tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22980286.post3907399880751310267..comments2024-02-19T13:11:04.970-05:00Comments on Ponderings on a Faith Journey: Public Prayer and the Name of JesusRobert Cornwallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04581876323110725024noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22980286.post-76949202880314843892009-01-11T00:04:00.000-05:002009-01-11T00:04:00.000-05:00Sharon Watkins, the General Minister for the Disci...Sharon Watkins, the General Minister for the Disciples of Christ, is to give a Washington Sermon for the new President on January 21, 2009.<BR/><BR/>See: <BR/>http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/11/us/politics/11minister.html?_r=1Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06245470576919732592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22980286.post-83116583301699252612009-01-11T00:02:00.000-05:002009-01-11T00:02:00.000-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06245470576919732592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22980286.post-34824430442097004722009-01-01T14:10:00.000-05:002009-01-01T14:10:00.000-05:00I just fall on the side of saying.. failing to say...I just fall on the side of saying.. failing to say Jesus is actually being "fake", rather than trying to blend in. Its like saying.. Bob, we know you dedicated your life to Christ in seminary and your church, but can you please leave Jesus out of it. In a sense.. its fulfilling what Jesus said.. that people would hate you b/c of your name.<BR/><BR/>Now.. all that said.. remember, Obama invited Rick, its not some law that says you have to have an invocation. Could Obama invite a Muslim or Buddhist.. of course? The question there should be, why didn't he? Historically.. the US has had many blessings, its on the recent generation that has sought to eliminate them.<BR/><BR/>-ChuckAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22980286.post-78673862555028585782009-01-01T11:23:00.000-05:002009-01-01T11:23:00.000-05:00I think Christians should welcome both the opportu...I think Christians should welcome both the opportunity to pray at such events as well as the opportunity to invoke God's presence into such events.<BR/><BR/>As a Christian I think it scandalous that other Christians would seek to prevent or sabotage a prayer.<BR/><BR/>If a Christian preacher invokes the name of Jesus, I can't say anyone should be surprised or disappointed. That a Christian preacher would fail to say an inclusive prayer is a disappointment but we can hope those those who are left out are close enough to God to overcome the lapse. <BR/><BR/>After all, prayer, in any circumstance, is not a political statement, and those who misuse it as such or seek to limit it to such abuse, fail to grasp the truth of the matter.<BR/><BR/>God is a great God, capable of overcoming any human obstacle to the divine will, so I don't worry too much if we don't get it quite right - the Holy Spirit is there to aid us with sighs to deep for words.<BR/><BR/>JohnJohnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06245470576919732592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22980286.post-33802906321059776172009-01-01T10:30:00.000-05:002009-01-01T10:30:00.000-05:00I am occasionally asked to pray at county commissi...I am occasionally asked to pray at county commission meetings. I use a prayer from the Book of Common Worship and end it 'in your holy name.'<BR/><BR/>The furor over Warren baffles me. It seemed an acceptable choice, especially when paired with Joseph Lowery. The anger, I think, stems from a general animosity toward evangelicals. <BR/><BR/>As to the larger issue of whether religious persons should pray at such events, I'll confess I do not know. <BR/><BR/>Peace to you today.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22980286.post-21540164840199452002009-01-01T09:35:00.000-05:002009-01-01T09:35:00.000-05:00Chuck,Regarding the Graham quote -- some in this d...Chuck,<BR/><BR/>Regarding the Graham quote -- some in this debate would say: exactly, why do we keep on inviting evangelicals to pray at these things.<BR/><BR/>My sense is that there would be fewer qualms about people praying in the name of Jesus if the one's doing the praying represented a broader cross-section of the American populace. Billy Graham prayed at most of these functions from the 1960s to the present. Rick Warren is sort of his successor. <BR/><BR/>If you're going to have prayers at these things -- why not have 2-3 different religions represented. Maybe a Jewish and a Christian invocation, with a Buddhist and a Muslim benediction.<BR/><BR/>Of course, I'm not sure that having a religious leader bless these things makes all that much sense anyway!Robert Cornwallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04581876323110725024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22980286.post-37095839118053529612009-01-01T08:44:00.000-05:002009-01-01T08:44:00.000-05:00Sadly this debate is just like the diversity movem...Sadly this debate is just like the diversity movement at my employer. We encourage everyone of every different backgrounds to come together. HOWEVER, please don't bring up your God, politics, or your opposition to certain positions.. in fact, it sounds like conformity under the title of diversity. This conversation seems to say.. we are glad you are Christian.. but just don't mention Jesus... or we are striping you of your identity.<BR/><BR/>Franklin Graham was once quoted saying "if you don't want a preacher to use in Jesus name, don't invite an evangelical to pray." Great point.. I can't imagine Jesus being asked to pray in public would tone down his prayer.<BR/><BR/>-ChuckAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com