We're Lutherans And We Pray
Anytime, Anyplace!
God Commands It And Promises
To Answer So It's Okay To Pray!
"Curly" is the name of a caveman character in the B. C. comic strip by Christian cartoonist Johnny Hart. In one of my favorite strips, Curly goes to the preacher (identified by his funny collar) and says, "I having trouble with my prayers. I never get an answer." The preacher invites Curly to offer a prayer so he might see if he can help. Curly bows his head and says, "Dear Gosh..." The preacher interrupts, "I think I see your problem."
It's hard to imagine how something as simple as a little prayer could be such a problem, especially a prayer offered by a pastor as the nation grieves. Tomorrow marks the one year anniversary of a public prayer meeting in Yankee Stadium at which we were represented by the President of the Atlantic District of the LC-MS. It seems his prayer for God's blessing upon the thousands torn apart by the September attacks was not well received by a few people in our church body.
The process for dealing with the questions surrounding this issue is unfolding and I'm sure you'll hear more details in coming days. Today I simply want to affirm for all of you that we're Lutherans, we love people, we know God is listening and it's okay to pray.
Anytime, Anyplace
Are there restrictions about praying? A couple. I'll get to that later. The number one rule about prayer that overrides all others is the anytime, anyplace rule. Those who know God through the grace of Jesus Christ are called to a life of prayer, minute by minute, step by step. God commands it. He promises to answer. We're Christians. We pray.
Depending on how you think about it, prayer could be considered the most unnatural of activities or the most natural. It's strange, on the one hand, to think that our whispered thoughts and silently called out praises and requests would be heard at the throne of the Almighty. It seems odd to think that the Creator of the universe would have time, interest or even the capacity to hear every concern of my heart.
On the other hand, for those who know that God is near, that he cares and that each one of us is his number one priority, for whom he would even send his Son, prayer seems like the most natural thing in the world. That's we Jesus taught us to pray, "Our Father..." What could be more natural than going to Dad with a thanks, a confession, a request?
So don't ever et anyone give you the impression that there are occasions inappropriate for prayer. I firmly believe, for example, that as long as there are math tests, there will be prayer in public schools! No one in America has ever questioned the right of a Christian to pray in school or any public place. State sponsored "official" prayers are questionable, but not the private prayers of individual Christians and their friends. anytime, anyplace, it's okay to pray.
Prayer with Unbelievers
But what about if there are people present who don't know the true, living God through faith in Christ? Can we pray while they are listening, or even while they are praying to God's who are not even there? We have biblical examples of that sort of prayer. Elijah on Mount Carmel first sat and listened while the prophets of Baal cried out to "gods" who were "napping or away on a trip" as Elijah put it. Then he stood and spoke to the Lord in front of them all. It was a prophecy of judgment, but also a testimony to the God who is really there.
When I am witnessing my faith to unbelievers, I make it a point to find a way to invite them to pray with me. I pray because I know that God hears and answers, but also as a testimony to those who do not believe as I do. It's our responsibility to stand in the public forum and boldly proclaim, "I know that the true and living God hears my prayer for I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, guided by the Holy Spirit. Listen world. God hears. I can't not pray!" Before unbelievers, it's okay to pray.
Public Ceremonies
Our church's policy on praying at public, civic ceremonies is explicitly clear. It's okay to pray. Here's where one of those very few rules comes in. We obviously would never compromise our faith by modifying our prayers to be "politically correct." We pray in public ceremonies as we always do, in the name of Jesus Christ.
When I served a congregation in Saginaw, I was often invited to pray at events at the public high school on adjacent property, at dedications or special ceremonies and the like. From time to time I was privately criticized for praying in Jesus' name when there may have been people of other faiths present. I replied, "I'd pray a different way if I knew how, but my Lord taught me only one way to pray."
I'll continue to represent our Lord and our church at civic ceremonies here locally at City Hall and as a volunteer police and fire chaplain. It's okay to pray.
Limitations?
The general rule says anytime, anyplace. The general limitation applies primarily to pastors as the public representatives of our church's biblical faith. If I were asked to participate as a co-leader of a worship service sponsored by a church or denomination that teaches a faith different than ours, I would respectfully decline for fear of expressing by my presence an agreement on central articles of our faith. To stand in the chancel of a church with different beliefs wearing the robes of a public minister of our church would be misleading.
Let's say that the churches, synagogues and mosques of our area planned a joint Thanksgiving worship service that combined elements of all of our faiths and I were invited to participate. I could not in good conscience proclaim Christ seamlessly with those who deny him or with those who believe different on our central articles of faith. I might accept the invitation to sit in the pew with them as I worshiped the Lord, but I would not be free to declare that our faiths are the same.
So I would sit and pray for the people of our community and I would pray for them all, Christians and non-Christians, because it's okay to pray.
Two Prayers for
the Church
I pray for a time when all pastors will treat each other with love and respect in the bonds of unity that we share as ministers of a common faith. I pray that we will be as kind and gracious toward one another as the people in the pews are. I long for a time when the mutual encouragement that dominates almost all clergy relationships in our church body will bridge the gaps between the few of us who are outside the circle of love and respect.
I so cherish the opportunity to meet with my fellow pastors for advice, counsel, wisdom and prayer, and when need be for grace and forgiveness if I err, but especially for the willingness to disagree peacefully when, utilizing our best judgment, we take actions that are disagreeable to some others of us. Pray for pastors.
And I also pray for an uprising of the good people of the Lutheran Church who know that it's okay to pray. Sometimes the best teaching happens when the pews cry out to the pulpits!
Keep praying. It's okay to pray.