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Biblical? No.
Its just people of different faiths praying together to their god(s).
Why would you wish to engage in a behavior that directly contradicts your savior's directions on how to pray?
You are taking it out of context. AT a gathering one opens with a prayer and ends with a prayer. This too is in the bible.
Why would you wish to engage in a behavior that directly contradicts your savior's directions on how to pray?
You are taking it out of context. AT a gathering one opens with a prayer and ends with a prayer. This too is in the bible.
I'm not saying you are wrong, but I can't think of what you are...
...well, there was the time that Jesus fed the 5000 and a time when he fed 4000 mentioned. He prayed publicly then. He also prayed publicly while on the cross.
So that I can get my hands around what you mean, can you give me an idea of any other times you were thinking of?
Immie
You are taking it out of context. AT a gathering one opens with a prayer and ends with a prayer. This too is in the bible.
I'm not saying you are wrong, but I can't think of what you are...
...well, there was the time that Jesus fed the 5000 and a time when he fed 4000 mentioned. He prayed publicly then. He also prayed publicly while on the cross.
So that I can get my hands around what you mean, can you give me an idea of any other times you were thinking of?
Immie
A church gathering is a public meeting. One opens that with a Prayer and one ends it with a Prayer. This prayer is not an individual prayer but rather a prayer for God to recognize the GATHERING in his name.
Biblical? No.
Its just people of different faiths praying together to their god(s).
Why would you wish to engage in a behavior that directly contradicts your savior's directions on how to pray?
What? Im not a christian/catholic.
Excellent question Catz.
I'm not one for public prayer. I even feel uncomfortable when I am in a Bible Study and am asked to pray.
What I see when someone prays publicly is someone who is trying to prove to everyone else how godly he/she is. Not even trying to convert others, but like the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector, Luke 18:9-14, I feel like I am listening to someone who is bragging about their faith.
9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: 10 Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: God, I thank you that I am not like other peoplerobbers, evildoers, adulterersor even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.
13 But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, God, have mercy on me, a sinner.
14 I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
Prayer is personal to me and I am lousy at it. Even though I have suffered with several worries over the last two years, I don't know what to pray any longer.
Public prayer such as at the start of a NASCAR race as you used for an example doesn't really bother me nor does a prayer of invocation say at a graduation, but neither does it do anything for me.
Immie
You are taking it out of context. AT a gathering one opens with a prayer and ends with a prayer. This too is in the bible.
I'm not saying you are wrong, but I can't think of what you are...
...well, there was the time that Jesus fed the 5000 and a time when he fed 4000 mentioned. He prayed publicly then. He also prayed publicly while on the cross.
So that I can get my hands around what you mean, can you give me an idea of any other times you were thinking of?
Immie
A church gathering is a public meeting. One opens that with a Prayer and one ends it with a Prayer. This prayer is not an individual prayer but rather a prayer for God to recognize the GATHERING in his name.
) And though at the time I didn't feel like I was doing it for "show", even so, God knows my heart, and perhaps I needed correction. Besides, God knows when we pray to Him, even without words. I didn't need to pray outwardly and/or say to others, "lets pray." that is fine at 'christian' gatherings...but not at public functions
A public function that is 80 percent Christians IS a Christian gathering. In my opinion.
And nothing in the Constitution prevents public prayer at PUBLIC meetings.
If your public function is in a courthouse, or a library, or a public school, you are violating separation of church and state by leading the group in christian prayers.
It's not a "Christian" gathering if 20% of those attending are non-christians. You are violating their rights.
Not surprising. You could care less. You're the majority.
I remember soon after I came to know the Lord, me and my family (mostly unbelievers) went out to eat at Noodles are Us or whatever it's called. In my passion for Christ, I said before the meal, "let pray." (yes, I know..pls read on, lol)
Afterward, my brother came to me (a little ticked off) and told me I shouldn't do that. As some other may have not wanted to pray.
I seriously did not even think about that, nor did I mean to offend anyone or hurt anyone. I was so joyous in the Lord, for all He's done for me, which is so undeserved, it just came out. When I was around believers in Christ, praying together is never an issue...but that was the issue in this situation, I wasn't with fellow believers.
My brother was right. Knowing they didn't believe as I did, I shouldn't have been so aggresive and pushy. (Learning as I go!
This topic just reminded me of it. After that, I've just prayed myself, and haven't done that or asked them again.
