Calendar

01/15/2014

My Thoughts

The day that is set aside for prayer in the United States of America every May is no doubt an honorable procedure. It is rooted in the light of our founding fathers who lived in the Biblical Worldview unmatched in our imaginations today. Even the representative of this group that history has unfairly labeled the deist requested,

“I therefore beg leave to move -- that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessings on our deliberations, be held in this Assembly every morning before we proceed to business, and that one or more of the Clergy of this City be requested to officiate in that service.” -- Benjamin Franklin

Mr. Franklin has much more to say from scripture beyond this pleading to incorporate prayer into the everyday practice of the United States government. There is no doubt that his imploring of the assistance of Heaven meant beseeching the God of the Bible. This is the same God who is involved in history even to the point of sending His son to change the destiny of mankind.

Today our worldview is not as unified. Unfortunately, members of one denomination can be less in agreement than the cross section of our founding fathers. So when the United States of America has a day of prayer, to whom do we pray? Who will answer?

From God’s perspective, if he were to act as only his strong arm is able, what group will see the miraculous as a result of their prayers unto their god? If prayers to all deities are offered to divert an impending hurricane disaster, for example, and the hurricane unexpectedly makes a 90 degree turn, what deity is to receive the honor for the intervention?

Elijah obviously had a similar problem in his day and was called upon by the LORD God to make it precisely clear as to who is the almighty God. 1 Kings 18 recites the events where Elijah challenges the prophets of Baal to call on their god to accept an offering. After a day of prayer where nothing happened, yet these prophets were offering honest pleadings, they were devout worshipers even to the point of cutting themselves so that their blood flowed. (You’ve heard how the importance of faith is its purity and authenticity, that’s just poppycock. The importance of faith is in the object of the faith.)

Then Elijah prayed to the LORD God almighty. It was unmistakable when God acted to whom credit was due, for everyone fell on their face to worship the one true God. We need a day of prayer to the LORD God almighty in the name of Jesus Christ to be unmistakable. When there is clarity as to whom the object of the prayers are offered then God will act in his might and he will receive the honor.

I believe we need to proclaim a day of prayer in the name of Jesus Christ that the world may know to whom all honor, glory and praise rightfully belong.

John Wallen