being the bridge-building gesture which I intended it to be—then I needed to rethink the decision.”

It was Strang’s idea to ask Miller to take his place, and, according to Strang, Miller will now be the one representing “this new generation of Christian voters.” Strang writes, “I respect him immensely, and he’s a much better representative of our audience than I am.”

Last week Miller was interviewed by Christianity Today about the decision to participate in the DNC, and Miller said, “Somebody calls you and asks you to pray, you do. ... In the convention, as we highlight our differences that we wouldn’t forget that we’re unified, we have more in common than we don’t. That’s the focus of the prayer.”

UPDATE: Here’s the video of Donald Miller’s benediction prayer:

Here’s an interview with Cameron Strang on FOX News explaining his decision not to give the benediction.

UPDATE: Here’s the text of Donald Miller’s benediction prayer, re-posted from donaldmillerwords.com:

“I’m honored to deliver the closing prayer at the DNC. Evangelical voices have been scarce within this party, perhaps since the Carter administration. But as strides are being made on key issues of sanctity of life and social justice, as well as peaceful solutions to world conflicts, more and more evangelicals are taking a closer look at options the Democratic Party are beginning to deliver. There is a long way to go, but sending a message to Washington that no single party has the Christian community in their pocket, thus causing each party to carefully consider the issues most important to us, is, in my opinion, a positive evolution. I am glad that, for the most part, the dialogue has been constructive and positive. Will you join me in keeping the conversation thoughtful and not reactionary?

“That said, I am honored to speak to, and especially pray with and for, the DNC. Here is the full text of the prayer:

Please join me for the next few moments in our Benediction.

“Father God,

This week, as the world looks on, help the leaders in this room create a civil dialogue about our future.

We need you, God, as individuals and also as a nation.

We need you to protect us from our enemies, but also from ourselves, because we are easily tempted toward apathy.

Give us a passion to advance opportunities for the least of these, for widows and orphans, for single moms and children whose fathers have left.

Give us the eyes to see them, and the ears to hear them, and hands willing to serve them.

Help us serve people, not just causes. And stand up to specific injustices rather than vague notions.

Give those in this room who have power, along with those who will meet next week, the courage to work together to finally provide health care to those who don’t have any, and a living wage so families can thrive rather than struggle.

Hep us figure out how to pay teachers what they deserve and give children an equal opportunity to get a college education.

Help us figure out the balance between economic opportunity and corporate gluttony.

We have tried to solve these problems ourselves but they are still there. We need your help.

Father, will you restore our moral standing in the world.

A lot of people don’t like us but that’s because they don’t know the heart of the average American.

Will you give us favor and forgiveness, along with our allies around the world.

Help us be an example of humility and strength once again.

Lastly, father, unify us.

Even in our diversity help us see how much we have in common.

And unify us not just in our ideas and in our sentiments—but in our actions, as we look around and figure out something we can do to help create an America even greater than the one we have come to cherish.

God we know that you are good.

Thank you for blessing us in so many ways as Americans.

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.”

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