The Right to Pray

 I read an article from an online news site. 

I encourage you to take a moment to read the article and then read the following passages from the Bible: Matthew 6:5-14, Mark 12:38-40, and Luke 20:45-47. 

Now grab a paper and pen to answer these questions: 

*How did Jesus describe how hypocrites pray? (Matthew 6:5) 

*What did Jesus instruct us to NOT do when we pray? (Matthew 6:5) 

*What did Jesus instruct us TO do when we pray (Matthew 6:6) 

*What did Jesus instruct us to NOT do when we pray? (Matthew 6:7) 

*What condemnation did Jesus have for the teachers of the law in Mark 12:38-40 and Luke 20:45-47? 

*What else does the Bible say about prayer? 

*Is there a biblical teaching on a specific location, position, or ritual when we pray? 

*How are Christians commanded to treat non-believers? 

*How are Christians supposed to respond to commands from the governing authorities? 

It's important to take time for perspective checks before we choose our response to this situation. 

1. The case may have just reached the Supreme Court and is currently making headlines, but these events happened in 2015. So take a moment to choose a response instead of giving a knee-jerk reaction that is most likely angry, bitter, or critical. 

2. Christians aren't commanded to pray at a certain location, but we ARE commanded to live at peace with everyone, as far as we are able (see Romans 12:18). 

3. NO ONE can stop Christians from praying. We can pray in workplaces, in stores, in schools, and at sporting events. However, those in charge can request that we don't make a spectacle of our prayers. When we are told that by the authorities, we are still commanded to obey them (see Romans 13:1-7). They can request that we don't kneel at the 50-yard line, but they can't stop us from praying in our seats and offices, in secret. Frankly, this request lines up with Jesus' teachings on prayer. 

4. Take time to reflect. Grab a piece of paper and pen to journal through your feelings. Turn your emotions into prayers. Examine why you are hurt, upset, angry, etc. at this news. Ask God to show you HIS perspective on these matters. Journal and pray until you are in a place of surrender instead of rebellion. Pray until your jaw unclenches and your hands relax. Pray until you get an eternal perspective on these events. 

5. Consider how these matters reflect Christianity to non-Christians. Christians tout obeying the law, until told they can't pray on a football field at the end of a game. Then they will overcome the lawful security and knock children to the ground to do it anyway. Is this the Christianity we want to represent? If they study the Bible's teachings on prayer, are they going to recognize that we are following Jesus' teachings or will they be confused that we insist on making prayer a visible spectacle? 

6. Consider how you'd feel if this was about a Jewish coach or a Muslim coach or a Hindu coach, or a Buddhist coach or a pagan coach. Are we in favor of ALL religions getting to pray on the field after a game, or are we just in favor of OUR religion having these rights and privileges? 

7. God is big enough to defend Himself. We don't need to sue to get God the right to show up at a football game; He's already there. When we jump in to defend God, our actions make Him look weak and unable to defend Himself. So let us take a step back and let God defend Himself. 

8. Are we praying for the "enemies" in this story (i.e. the people who are opposing the response we view as "correct")? 

9. Are we praying for God's will to be done (instead of praying for God to do our will?)