A Prayer About Freedom from "Christian" Cannibalism


You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. Galatians 5:13-15

Dear Jesus, I’m thankful the gospel is more like an enforceable subpoena than a casual invitation. Our need is so great we wouldn’t and couldn’t respond to the message of grace apart from such a strong summons. Indeed, the gospel is a life-giving subpoena—the means by which you call us from death to life… from slavery to freedom. We were just like Lazarus…dead and bound in grave clothes… but you spoke the words to us, “Come forth,” and you raised us from our spiritual death. “Hallelujah!”

And today in the gospel, Jesus, in this very moment, you’re subpoena-ing us to an even greater freedom… to be liberated from even more of our grave clothes. How we praise you for the sovereign, death-defeating, liberty-giving power of the gospel! Those you set free are free indeed, and the freedom to which you’ve called us is to define the rest of our days and permeate every area of our lives.

Jesus, this is nowhere more necessary than in the world of our relationships. You’ve commanded us to love one another as you love us. This is the defining and confirming mark of true discipleship (John 13:34). But, as in Galatia, so in our churches, marriages and friendships… we often fail… and it’s a blatant and ugly contradiction of the gospel when we do so—when we fall, or leap, into “Christian” cannibalism—biting and devouring one another. Worse, it’s a sabotaging of your glory and a veiling of your beauty. It’s lying about who you are and what it means to be in relationship with you. Forgive us… forgive me.

Jesus, forgive and free me, when I live like a relational piranha—nibbling on others’ brokenness and inconsistencies more than I feast on the gospel… holding onto un-forgiveness just to gain advantage in a relationship…rehearsing the sins of others (to others) more than I remember the way you’ve forgiven me. Convict and forgive me when I’m being petty rather than patient… critical rather than compassionate… mean rather than merciful. Help me know when overlooking the failures of others wouldn’t be cowardice, but courage… when “covering a matter” wouldn’t be a cover up, but a gospel act. Help me learn how to conflict redemptively, rather than destructively… for your glory.

Lord Jesus, we’re free… I’m free… only because of you. Help us to steward this costly freedom in a world of broken people and broken relationships this very day, and tomorrow as well. So very Amen, we pray, in your glorious and grace-full name.


Scotty Smith