Prayer is prayer
Much has been said about Rick Warren giving the invocation at Obama’s inauguration. Gay-rights activists claim the selection shows a “deep level of disrespect.” Certainly, gay rights is a charged topic in America, but let us for a moment consider what Warren will do. He will pray. He, a mere man, will offer prayer to the Almighty. There is nothing political in that: God does not stoop to our level, our controversies; he does not contend with us. Rather, Warren will lift his voice to God, beseeching him. That makes prayer pure. Gays, and those sympathetic to the homosexual movement, may not like Warren’s politics — and certainly they have the right to object — but words offered to God, from any man, are holy, because they are offered. We can argue politics another day, but let’s affirm our need for divine guidance today.
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You write in your comments about Obama’s inaugrual prayer that “words offered to God, from any man, are holy, because they are offered…”
However, Scripture does not support this. Neither are words “holy” simply by the fact they are offered, nor does God consider the words of “any man”. In fact, 1 Pet. 3:12 says His ears are open only to the righteous. Prayers not offered in the name of Jesus are also ignored by God, as Jn 14:6 makes clear. Jn 15:7 states that the one praying must “abide in Jesus and Jesus’ words must abide in him. Otherwise, whatever is asked is not necessarily granted. Jesus says in Jn 14:13 that regardless of what you ask, if it does not glorify the Father, it will not be granted. Jn 15:16 says that one must be chosen by God and ordained by God for his prayer to be effective.
I don’t think it is correct to state that anyone’s prayer offered to God is holy nor even heard.
pastordon
26 Dec 08 at 5:24 pm
I discern two matters here: (a) does Pastor Rick Warren abide in Christ? and (b) does God hear all prayer? First, what I know of Warren suggests he is a Christian, that he abides in Christ. Second, I suppose my point is not that prayer is intrinsically holy because it is offered to God. My point is that prayer is an act of submission. Not that God need answer this prayer, but that man offer his submission, that is important. I believe that God hears that prayer.
Mark Adams
26 Dec 08 at 6:26 pm
First, Does Rick Warren abide in Christ? Only God knows. Second, submission is a central tenant of Islam; in fact, Islam means submission. Does the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob hear the prayers of the Muslim, offered to Allah in submission? A number of both Old and New Testament references point to the fact that God answers prayer that is in accordance with His will, regardless of who asks it. In addition, we know from Heb. 4 that the Christian is enabled to approach God’s throne through the saving work of Jesus Christ, and that person has the assurance of being heard. But again, God’s will is the deciding factor.
pastordon
30 Dec 08 at 12:09 am
Don, I have an epistemological objection to your first statement. To the question, does Rick Warren abide in Christ, you replied, “Only God knows.” I don’t know where to go with this. If we are admonished to abide in Christ (John 15:7), then we must be able to know if we are abiding; otherwise, the admonishment would not be meaningful. How are we to form an opinion about Warren’s offering a prayer at Obama’s inauguration?
Mark Adams
30 Dec 08 at 12:06 pm