by Jack Reeves
A week ago Texas Gov. Rick Perry spearheaded and headlined a seven-hour prayer rally in a Houston stadium. He spoke and prayed for 12 minutes before a crowd of 30,000 evangelical Christians.
The consensus is that he used the occasion to advertise his conservative Christian credentials with those inclined to support him if he ran for US president.
The widely media-covered event could raise the question of his familiarity with words attributed to Jesus about prayer--both where and how. Presumably he knows but ignored it.
Matt. 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. 6:6 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. 6:7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. 6:8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
The admonition against 'vain repetitions' bears consideration in regard to his speech and prayer. There seems a match.
One wonders what Jesus would say about the event and the governor's behavior.
I could imagine: "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do."
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1 comment:
As usual, everyone wants to claim that god is on their side....
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