Would Jesus attend the National Prayer Breakfast?

An image of U.S. President Barack Obama is projected on a screen during his remarks at the National Prayer Breakfast at a Washington hotel, Feb. 4, 2010. REUTERS/Jason Reed

Every year since 1953, a Christian organization called The Family [or The Fellowship] has hosted the National Prayer Breakfast. This event marks the only publicized event for The Family [or the Fellowship], a private Christian organization that has been described by religion scholar Jeff Sharlet in his book The Family: The Secret Fundamentalism at the Heart of American Power as one of the most powerful Christian fundamentalist movements in the United States (See Sharlet's Q&A in Harper's for a brief summary of this book.)

While all religions are welcome at this event, the underlying message at this ecumenical gathering of religious leaders and global politicians remains that Jesus is present. But as Sharlet illustrates throughout The Family, their version of capitalist Christ that anoints select leaders to advance his kingdom bears no resemblance to the crucified Christ who was sent into the world to save the world (John 3:17).

In Jesus Died for This?, I pondered if Jesus would actually attend this prayer breakfast that's supposedly held in his honor. Given the realities of international travel in a post 9/11 era, an unmarried homeless man of Middle Eastern descent who possesses a passport listing Bethlehem, Palestine as his birthplace would probably be denied entry into the United States. Even if Jesus of Nazareth somehow made it to Washington, D.C., he doesn't own the right Armani suit nor does his entourage possess the necessary corporate class required for admission into the hallowed halls of Hilton's International Ballroom.

Also, given Jesus' tendency to "render under Caesar that which is Caesar's" (Mark 12:17) not to mention his well documented temple tantrums (See (Mark 11:15-19, 11:27-33, Matthew 21:12-17, 21:23-27, Luke 19:45-48, 20:1-8, John 2:13-16), I strongly suspect he would ignore any spiritual spectacle where the invitations are issued on congressional letterhead and members of the press RSVP through the White House. This begs the question: "What kind of political pork could they be serving at this breakfast that would cause religious leaders to get so juiced up on java and Jesus that they forget to follow the First Amendment?" That thunderous roar you hear is Roger Williams and the Founding Fathers rolling over in their graves so fast they're liable to cause a nor'easter.

Maybe I'm reading wrong red letter versions of the Bible but I fail to see where Jesus would endorse The Family's involvement in activities such as the C Street sex scandals and Uganda's anti-gay legislation. Also, the radically inclusive nature of Jesus ministry that welcomed all to the table appears to be at direct odds with The Family's endeavors to export American exceptionalism on a global scale.

Furthermore, Jesus might ask those religious leaders present why they appear to be so willing to bag the Beatitudes (Matthew 5-7) in exchange for securing a seat at this unsacred table. While Christians can long for the day when the lion lies down with the lamb, these lions of industry dine on lamb chops. In some progressive religious leaders' quest to find "common ground," they seem to have fallen into quicksand by becoming partisan pawns. By endorsing the National Prayer Breakfast, select Christians may gain short-term media notoriety as Beltway insiders but in their quest for fame and political influence, they lose their ability to function as authentic prophetic voices.

So on Feb. 3, 2011 once again more than 3,000 politicians and preachers will gather to pray in Washington, D.C. But Jesus, like Elvis, has clearly left the building.

By Becky Garrison  |  February 3, 2011; 1:13 PM ET Save & Share:                 
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