Barack Obama’s first judicial nominee, David Hamilton, has had his nomination stalled for a while in the Senate because he ruled in a 2005 case that prayers in the Indiana House of Representatives “should refrain from using Christ’s name or title or any other denominational appeal” and that all prayers must be “non-sectarian.” That meant that prayers mentioning Jesus were out, but Hamilton appeared to allow the use of “Allah” in written clarifications. Newt Gingrich had a field day over that.

 

Religion in the public square is messy. Both atheists and Christians have won local legal battles over public displays of the Ten Commandments, manger scenes, Christmas trees, prayer in public schools, and crosses in military cemeteries. Congress still has a chaplain who leads daily prayers.

 

As America gets more diverse, you can no longer assume that everybody in the room is a Christian. Actually, you probably could never assume that, but the non-Christians, like Jews and atheists, kept their mouths shut and went with the flow. If you are reading this blog, you are probably a Christian. How would you feel about a Muslim imam leading prayers at your kids’ school?

 

Public prayer is always a dilemma. Heavens, America certainly needs prayer, a lot of prayer. But Christians like to pray in the name of Jesus, since He’s in our Trinity and He invited us to pray in that way. I was once asked to do the “invocation” at our downtown Rotary Club, but the executive director discouraged any specific Christian references and any “paternalistic” references, like calling on God as “our Father.” Sheesh.

 

About a year ago I had a lengthy conversation with a Jewish agnostic and a Unitarian minister on the subject of public prayer. I commiserated with them since they had doubtless been subject to listening to prayers to the Trinity and to Christ the Lord, neither of which either believed in. They assured me they had no problem at all hearing those things. “We just filter that kind of public talk and re-interpret the words to be meaningful to us,” they replied. I was kind of stunned. I thought I was with Alice in Wonderland, where words mean whatever one wants them to mean. I do not think I could listen to a Unitarian “prayer” and filter it into my beliefs.

 

A friend who is a Christian pastor serves as the volunteer chaplain to the county police, fire, and emergency services. When asked to pray in public, he agrees, but he says to the group up front, “I’m going to pray according to my faith. You can join in if you wish.” The non-believers feel respected, and the pastor then talks to Jesus all he wants. Have you ever led a public prayer? How did you handle it?

 

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Straight talk.  Real hope.

12/10/2009 - Posted by D
When I am asked to lead a public prayer, I have a moment of silence. I don't want to mislead anyone into thinking that I am ok with whatever they want to believe.

12/9/2009 - Posted by EM
No nation has been more tolerant of other religions than ours. It's always been so. But, now more than ever, Christians need to use the name of Jesus when speaking or praying publically. There is power in His Name. As you have said, Pastor Mark, in Him and Him only is salvation. It is too generic to say God. Let's use the Name that is above all Names, the powerful Name of Jesus. There is no other name under heaven whereby we must be saved. Praise His wonderful Name!

12/8/2009 - Posted by MW
You stated that "I do not think I could listen to a Unitarian 'prayer' and filter it into my beliefs." Then you state that "non-believers feel respected" when the pastor announces that he is praying according to his faith. Would you feel "respected" in the presence of the Unitarian prayer if they announced beforehand that they were praying according to their faith and proceeded to use words and thoughts offensive to your faith? I think we need to be careful not to have a double standard. I think the same is true about the words we use. How would we feel to be labeled a non-believer or unbeliever? But we freely use those words and others to describe those who don't believe as we do. Such labels set us apart from and distance us from others, and lead to a feeling of superiority. I have not led a "public" prayer where I did not know who was in attendance. I have led prayer in meetings where I know the participants are of different faiths. Out of respect for their beliefs I try to refrain from what might be most offensive to them. But it is a minefield of problems, and taken to an extreme, as some poeple do, it really becomes impossible to pray a public prayer that remains true to my faith. In those settings where it is "deemed" offensive to use the name of Jesus, or Father, I have argued that it could be offensive to some not to use that name or title. The usual answer is that the majority have to be respectful of the minority or oppressed population. Thanks for your thoughts. MW