Funny thing is, and they are so sweet, after that, once in a while someone will chime in and ask, "Should we pray?" Amazing, that. God bless them : ) God's working on all of us, I never stop learning or stop being convicted.
Excellent question Catz.
I'm not one for public prayer. I even feel uncomfortable when I am in a Bible Study and am asked to pray.
What I see when someone prays publicly is someone who is trying to prove to everyone else how godly he/she is. Not even trying to convert others, but like the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector, Luke 18:9-14, I feel like I am listening to someone who is bragging about their faith.
9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: 10 Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: God, I thank you that I am not like other peoplerobbers, evildoers, adulterersor even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.
13 But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, God, have mercy on me, a sinner.
14 I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
Prayer is personal to me and I am lousy at it. Even though I have suffered with several worries over the last two years, I don't know what to pray any longer.
Public prayer such as at the start of a NASCAR race as you used for an example doesn't really bother me nor does a prayer of invocation say at a graduation, but neither does it do anything for me.
Immie
As for public prayer, i could never do it myself, and it doesn't bother me in the slightest. But I'm sure it does bother some people, because some people just can't overlook anything that has to do with their unbelief in God. But this has been happening almost for ever. Saying a prayer before a race i would see as asking God to protect the drivers...saying a prayer at graduation is asking God to protect the graduates as they go out into the real world (they'll need alot of help there!). But it really doesn't matter, i could sit in the stands at a race and say my own little prayer to God to protect them and i'm sure many do. God doesn't pick and choose the prayers he hears, he answers all.
Biblical? No.
Its just people of different faiths praying together to their god(s).
Why would you wish to engage in a behavior that directly contradicts your savior's directions on how to pray?
I think the verse is outlining the reasons behind praying boastfully in public, to bring attention to yourself or for boastful resons is wrong. Marie explained it quite well I thought. I don't think it has to do with being public about your prayer, but rather why you're being public with your prayer. Bowing your head in public in prayer hardly fits the description shown in the scripture. My family, whenever we are at a public restaurant, always bow our heads in a quiet prayer before we eat. We aren't bothering anyone or forcing anyone else to particpate. I see nothing wrong with it, it's about giving thanks.
Excellent question Catz.
I'm not one for public prayer. I even feel uncomfortable when I am in a Bible Study and am asked to pray.
What I see when someone prays publicly is someone who is trying to prove to everyone else how godly he/she is. Not even trying to convert others, but like the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector, Luke 18:9-14, I feel like I am listening to someone who is bragging about their faith.
9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: 10 Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: God, I thank you that I am not like other peoplerobbers, evildoers, adulterersor even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.
13 But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, God, have mercy on me, a sinner.
14 I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
Prayer is personal to me and I am lousy at it. Even though I have suffered with several worries over the last two years, I don't know what to pray any longer.
Public prayer such as at the start of a NASCAR race as you used for an example doesn't really bother me nor does a prayer of invocation say at a graduation, but neither does it do anything for me.
Immie
I think that there is justification for prayer within a small group of believers. I mean, Christ broke bread during the Last Supper and blessed it. It could be argued that his prayer in John 17 was conducted WITH a small number of disciples.
Public prayer doesn't bother me, either, but it isn't biblical, and it could actually be argued to be anti-biblical. Given that, I wonder why some Christians insist on doing it. I suspect it is for the reason you gave (they want to be publicly recognized for their piety).
I think the verse is outlining the reasons behind praying boastfully in public, to bring attention to yourself or for boastful resons is wrong. Marie explained it quite well I thought. I don't think it has to do with being public about your prayer, but rather why you're being public with your prayer. Bowing your head in public in prayer hardly fits the description shown in the scripture. My family, whenever we are at a public restaurant, always bow our heads in a quiet prayer before we eat. We aren't bothering anyone or forcing anyone else to particpate. I see nothing wrong with it, it's about giving thanks.
In that sense, your prayer really is rather private.
As for public prayer, i could never do it myself, and it doesn't bother me in the slightest. But I'm sure it does bother some people, because some people just can't overlook anything that has to do with their unbelief in God. But this has been happening almost for ever. Saying a prayer before a race i would see as asking God to protect the drivers...saying a prayer at graduation is asking God to protect the graduates as they go out into the real world (they'll need alot of help there!). But it really doesn't matter, i could sit in the stands at a race and say my own little prayer to God to protect them and i'm sure many do. God doesn't pick and choose the prayers he hears, he answers all.
Based on the OP, what do you think God's opinion is of public prayers that make other people uncomfortable?
