Comments on: Confused About the National Day of Prayer http://www.hughlh.com/confused-about-the-national-day-of-prayer/ Hugh Hollowell's Blog on Faith, Culture and Justice Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:31:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: hugh http://www.hughlh.com/confused-about-the-national-day-of-prayer/comment-page-1/#comment-886 hugh Fri, 14 May 2010 19:53:57 +0000 http://blog.hughlh.com/?p=228#comment-886 Obviously, my tongue was a bit in cheek. No doubt the problem Jesus was alluding to was the motivation - but that is sorta my point. Franklin Graham was not allowed to participate in a ceremony at the Pentagon, so he instead goes to the Pentagon grounds and prays "privately". <br><br>If I know about it, how could it be private? He could not do that at home? Or anywhere else? No - he did it on the Pentagon grounds in order to draw attention to himself. Obviously, my tongue was a bit in cheek. No doubt the problem Jesus was alluding to was the motivation – but that is sorta my point. Franklin Graham was not allowed to participate in a ceremony at the Pentagon, so he instead goes to the Pentagon grounds and prays “privately”.

If I know about it, how could it be private? He could not do that at home? Or anywhere else? No – he did it on the Pentagon grounds in order to draw attention to himself.

]]> By: Jeanne http://www.hughlh.com/confused-about-the-national-day-of-prayer/comment-page-1/#comment-885 Jeanne Fri, 14 May 2010 19:29:12 +0000 http://blog.hughlh.com/?p=228#comment-885 I don't think there's anything wrong with praying in public, I think like most of the NT this is talking about motivation. If I'm praying in public to impress you with how spiritual and holy I am, my reward is already given. If I pray and there happen to be people around, but I am praying sincerely, there's nothing wrong with it. More than one person heard Jesus praying on the cross and I don't see any indication God was displeased. I don't think there's anything wrong with praying in public, I think like most of the NT this is talking about motivation. If I'm praying in public to impress you with how spiritual and holy I am, my reward is already given. If I pray and there happen to be people around, but I am praying sincerely, there's nothing wrong with it. More than one person heard Jesus praying on the cross and I don't see any indication God was displeased.

]]> By: incognito http://www.hughlh.com/confused-about-the-national-day-of-prayer/comment-page-1/#comment-887 incognito Fri, 14 May 2010 19:22:27 +0000 http://blog.hughlh.com/?p=228#comment-887 Amen. Political prayer is obscene.<br><br>I've always wondered about public prayer of any sort, including inside church walls (which incidentally tie up enough capital to make an incredible dent in poverty...). The point of the scripture seems to be that one's inner spiritual life is a private matter with only 2 participants, the person and her/his God. So what's the role of prayer in the church? Amen. Political prayer is obscene.

I've always wondered about public prayer of any sort, including inside church walls (which incidentally tie up enough capital to make an incredible dent in poverty…). The point of the scripture seems to be that one's inner spiritual life is a private matter with only 2 participants, the person and her/his God. So what's the role of prayer in the church?

]]> By: hugh http://www.hughlh.com/confused-about-the-national-day-of-prayer/comment-page-1/#comment-883 hugh Fri, 14 May 2010 12:53:57 +0000 http://blog.hughlh.com/?p=228#comment-883 Obviously, my tongue was a bit in cheek. No doubt the problem Jesus was alluding to was the motivation - but that is sorta my point. Franklin Graham was not allowed to participate in a ceremony at the Pentagon, so he instead goes to the Pentagon grounds and prays "privately". <br><br>If I know about it, how could it be private? He could not do that at home? Or anywhere else? No - he did it on the Pentagon grounds in order to draw attention to himself. Obviously, my tongue was a bit in cheek. No doubt the problem Jesus was alluding to was the motivation – but that is sorta my point. Franklin Graham was not allowed to participate in a ceremony at the Pentagon, so he instead goes to the Pentagon grounds and prays “privately”.

