A Few Thoughts on That Whole National Day of Prayer Thing

Before writing this out I considered a few other names for this article:

"The Oxymoron of Government Endorsed Prayer"
"Why Won't People Let this Die Along with the School Prayer Movement?"

And my personal favorite:

"'Why? Why? Why?' Matthew Asks While Hitting His Head on his Desk"


The past couple of weeks I have seen emails, posts, rants and the like crying out against President Obama for having supposedly canceled the national day of prayer. Spending five seconds on Google I confirmed my suspicions...once again well meaning Christians were passing on false information just because they needed another reason to hate the president.

For those who care to read here is a news article about the National Day of Prayer being ruled unconstitutional and how President Obama is planning on recognizing it all the same:

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20002706-503544.html


As a person who studies theology, history and historical theology I was happy to read that the whole National Day of Prayer was ruled unconstitutional. Anytime religion and the government start to get overly friendly and walk hand in hand I see red flags and hear alarms going off in my head.

The very law that allows every person to freely choose whether or not they will pray to whatever deity they wish is the same one that needs to keep itself from being tainted by picking sides. Even just a casual reading of history will show that anytime a government started to champion a religion they did so for political reasons and not because of some sort of spiritual change of heart or conviction.

Ultimately politics is a power game and President Obama would be committing political suicide if he did speak out against the National Day of Prayer. Most politicians never stray too far in extremes because to do so would mean they will alienate and anger more people, it's all a delicate balancing act.

Which to be honest why I hate politics and politicians...there is not much room for conviction and following through on your beliefs, especially for something as radical as Christianity. A government would not function if they took the words of Christ from the Sermon on the Mount and applied them, which if I understand correctly is the point.

The Kingdom that Christ is concerned about has nothing to do with votes, doesn't care about taxes, wants nothing to do with games and is the first to resist violence and striking back. Just to give some context about what Jesus preached:

-"Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy." (Matthew 5:7)
-"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God." (Matthew 5:9)
-"You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment." (Matthew 5:21-22)
-"You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also." (5:38-39)
-"And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you." (5:40-42)
-"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" (Matthew 5:43)

These are not polite suggestions from a shy Jesus with no sense of conviction or backbone. These teachings are the fire from the heart of the Messiah who took on the cross of pain and bought salvation for the church with his blood. Where does a government fit into these awkward and outrageous demands of this Rabbi?

Let's be realistic, if a person needs a government sanctioned day in which they might consider taking five seconds to pray then odds are these things really do not matter to them in the first place. Prayer, from the Christian perspective, is this incredibly intimate conversation that is a paradox. It is hearing and being changed by this infinite yet somehow personal One that chooses to bridge this gulf by coming to us. The true absurdity of Christianity is how a perfect God is in love with an impossibly broken people.

How does something as shallow and temporal as human government even attempt to fit into this? Ultimately I just see this as being yet another tool used to motivate people in how they vote, it has absolutely nothing to do with the condition of their hearts or souls.

True compassion and conviction cannot be brought out by any sort of government or political party. It doesn't matter what group someone wants to give their time and money to...Republican, Democrat, Conservatives, Liberals or whatever else...they are all just fleeting aspects of a system that will crumble in the long run.

If Christians want to actually be effective it might help if we would drop the picket signs and go serve and help the homeless, the sick, the dying and actually be Jesus for once.



"And when you come before God, don't turn that into a theatrical production either. All these people making a regular show out of their prayers, hoping for stardom! Do you think God sits in a box seat?

"Here's what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won't be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace.

"The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are prayer-ignorant. They're full of formulas and programs and advice, peddling techniques for getting what you want from God. Don't fall for that nonsense. This is your Father you are dealing with, and he knows better than you what you need."
-Matthew 6:5-8



"He told his next story to some who were complacently pleased with themselves over their moral performance and looked down their noses at the common people: "Two men went up to the Temple to pray, one a Pharisee, the other a tax man. The Pharisee posed and prayed like this: 'Oh, God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, crooks, adulterers, or, heaven forbid, like this tax man. I fast twice a week and tithe on all my income.'

"Meanwhile the tax man, slumped in the shadows, his face in his hands, not daring to look up, said, 'God, give mercy. Forgive me, a sinner.'"

Jesus commented, "This tax man, not the other, went home made right with God. If you walk around with your nose in the air, you're going to end up flat on your face, but if you're content to be simply yourself, you will become more than yourself.""
-Luke 18:9-14