Prayer
Does anyone agree with me that America has reached a new low in public prayer and that we just don't know how to talk with God anymore?
First, it's obvious that we don't feel comfortable praying while other people are standing near us with heads bowed and hands folded. Some people flinch about every five seconds or so, some look around as if bad people are stalking them, and many just fidget from foot to foot, stretching their necks and wringing their hands.
This is not something we do every day, but when Americans gather in large bunches, we feel a prayer would be holy and would kick off the event with heavenly power. So the planning committee of the gathering will telephone a well-known clergy person in town and arrange for a prayer. Now, these sanctified men and women who agree to public prayer actually believe their words will be cherished and taken to heart. So they prepare long and boring prayers.
For example, the other day I saw a prominent pastor on television offering a prayer. I decided to halt my channel surfing and watch the performance. First, let me say, watching a public prayer spoken to an assembly is not exciting television.
To my utter dismay, he delivered the prayer as if he were addressing the assembly. I wondered, "Doesn't he understand this is a prayer and not a sermon?" His eye contact was wonderful as he swept his head across the gathering. And the prayer was exactly as one might expect: a statement, an exhortation, a demand. Something like, "The Lord God wants this and you better conform -- cause I say so."
It turns out, "the exhortation" is the favorite kind of prayer spoken by clergy, because we all know they want to assert their authority.
Another popular public prayer is "the boasting" that a person will often hear in congregational settings. It is a rundown of all the tremendous things the religious people in that setting have done over the past month.
For instance, "Lord, we are just so grateful that you have allowed us to minister to the children in our Sunday school and the summer Bible school which was held this past week for 37 children and for three who could not pay the registration fee.
"And we ask, O Lord, that each one of our sewing circles be especially blessed as they complete the last of 11 quilts for homeless people around the world. Thank you especially for the gift of three pairs of worn-out overalls that got the blue quilts done.
"God Almighty, give us the strength to complete the flower garden on the side of the church over by the duck pond. What with the cost of peat moss, Lord Jesus Christ, in regard to the offering today, strike these people with a spirit of generosity so your creation may be beatified."
The third kind of public prayer is "the desperation," in which the prayer, usually a clergy person, admonishes the congregation to start giving their fair share of money.
"Oh God of power and incredible strength, give us a sense of righteousness and duty, as we contemplate our offering this morning. For we know, oh Lord, that you are a jealous God, quick to anger and merciless in your revenge.
"Therefore, help us see, in fear and trembling, that the fuel bills have to be paid and the roof drippings have to be plugged up with tar as we enter into this summer season."
When we think about prayer, of course, we know it is a very human experience. That's why it gets messed up so easily. Somebody taught me once that the human spirit must decrease and the divine spirit must increase in true prayer. In other words, most of our human concerns, such as flower gardens, overalls and roof leaks may not be the best focus for prayer.
Rather we ought to be praying for the things that God commands: justice, mercy, faith, love and salvation.
I wonder if some congregations might be better off turning their prayer time over to silence, to give each individual a chance to communicate with the ineffable, the force that cannot be uttered.
Clark D. Morphew
7-7-01
