June 22, 1940, France acquiesced – capitulating to Germany in an armistice. Overwhelmed, France had attempted to resist the Nazi onslaught that conquered much of Western Europe in less than two months.
Years ago, a friend told me his mother survived those dark days in France by scavenging snails.
With France removed, the Nazi military might focused on Britain. Newly appointed Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s doggedly determined response began: “We shall defend our island – whatever the cost may be…” Thus, he rallied the Brits and reminded everyone that the Nazis must depend upon their Luftwaffe’s air power to conquer this island nation.
Luftwaffe air strikes began August 13 –15 – attacking radar and military bases. The ‘Blitz’ – German for ‘lightning’ – continued for 267 days – dropping more than 100 tons of bombs on sixteen British cities. Pictures of this wicked destruction sear our souls. But, for those who appreciate necessary, authorized physical resistance when peacemaking alternatives fail, the Brits and their Royal Air Force show us how to wrestle physical evil.
Another Kind of “Aerial” Warfare
Sunday, November 10, 1940, at 9:00 PM, the BBC broadcast Big Ben’s chiming. The following minute they named the Silent Minute. British Major Wellesley Tudor Pole suggested devoting one minute each evening at 9:00 to praying for peace. King George and Churchill supported the idea – as did President Roosevelt. The Silent Minute quickly spread across land and sea.
“After the war, a British intelligence officer interrogated a high Nazi official. He asked him why he thought Germany suffered defeat. The official replied: ‘During the war, you had a secret weapon for which we could find no countermeasure. We did not understand’ (this weapon), ‘but it was very powerful. I believe you called it the ‘Silent Minute'” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silent_Minute).
Considering Prayer
What shall we say? Is this account of the efficacy of prayer an urban legend? Hopefully, no. But, even if it is not true, in the spiritual realm, how do we understand the impact of wistful longings for a lost dominion – a lost community? Are they insubstantial or weighty?
Hear the profound necessity of spiritual resistance to evil in Paul’s words: “We…wrestle against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” (Eph 6;12) Command Central in this conflict is the church. Jesus tells us: “My house will be called a house of prayer.” (Mk11:17)
What shall we say? In the mid-1600s, church leaders stoutly defined prayer. “We pray with an awful apprehension of the majesty of God and deep sense of our own unworthiness, necessities, and sins; with penitent, thankful, and enlarged hearts; with understanding, faith, sincerity, fervency, love, and perseverance, waiting upon him, with humble submission to his will.” (Larger Catechism, Q 185)
The Shorter Catechism (Q 98) was more succinct: “Prayer is an offering up of our desires unto God for things agreeable to his will, in the name of Christ, with confession of our sins, and thankful acknowledgment of his mercies.”
And, how does such prayer compare with the Silent Minute?
Raised in England, Wellesley Tudor Pole (1884 – 1968) most likely was conversant with the kind of prayer the authors of Westminster advanced. But, at 26, Tudor adopted the B’hai faith. Still active in that faith thirty years later, in 1940, his rationale for the Silent Minute shows he neglected God altogether. “There is no power on earth that can withstand the united cooperation on spiritual levels of men and women of goodwill everywhere. It is for this reason that the continued and widespread observance of the Silent Minute is of such vital importance in the interest of human welfare.”
What shall we say to such a Godless sentiment? Is it even prayer?
How Shall We Challenge Evil?
Is resistance against evil in the spiritual realm what counts? Of course, it does matter – although we often neglect prayer. But when peacemaking alternatives fail, authorized physical resistance may be needed.
C. S. Lewis fought in WW1. Such conflict gave him night terrors, PTSD.
Lewis also later survived the Blitz. Nevertheless, those days of Nazi violence shaped him.
Two years before the end of WW2, Lewis published Perelandra, the second book in his space trilogy. We’ll take an extended detour here. We must hear the bloody story of Ransom and Un-man.
