When Civility Fails: A Pastor’s Response to Violence, Rage, and the Hard Work of Truth

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  by Bart L. Denny, Ph.D. Introduction — Why I must speak I have been reflecting on recent events in our nation and wrestling with how best to speak into them. As a follower of Jesus Christ and as a pastor, I believe my calling is to shed more light than heat in times of turmoil, and to offer the seasoning of grace in a culture that often tastes bitter. This will not be an exercise in soft-peddling. It will be frank, pastoral, and, where necessary, unflinching. Somewhere, this post will fail to address a consideration that it might have spoken to. I own it, saying in my defense only that space prevents my discussing everything that might be said on a subject and my views on it. Yet undoubtedly, this will cover more ground than most newspaper op-ed articles. Some readers may focus on one thing I say in the post without taking the entirety of what I said here in context. I pray you won't. But I resign myself to the likelihood some will. What I saw this past week I saw a young...
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A Dangerous Prayer

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Praying, "Your kingdom come" realigns everything!

by Bart Denny

When was the last time you had a moment that silenced the noise and clarified what really matters?

Maybe it came during a health scare, a late-night heart-to-heart, or a snowy Michigan road. In those moments, the trivial fades and the essential stands tall. And if we’re honest, we need those moments—not just in life but in our prayer life too.

Jesus teaches us in Matthew 6 to begin prayer not with ourselves, but with God: “Our Father… hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done.”

Let’s focus on just those three powerful words: “Your kingdom come.”

It’s more than a phrase. It’s a spiritual posture. It’s a dangerous prayer.

Praying “Your Kingdom Come” Means Yielding to God’s Rule In Us

We often pray for the world to change, but Jesus starts by calling for change within.

Luke 17:21 reminds us: “The kingdom of God is in your midst.” That means the kingdom begins when we surrender our hearts to the reign of Christ. Not just our Sunday mornings, but our marriages, finances, thoughts, habits, and hopes.

It’s like riding a tandem bicycle. We might let Jesus pedal, but we often refuse to hand over the handlebars. This prayer says, “Jesus, You steer. I’ll follow.”

Reflection: What kingdom are you building that competes with God's? What would it look like to give Jesus control this week?

Praying “Your Kingdom Come” Means Longing for God’s Reign Around Us

Jesus didn’t teach us to pray, “Your kingdom come… in my quiet time.” He said, “on earth as it is in heaven.”

This is a prayer of mission. We ask God to break into our communities, schools, workplaces, and families with His righteousness, justice, mercy, and truth. Like a mustard seed, the kingdom might start small—a prayer, a kind act, a faithful invitation—but it grows into something that transforms lives.

Reflection: What’s one way you can be salt and light in someone’s life this week?

Praying “Your Kingdom Come” Means Anticipating God’s Glory To Come

The kingdom is here—but not yet complete. And so we wait and pray, “Come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20).

Like a bride waiting for her groom, we live with expectation. We live in the tension of hope—knowing our King is returning to restore all things.

Reflection: Are your prayers shaped by eternity? Are you living today with your eyes on the coming glory?

A Challenge for the Week

Let this be your prayer each morning:
“Father, let Your kingdom come—in me, around me, and through me.”

Rework your prayer list—start with kingdom priorities, not just personal ones.
Pray for your “one”—that friend, neighbor, or loved one who needs Jesus.
And remember: revival doesn’t begin with a crowd. It begins with one surrendered heart.

Watch the full message here: https://youtu.be/L3Hz3i1XMKg

Explore more at Pathway – A Wesleyan Church: https://www.pathwaywes.org

About the Author
Dr. Bart Denny is the lead pastor of Pathway – A Wesleyan Church in Saranac, Michigan. A retired naval officer, educator, and passionate church revitalization leader, Bart holds multiple graduate degrees in theology and leadership. He writes and preaches to help everyday people find hope in Christ and live as kingdom-minded disciples.

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All comments are moderated. I welcome respectful disagreement with my posts. Such discussions can cause me to consider perspectives I hadn't examined before. However, I also reserve the right to delete any comment for any reason. Why? Simple enough, this is MY blog, with MY thoughts, and I want to have a civil conversation that is, at all times, God-honoring in nature.

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