Praying Without Jesus

RELIGION IN THE NEWS

A report and comment on religious trends and events being covered by the media. This week’s item is from Christian Newswire, April 24, 2008, with a headline: National Day of Prayer chairman avoids the name of Jesus. The following are excerpts: "Dr. Ravi Zacharias, the 2008 honorary chairman of the National Day of Prayer taskforce has posted his prayer for our nation on the National Day of Prayer website. According to a contact person with NDP, the name of Jesus was avoided, 'So as to not offend the Jewish participants in the event.' The posted prayer reads as follows: 'Holy Father, in a world where so many are hungry you have given us food in abundance. In a world where so many are hurting you offer to bind up our wounds. In a world longing for peace you offer hope, yet we are so stubborn and resistant. Have mercy upon us, Lord, our nation is at a crossroads this year. We look to you to be our strength and shield. Please give us the guidance to elect one who will honor You and to respond to the wisdom from above so that our hope may be renewed and our blessings be treasured. In God’s holy name.'"

Tom:

Dave, the criticism of this, and I think it’s warranted, Ravi Zacharias left out Jesus. Whether it was intentional or not, actually somebody was contacted with his ministry, and they said basically that the name of Jesus was avoided so as to not offend Jewish participants in the event.

Dave:

Well Tom, let me comment on that. He lists a number of needs, a world where so many go hungry, a world where so many are hurting, where so many are lonely, where they are longing for peace. Well, how about a world where people are on their way to hell for eternity?! And they need the gospel desperately and Christians are told to go into all the world and preach the gospel! This is…Tom, they are just avoiding obedience to Christ’s command. Jesus didn’t say, Oh, let’s go out there and see if we can get all the religions to pray together. As you know, that’s the way Elijah did it when he called for the prophets of Baal and so forth…called for a National Day of Prayer for Israel. Well, let’s get all the pain that is around us to pray, because literally, that’s what they are offering. It’s not just Jews that they are afraid of offending, they are afraid of offending Muslims and everyone else. So Tom, I think the whole concept, and I’ve been trying to say this for years, the whole concept of a National Day of Prayer is built on a false foundation. National Day of Prayer—who’s going to pray? It says, "In God’s Holy name," what god is that? This is a cop out!

Tom:

Mmhmm. Well Dave, it’s like the reaction after 9-11, when you say signs everywhere, "God Bless America." Although I saw one that I thought was good. It said, "America, bless God."

Dave:

Yeah, why should God bless you?

Tom:

Right. Dave, this is a reflection of what we’ve been discussing, the issue of tolerance and intolerance. We certainly don’t want to be viewed, it doesn’t seem like Dr. Zacharias wants to be viewed as being intolerant. But basically, as you point out, he’s missing the boat here, big time. This is an opportunity to bring our country to repentance.

Dave:

Tom, going back to what we were talking about as far as health, the commands from God. Well, you know, my old illustrations, I think they get the point across very well. I’m a doctor and you come to me and I examine you, and then you say, Doc, what’s the diagnosis or prognosis? And I say, Well, Tom, I wouldn’t be so intolerant as to come up with a definite diagnosis, I might offend people who have a different idea. What would you like, open heart surgery, it’s been very popular lately, I can transplant a kidney, I think everyone is entitled to the operation of his choice. Now that is stupidity! But now, what is more important, having a physical operation or whether you are going to go heaven or to hell? Well, yeah, but I don’t want to offend anybody. This is what the hospice movement is about. We’re going to care for the dying, but we wouldn’t dare, you can’t tell them the alternatives out there because that’s not allowed, that’s religion. So Tom, it’s a sad situation.

Tom:

Dave, what about his leaving Jesus out, he ends it, In God’s holy name. Of course Jesus is God, but the avoidance of using the name of Jesus? Didn’t Jesus say, you know, If you deny me before men I’ll deny you.

Dave:

Well, Tom, this is ecumenism, and this is, as I said, based on a false foundation. How are you going to get the prophets of Baal to pray with you, Elijah, for the blessing of Israel? No, you can’t do it. So, what is the point of this prayer? Who are we praying to? Our nation is at a crossroads this year, we look to you to be our strength and shield, please give us the guidance to elect one who will honor you. Who is this you? All the way through they are asking for guidance and talking to some being, and then he finally says, In God’s holy name. Tom, I’m sorry, that is compromise of Himalayan proportions. What do we mean, In god’s holy name? Well, take your pick, what god do you want it to be.

Tom:

Dave, one last thing about this, we’re seeing this in the church, through evangelicals now were developing a social gospel. Look at all these elements: so many are hungry, so many are hurting, so many are lonely, longing for world peace, give us a leader who will guide us--this is a temporal mentality here of solving the world’s problems.

Dave:

And what good does it do? If you could solve all of these problems and you send them off to a Christless eternity to be in hell forever, what is the point of all of this good stuff you’ve given them in the meantime, even temporarily?