http://www.associatedcontent.com/ar...l_day_of_prayer_to_be_held_without.html?cat=9
It's just as well, IMO.
It's just as well, IMO.
Welcome to Baptist Board, a friendly forum to discuss the Baptist Faith in a friendly surrounding.
Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to all the features that our community has to offer.
We hope to see you as a part of our community soon and God Bless!
President George W. Bush changed that with an annual National Day of Prayer service in the East Room during each year of his term. The likes of James Dobson were among the evangelical leaders that helped mark the day.
We're not really surprised, are we?
A National Day of Prayer - is this only for Christian prayers...or Jewish prayers...or Muslim prayers...or Hindu prayers...etc., etc., etc. ... or for all prayers regardless of religion?
Its just as well here too. However it was nice to have President that at least honored the importance of prayer.
Why would you feel Bush honored prayer because he had a public ceremony? Prayer is a matter of the heart and not a public ceremony. Many pray in public and have no relationship with God.
Mt 6:5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
There are lots of examples of Isreal as a nation crying out to God for Help publicly!
The US is not Israel and we as a nation are not God's people. Some of what you're eluding to is what was wrong with Israel and not something we should mimic.
There is great reason Jesus endorsed private prayer over public. Who are we to second guess the Master?
You don't read the Old Testement? We are talking NATION not just private.
Although this is relatively unimportant in the overall scheme of things, I think this is another wrong move by President Obama. Since he claims to be a Christian, he should use every opportunity to demonstrate his faith. Having a public ceremony on this day to honor Jesus Christ would be a good thing.
You didn't read my post, the US is not Israel and we as a nation are not God's people...
{President Will Sign Proclamation, But Won't Hold White House Event
WASHINGTON - May 5 - Americans United for Separation of Church and State today commended President Barack Obama for discontinuing an annual Religious Right-focused prayer service held during the previous eight years at the White House.
Obama has indicated that he will sign a proclamation recognizing the National Day of Prayer on Thursday, but that no special White House prayer service will be held.
This stands in contrast to the George W. Bush administration that invited James and Shirley Dobson and other Religious Right leaders to the White House for an annual government-sponsored prayer service. The relationship appeared to give governmental endorsement to the Dobsons' National Day of Prayer Task Force, a private fundamentalist group that sponsors Christians-only prayer meetings around the country.
The Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United, issued the following statement about the Obama decision:
"I am pleased that President Obama has made this decision. The president is required by federal law to declare a National Day of Prayer, but there is no requirement that a special event be held at the White House in observance of this event.
"During the Bush years, the Dobsons and other Religious Right leaders were given special access to the White House. That seems to have come to an end, and I'm glad.
"Congress should never have mandated a National Day of Prayer. Americans don't need the government telling them when to pray and what to pray for. But if the federal government is going to set aside a prayer day, it should recognize the broad diversity of faiths, not just fundamentalist Christians."
###
Americans United is a religious liberty watchdog group based in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1947, the organization educates Americans about the importance of church-state separation in safeguarding religious freedom.