So what's the next part: "But when you pray, go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Father" referring to?

 

You are partially accurate in what you have been saying here, IMO. Jesus condemned the Pharisees because they prayed for the sole purpose of being heard. They were doing it for show, just as they'd done in regards to fasting, giving, etc.

 

Yet Jesus himself prayed publicly, as did many others in the New Testament. When he spoke of going into your room, it's highly, highly unlikely that he was speaking of literally going into your room in solitude (though that is a wonderful idea). The reason I say that is that Jesus' audience at that time consisted primarily of peasant people whose homes contained but one room. Even animals often slept in the room with the family (see the parable of the persistent neighbor to validate that...a story also about prayer).

 

Public prayer can be a very dangerous thing, because we can do it to impress others or show off our Christianese language. What Jesus wants from prayer is sincerity and honesty--not some kind of a stage show to impress people about our level of faith or knowledge. There are public prayers that are certainly prayed solely to "be seen by men." But there are others that are genuine, heartfelt, and can bring other worshipers into an uplifting state of mind and heart.

If someone wants to say a prayer in public, then they should be allowed. Who says the ones saying the prayer are not sincere.

 

Why after so many years has this even become an issue? More atheist, which is Christians fault for standing by and letting it happen.

 

If one prayer in public saves a soul, then it was worthwhile.

 

IMO this is just one small step toward what leads us to the end.

If someone wants to say a prayer in public, then they should be allowed. Who says the ones saying the prayer are not sincere.

 

Why after so many years has this even become an issue? More atheist, which is Christians fault for standing by and letting it happen.

 

If one prayer in public saves a soul, then it was worthwhile.

 

IMO this is just one small step toward what leads us to the end.

 

Would you feel the same if the prayers were from those of the Jewish faith? Muslim? Hindu? Your focus is solely on Christian prayer. I think you should consider all the doors that would open, if your wish were to come true.

His point was that the hypocrites love to shout their prayers out loud on the street corners, but that when they go home, they have no interior spiritual life. It is how one prays or what one does when nobody is looking that is the true measure of faith. There is absolute value in prayer itself. A prayer said alone in the silence of your bedroom has great power. When taking that passage too literally, we run the risk of taking Christ's words to mean that we shouldn't pray in public at all, which I don't think is accurate. Though it's interesting to note that nearly every time Jesus prayed in the Bible, he went off to do so alone. The only times he really prayed in public were short prayers of thanksgiving, usually as pertained to food.

 

Good response. :thumb:

 

So how does the bolded matchup with your statement before?

 

See I think context is the issue for Jesus and for us. What is the context and why are we praying? To whom is our prayer addressed: God or the people at a meeting?

 

Ku Klux Klan meetings almost always had a moment or two of prayer within them, it didn't make them holy moments IMO.

 

For those searching for a "blessing" moment of a spiritual nature - what about the "baccalaureate" service. It is voluntary for seniors and their families to come, held most often in a large church, and is designed as a worship expression for this significant event. :thumb:

Good news.. Court lifts prayer ban in Texas... http://beta.news.yahoo.com/apnewsbreak-court-lifts-ban-graduation-prayer-214401289.html

Would you feel the same if the prayers were from those of the Jewish faith? Muslim? Hindu? Your focus is solely on Christian prayer. I think you should consider all the doors that would open, if your wish were to come true.

 

It would not bother me. Muslims, Jews, Christians all believe in the same God anyway.

 

I welcome it, it may bring people closer to one another if they understand each other.

Good news.. Court lifts prayer ban in Texas... http://beta.news.yahoo.com/apnewsbreak-court-lifts-ban-graduation-prayer-214401289.html

 

That is awesome, I am sure prayers were answered. I am sure some are sad to hear it though, since it goes against the Constitution in their eyes.

I've consistently said that the reason to not have school prayer or prayer at school-sponsored events is because it goes against our nation's laws. So, to be consistent, I say good for these folks whose court allows it. I'm not sure I agree with the legal logic used but, again, it's , at least for a while, the law so they can have it. It's the beauty of the system. It will not be the last we hear of this debate. It will probably be more common to find legal challenges.

Well if it is the law, how can one judge say yeah and one say nay. Isn't the law the law.

 

Our nations laws are freedom of speech (prayer is a form of freedom of speech)

freedom of religion (being able to pray openly)

 

I do give you credit for being consistent about the law issue.

Well if it is the law, how can one judge say yeah and one say nay. Isn't the law the law.

 

Our nations laws are freedom of speech (prayer is a form of freedom of speech)

freedom of religion (being able to pray openly)

 

I do give you credit for being consistent about the law issue.

 

This never was a freedom of speech or freedom of religion issue. It is/was a debate over the Establishment Clause.

 

As to your first question... you noticed this was from the 5th Circuit of Appeals, correct? There are others. A federal court in Connecticut ruled that prayer at graduation is not allowed. A court in Wisconsin ruled it is allowed. It's not unheard of.

I know, it varies.

 

It may as well been a debate on religion.

What is the law in Kentucky? I know of two graduation ceremonies where there was an invocation.

I know, it varies.

 

It may as well been a debate on religion.

 

It was. It was whether by allowing prayer at the graduation, was the government promoting Christianity.

It was. It was whether by allowing prayer at the graduation, was the government promoting Christianity.

 

....which doesn't seem to be a Freedom of Religion debate as much as it is a debate of the Establishment Clause, correct? They didn't say she could not be a Christian or that she could not practice her religion in her house of worship. They said it violated the Establishment clause. It's NOT an attack on religion as many, including the TX AG pandering for votes, make it out to be.

I'm confused how this is even an issue. Were we not a nation founded under the principle of "separation of church and state"?

 

Public schools are government funded, thus "state institutions", thus religion of any kind should not be allowed to be practiced.

 

What am I missing?