Praying for Publicity
I'm probably playing into Franklin Graham's hands. He seems to like the spotlight, and his disinvitation to pray at the Pentagon has made his day. He's made all the rounds, played up the issue, said that Islam "gets a pass" from the President, complains that Christians are being persecuted -- and on and on it goes.
The latest is that on Thursday, Mr. Graham, who seems to want to reach the same level of importance as his famous father, gathered with a few of his friends and prayed on the sidewalk outside the Pentagon. Following this, according to news reports, he gathered the press together at the September 11 monument (apparently one of the few places that cameras are allowed on Pentagon property), and reiterated his complaints.
I know Franklin knows the passage, but just in case he doesn't I want to share words of Jesus with him.
‘And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.*
‘When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. (Matthew 6:5-7 NRSV).
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John