Political Power at the Prayer Breakfast

On Monday, 3rd November, politicians donned their five-thousand-dollar suits, brandishing faith to exact voter support. The 36th Annual National Prayer Breakfast, held in The Great Hall of Parliament House, Canberra, was attended by politicians, religious leaders, corporate sponsors and some peasantry. They gathered for an hour to talk about Jesus, benevolently quoted scripture, and recited one prayer aloud – The Lord’s Prayer. All while the cameras flashed, the captivated audience applauded, and Australia watched, feeling a sense of safety that their leaders were at a prayer breakfast, caring for their nation and people.

The breakfast was a bipartisan public display of what can happen when government genuinely listens to Christians. Obviously, there will always be political shysters who will use faith as a prop for personal and political clout, but that’s the ugly side of politics. At least, they are still able to work with, value and support organisations such as Mission Australia, Samaritan’s Purse, Finance with a Mission and many others to effect positive change within communities – if only financially.

Trying to cut through my burnt toast as quietly as possible, I struggled to see the positive side beyond the pretension. I almost laughed out loud at one point as the utensils clicked away at plates, while people sat and ate their burnt toasts quietly to the sounds of an angelic gospel choir and flowery speeches. When I think about the pressing issues on Australians today, like homelessness, cost of living, pedophiles in childcare, immigration and crime, part of me is glad that at the very least, a melting pot of inter-faith Christians are still welcome at Cesar’s palace. Though we don’t need sanctimonious speeches or burnt toast, we just want the taxpayer-funded grants to keep coming so we can help real people. This is what Christian politics is about.

My advice would be to make it more affordable and accessible, with plenty of genuine prayers for those in power. It should have gone a bit longer with much more praise and worship, and better quality food. We paid $67/person, and if the breakfast is already sponsored by many organisations, where does all that money go?

Anyway, as Christians, we are to do our best to let our lights shine, submitting ourselves, for the Lord’s sake to the empire. We don’t have to agree with it, we can even challenge it. But we try to do all things in the spirit of love and peace, always praying for their darkened souls to be awakened.

Spiritual darkness built the Parliamentary House of cards, but we thank God for Jesus the King of kings. He is always in control. The best part of the whole event was in the forecourt afterwards, where a small group gathered together to pray, praise and worship. Thanks also to The Bible Society for Bibles available and free for the taking.

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