If I know about it, how could it be private? He could not do that at home? Or anywhere else? No – he did it on the Pentagon grounds in order to draw attention to himself.

]]> By: Jeanne http://www.hughlh.com/confused-about-the-national-day-of-prayer/comment-page-1/#comment-882 Jeanne Fri, 14 May 2010 12:29:12 +0000 http://blog.hughlh.com/?p=228#comment-882 I don't think there's anything wrong with praying in public, I think like most of the NT this is talking about motivation. If I'm praying in public to impress you with how spiritual and holy I am, my reward is already given. If I pray and there happen to be people around, but I am praying sincerely, there's nothing wrong with it. More than one person heard Jesus praying on the cross and I don't see any indication God was displeased. I don't think there's anything wrong with praying in public, I think like most of the NT this is talking about motivation. If I'm praying in public to impress you with how spiritual and holy I am, my reward is already given. If I pray and there happen to be people around, but I am praying sincerely, there's nothing wrong with it. More than one person heard Jesus praying on the cross and I don't see any indication God was displeased.

]]> By: incognito http://www.hughlh.com/confused-about-the-national-day-of-prayer/comment-page-1/#comment-884 incognito Fri, 14 May 2010 12:22:27 +0000 http://blog.hughlh.com/?p=228#comment-884 Amen. Political prayer is obscene.<br><br>I've always wondered about public prayer of any sort, including inside church walls (which incidentally tie up enough capital to make an incredible dent in poverty...). The point of the scripture seems to be that one's inner spiritual life is a private matter with only 2 participants, the person and her/his God. So what's the role of prayer in the church? Amen. Political prayer is obscene.

I've always wondered about public prayer of any sort, including inside church walls (which incidentally tie up enough capital to make an incredible dent in poverty…). The point of the scripture seems to be that one's inner spiritual life is a private matter with only 2 participants, the person and her/his God. So what's the role of prayer in the church?

]]> By: David http://www.hughlh.com/confused-about-the-national-day-of-prayer/comment-page-1/#comment-881 David Sat, 08 May 2010 13:45:59 +0000 http://blog.hughlh.com/?p=228#comment-881 Well said Hugh.<br>In many ways, the five-times daily calls to prayer carried out in the cities of many predominantly Muslim nations seem to be a purer expression of faith and unity than the show that has developed around the National Day of Prayer. Of course, anytime people gather to commit themselves to a cause, especially to a divine effort, there is fertile ground for hypocrisy. While Jesus did offer those instructions for personal prayer, he often prayed in the presence of his disciples (that they might learn to pray and that their own faith might be strengthened). Joining together for this cause is a noble endeavor, but when it becomes an annual event, as opposed to a lifestyle of communion, what does that really say about the credibility we associate with prayer? Well said Hugh.
In many ways, the five-times daily calls to prayer carried out in the cities of many predominantly Muslim nations seem to be a purer expression of faith and unity than the show that has developed around the National Day of Prayer. Of course, anytime people gather to commit themselves to a cause, especially to a divine effort, there is fertile ground for hypocrisy. While Jesus did offer those instructions for personal prayer, he often prayed in the presence of his disciples (that they might learn to pray and that their own faith might be strengthened). Joining together for this cause is a noble endeavor, but when it becomes an annual event, as opposed to a lifestyle of communion, what does that really say about the credibility we associate with prayer?

]]> By: Jeanne http://www.hughlh.com/confused-about-the-national-day-of-prayer/comment-page-1/#comment-880 Jeanne Thu, 06 May 2010 18:22:28 +0000 http://blog.hughlh.com/?p=228#comment-880 There is no explanation that will make sense for someone to be bothered by prayer itself. That's the bad news. The good news is that now that we've gotten that out of the way, you can go enjoy a beautiful sunny day!! :D There is no explanation that will make sense for someone to be bothered by prayer itself. That's the bad news. The good news is that now that we've gotten that out of the way, you can go enjoy a beautiful sunny day!! :D

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