Acknowledging God in Public
“Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment” (John 7:24).
A reader of the Orlando Sentinel wrote to support the man who said he would not offer public prayers in the name of Jesus so as not to offend someone (see last week’s article in Spiritual Perspectives [11-10-13]). This latest writer desires to take it a step further and advocates having no prayers at all; they could be substituted with “a moment of silent introspection or reflection” (A12). Considering the vague praise to an unspecified deity that some would present, that suggestion, if implemented, might be an improvement.
However, the writer is in error on his applications of certain principles that Jesus taught. His thesis is that public prayers should not be offered at all. He references what Jesus taught in Matthew 6:5-6:
“And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees you in secret will reward you openly.”
The writer of this letter is correct in concluding that Jesus’ point is that “prayer is a secret relationship between God and the one praying, and not for public display.” But he is wrong in his application. He fails to make a distinction that there are two types of prayer—one that ought to be offered in private and another for public settings. What Jesus was criticizing was the practice of confusing the two. No one should bring his private concerns into the public arena. If someone needs to spend an hour in prayer at home, fine, but why would he want to stand on a street corner and mention all of those things where everyone else could hear? Also, they thought they would be heard for their many words (v. 7).
However, Jesus was not insinuating that people could not pray in public, period. It was a proper custom for them to pray in the synagogue during worship, just as it is today for Christians to pray in the assembly, but one should not use this time for his own personal situations or prolong the prayer to attempt to show others how pious he is. However, praying for oneself and others as a group is still authorized (1 Cor. 14:14-17).
Most references to prayer in the New Testament are to ones that are private, but not all of them are. Consider Luke 3:21: “Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus was also baptized; and while he prayed, the heaven was opened.” Now it may be that Jesus found a moment when no one was near John to be baptized. But John usually had his disciples near him. If there was a crowd present, then Jesus prayed in public.
In the sermon on the Mount Jesus presented a model for a prayer, which began, “Our Father.” Why did He use the word our—unless He was providing a sample of a prayer that men might lead in a public gathering? Notice that it was brief, also, in keeping with what He has just taught (Matt. 6:6-15).
Finally, Jesus gave thanks for a meal in public: “Then He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass. And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples, and the disciples gave to the multitudes” (Matt. 14:19). More than 5,000 men were present besides women and children (v. 21).
Praying to God through Jesus is simply an acknowledgement that God is—and that He is over all. One wonders why some are so determined to remove every mention of God out of the public forum. Especially perplexing is it when so-called “Christians” oppose it. Nothing is gained in so doing, but much is lost.