Planet Perelandra is a new Eden. Ransom, a professor turned space traveler, encounters evil incarnate in the possessed body of Weston, a former colleague, now possessed by evil. His name is Un-man.
Un-man attempts bringing Perelandra’s King and Queen, Adam and Eve’s counterparts, under the influence of evil. Eavesdropping Ransom does not engage. Instead, Ransom assumes he was sent to Perelandra merely to observe the triumph of good over evil and then return to Earth to report.
Finally, Ransom senses “this can’t go on.” So he combats Un-man in debate.
Eventually, Ransom understands there must be more to resisting evil than persuasive words, as powerful as words can be. The resistance, in this case, must be physical. Revulsed, Ransom knows he must struggle against the Devil’s minion in hand-to-hand combat.
Soon Ransom knows he will feel Un-man’s deadly cold hands – his long metallic nails ripping off strips of Ransom’s flesh, pulling out tendons. Ransom foresaw a slow death. But, he wondered: “Perhaps God will use my death on Perelandra in some small way even as he used the death of Christ on Earth.” Ransom, indeed!
When Ransom battles Un-man, their physical brawl carries the combatants to Perelandra’s depths – but bloodied Ransom is victorious.Likewise, Christ, Lewis, and the Royal Air Force understood physical resistance to evil may be necessary.
Spiritual Resistance
Those who appreciate the need for physical resistance hear that spiritual resistance to evil is also necessary.
Come back to Jesus’ phrase: “My house will be called a house of ‘prayer’ (proseuché) for all ‘nations’ (ethnesin).” Apart from the accounts of Jesus’ death and resurrection, the four Gospels only share five events in Jesus’ ministry. Jesus driving out the moneychangers is one—what a wonder!
Now, consider, “proseuché.” The “pros” portion indicates movement – God’s movement toward us. When he moves, we get unstuck – we draw near to God – in weakness, desperation, repentance, trust, gratitude, adoration, or sorrow. If I never move toward God, I do not know who God is – nor do I know who I am myself. Aha.
The “euche” portion of this word has a range of meanings – from a “wistful thought” to a “solemn vow.” Wow.
Secondly, from “ethnesin,” we get “ethnicity.” In the temple, God reserved the Court of the Gentiles for any ethnicity to worship him. Trespassing efficient business had taken over that under-utilized high rent district. Jesus pugnaciously purged that Court so seekers from any people would have a sanctuary to draw near to God – in robust prayer or, more likely, with the wistful thoughts of tentative foreigners in a new home.
Connect the dots. As a father welcomes mature conversation with an adult child, so God values articulate prayers. Still, God has such mercy he can hear and act upon our wishes – even, as with the Silent Minute, when we don’t include him in our thoughts.
I have a grandson who was born two months ago. He has not spoken a word to me yet. Still, I love him. So likewise, God loves many who do not yet love him.
Remarkably, even a movement like the Silent Minute may eventually prompt us to draw near to God in Christ – who not only physically crushed Satan on the cross but also spent whole nights wrestling in prayer. (Lk 6:12; 22:45) Likewise, David, who battled Goliath and many others, wrote: “Trust in God at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.” (Ps 62:8)
Jesus tells us: “My house will be called a house of prayer.” (Mk11:17)
Will you pray?
Satan doesn’t mind your reading or thinking about prayer. He dreads your praying.
Set your alarm to ring at 4:06 (our area code) – pray for Montana every day. If you are not from Montana, use your area code.
Or, at 9:00 PM, join more than 124 million worldwide still using the Silent Minute.
Pray with others. Find a church that is a house of prayer with a prayer meeting.
Text ‘Pastor’ to 74574 to receive a daily prompt to pray for your pastor.
Go to www.pray1tim2.org to get a daily email reminder to pray for six Montana legislators – or get the list for your state.
When we pray to the God of the universe, we realize who we are. So let’s call upon God. For Christ’s sake, be a combatant in spiritual warfare – pray.
Note: This is an extended version of what the IR published.
