Public Prayer
About a dozen years ago, an individual wrote a letter to the editor, in which he misapplied from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount two passages of Scripture in only seven brief paragraphs. The writer was opposed to Christians leading in prayer "at government-organized, tax-funded events" on two grounds. The first objection was that, although most people in this country are Christians, other religions are also present, and a Christian prayer might offend them. Big Whoop! Does the writer think that a country in which Muslims are in the majority would be concerned about a Christian minority? Hah! In many instances, they will not allow Christians to even meet in private for worship.
His first argument, printed on page A12 of the Orlando Sentinel (November 13, 2013), was that Christians should exercise the Golden Rule. He argued that if the role were reversed (Christians being in the minority), we would feel offended if prayers were made, for example, in the name of Allah. Actually, if we were in a Muslim-dominated country, we would expect prayers be offered to Allah. Why would we be offended? We know in advance that Muslims rule the country and that they pray to Allah. Yet it is argued that "Christians would feel offended if made to participate in a religious event not of their choosing." Well, sure, but a public gathering at which prayer is offered is not a "religious event" (like being forced to attend worship). The writer had made clear that he was speaking of a "sectarian prayer delivered at a public meeting."
Your congenial editor has been asked to lead prayer prior to a city council's meeting and did not hesitate to pray "in Jesus' name." Everyone listens, but no one is forced to agree or to say, "Amen," at the conclusion. If a prayer is offered by an unauthorized person, such as a female "pastor" or a Muslim, we all listen politely but do not participate or stand in agreement with the individual. Besides, what Jesus said in the "Golden Rule" was aimed at personal relationships—not governmental.
The second misapplication of the Sermon on the Mount involves Matthew 6:5-6, where the writer reports that "practicing piety before others got no reward from their Father in heaven." Jesus did tell people not to pray in the synagogues and in the streets to be seen of men but rather to pray in secret. Jesus, however, is not outlawing public prayers—but rather personal ones—in order to be seen of men. He also forbade giving and fasting on the same basis, but He did not forbid, period, either giving or fasting. We know that Christians did publicly lead in prayer when the congregation met together because Paul discusses how it should be done (1 Cor. 14:6-15). Jesus did not forbid praying in public; it's a misapplication of Matthew 6 to conclude such a thing. What the Scriptures do condemn is the twisting of Scripture (2 Peter 3:16).