In nearly every poll of the best American presidents, Abraham Lincoln comes out on top, eclipsing even our founding father George Washington. Abe Lincoln’s popularity today would have been inconceivable during the Civil War. He was roundly criticized by members of his own party, pilloried by the press, and besieged with angry letters. His approval ratings were in the tank for much of his presidency. It’s hard for us to conceive that this highly respected leader in our day was among the most reviled and slandered presidents ever to hold our nation’s highest office. One of President Lincoln’s uncommon strengths was his ability to endure criticism. I have long admired what he said about his critics, “He has a right to criticize who has a heart to help.” If only our hypercritical age could practice the same.
It has become fashionable in our day to criticize the institutional church. Okay, some of it we had coming. Our track record on civil rights is hardly stellar; we divide at the drop of a hat, and we continue to bungle opportunities to speak meaningfully into today’s culture wars. Jesus criticized the religious establishment of his day, but he also went to the cross for it. So, go ahead. Have at it and criticize the church, but also have a heart to help.
Today’s prayer dates to the last first century or early second century AD. The Didache was an early church manual instructing prospective members on what it means to belong to the body of Christ, the church. It was incumbent on church members to pray for leaders and fellow believers. Do we pray for the church as much as we criticize it? The Didache offers a fascinating glimpse into the way the early church celebrated the Lord’s Supper, including this prayer that follows the bread and the cup: