Representative Randy Forbes (R-VA) announces that "he and over 30 other Members of Congress from 19 states will hold a bi-partisan press conference on the West Steps of the U.S. Capitol to call America back to prayer at noon on Wednesday, March 28, 2007." The press release says that, at the event, the Representatives "will gather to officially call America back to prayer and encourage people to sign up to pray for our nation for five minutes each week."
Frankly, members of Congress have no business issuing an "official call" for Americans to turn "back to prayer." Members of Congress certainly may pray, and they may play active roles within their respective religious communities. They also may form unofficial groups that meet for worship, prayer, and Bible study on government property just as other unofficial groups do. But their stations as government officials do not entitle them to attempt to lead us in spiritual pursuits. We've got plenty of religious leaders who can do that, thank you very much. It's not the government's job to promote religion; it's the job of religious communities.
And what about the idea that these members of Congress are going to lead us "back to prayer"? Who said we ever stopped praying? Moreover, while it is appropriate to pray for our nation, its leaders, and people, we always must remember that God's blessings are for all nations and all peoples, not just our own.
When I called Representative Forbes' office to confirm the information in the press release, a staffer told me that a group called "The Congressional Prayer Caucus Foundation" is linked to this effort. I haven't had time to fully explore the website, but here's a snippet: "Although the Congressional Prayer Caucus Foundation is a completely private organization receiving no taxpayer support or funds, several current and former members of Congress serve as Advisory Members." I haven't had the chance yet to see exactly how many names on the list of "Advisory Members" also appear on the list of current members of Congress, but there appears to be significant overlap. I might have more to say after the press conference, but I will say that the Representatives cannot have it both ways. If they send out a press release with their titles as government officials, purport to issue an "official" call for prayer, and hold an event on the steps of the Capitol, they cannot say that the whole thing is somehow non-governmental in nature.
Again, members of Congress can engage in religious activities and speak in personal ways about their faith convictions. But their jobs as members of Congress are to legislate, not to lead Americans in prayer, and they need to remember that.
I'm in my late sixties, and I can remember a time when this country had much more morality than it has today. In those days, many people minded their own business, went to church on Sundays (or not)and practiced their religion (or non-religion) quietly. Congress, state legislatures and municipal councils accomplished their business and did a lot of good without trying to shove religion down everyone's throat.
Now, it seems the Jesus freaks are everywhere and wear their commitment to Christianity on their sleeves. A reasonable person might be led to believe that the public officials who claim to follow Jesus with such fervor and ostentatious displays would have by now eradicated war and poverty and hunger in this nation and become committed to seeing that a decent minimum wage is the law of the land, among other things. And they would show compassion to women who, for whatever personal reason, wish to terminate a pregnancy, instead of making sure that those women have to jump through hoops and be dragged through a knothole before they can do what should be a matter only between them and their doctors.
And the followers of Jesus would insure that laws were just and not slanted to the wishes of big business or discriminatory against people because of race, nationality, sex, religion, sexual preference or any other factor.
But as I look around me, I see little of that.
Clergymen who profess to follow Jesus preach hate and discrimination.
Many "Christian" lawmakers not only do not represent the people they were elected to serve but also do not represent the teachings of Jesus.
The people who want to make such a big deal about praying and showing their Christianity would be well-advised to read Matthew, Chapter 6, verses 5-15, where Jesus tells his disciples, "When you pray, don't be like the hypocrites. They love to stand in the synagogue and on the street corners and pray so people will see them. . . . When you pray, you should go into your room and close the door and pray to your Father who who cannot be seen. Your Father can see what is done in secret, and he will reward you.
"And when you pray, don't be like those people who don't know God. They continue saying things that mean nothing, thinking that God will hear them because of their many words. . . ."
We haven't come very far since the days of Christ.
Posted by: John Grim | March 29, 2007 at 10:42 PM