Your opinion on "Prayer Shaming"?

[Catholic_Lady]

In times of crisis most people find themselves at a loss for words. They reach for common and socially acceptable things to say. Trying to take that away from distressed and/or well intentioned people is thoughtless at best and mean-spirited at worst.

If the intention of the Daily News was to ridicule the empty platitudes of politicians and media commentators then they could have done so more respectfully to the general population. The format and message appear designed to agitate and perhaps even offend. It barely conceals their agenda journalism and have dropped all pretense of journalistic objectivity. Notice that this is not a call to provide tangible aid and positive encouragement to the friends and families of the victims. I am quite certain that people are already doing tangible things such as offering to the survivors help with household chores, ready-made meals, financial assistance, etc. I don’t think the Daily News, and other Left-wing media figures, had these kinds of actions in mind; but rather more regulations on private gun ownership (regardless of the merits of those policies). If it was not already obvious to some, anyone can see that mainstream media serves the political Left-wing. We probably should not hold our breath waiting for them to harshly condemn other empty platitudes and terms like “save the planet”, “achieve sustainability”, and “respect differences.”

I agree with Aurora’s OP and feel that it raises good points for discussion. What disturbs me most about some AF member comments is the projection of their own intolerance of religious practices and disgruntlement  that Christian culture in the USA hasn’t entirely disappeared. Whatever some of you may believe about the actual efficacy of prayer, it is truly offensive to disparage the motives of those who pray, particularly Christians, in times of need.

To Darkstar: Your support of the OP is right on. Nevertheless this is not a matter of simply having ‘thin skin’. Media outlets and prominent figures occupy positions of power and are using their disproportionate influence to belittle the source of some people’s central identity and core convictions. The assumption here is that people who pray do only that and nothing else. That is not the case. Every Christian is part of the Body of Christ, through whom He works to achieve His will. Not all, but many Christians will indeed take action to “Fix It.” They just aren’t necessarily the actions Obama and the Democratic Party think should be taken.
 
To Vic: You comment is insulting because it assumes that Christianity makes people passive. No Christian believes that we should just ‘pray and do nothing’, even if sometimes that is all that can be done. We pray before we start to do something and let God work through the Church. To paraphrase St. Paul, “We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.” The secular assumption is that we can “Fix It” by our own efforts. From the Church’s perspective, sinful Man on his own cannot “Fix It.” Ultimately only God can mend the Heart of Man that is the source of all evil. We still have to show up.

To Quantum: Your assertion that the prayers of believers are “not really directed at the victims, but at the themselves” is deeply patronizing and just plain wrong. Of course Christians seek consolation and reassurance from prayer. He is our Comfort and a Mighty Fortress. But that is not all that prayer does. It gives courage, like Peter and Paul, to push forward toward worthwhile goals, despite personal suffering  against overwhelming  opposition. Like the puny boy, David, facing the fearful and giant opponent, prayer gives us boldness for fight for what often appear to be lost causes.
To Losty: Our pastors remind us every Sunday that prayers are not enough. Coming from secularists, who put their faith in government, it is patronizing and reveals the self-righteous assumptions many unbelievers, particularly those in the media.

To Judi Lynn: The bible does not say that public prayer isn’t allowed. In Matthew 6:6, Jesus condemns the hypocrisy of those who make a show of their prayers in order to be thought pious. In Mark 6:41, Jesus publicly blesses the five loaves and two fish before distributing them to the masses. Moreover, the entire book of Psalms is a collection of public prayers.
In your later post you attribute to Christians a “f*ck you” attitude for starving children in Africa and others in need. Then how do you explain World Vision, Tear Fund, Hope Africa, Compassion International…the endless list of missions and international aid?  And that’s just Africa. Every time a Christian puts money in a collection plate they are doing something. Christians were at work long before secular organizations and governments got into the game. Even then, are you so embittered that you believe only atheists and humanists work within secular aid organizations? The Methodist Church actively supports UNICEF. The not-for-profit for which I work is secular, but I cannot tell you how many people of faith, motivated by their faith, work with me to achieve our goals.

To all of You: Before you accuse Christians of ‘doing nothing’, think for a moment about all the oldest and most respectable Hospitals in your area. Just in Chicago we have: RUSH Presbyterian, Saint Luke’s, Mount Sinai, Lutheran General, etc. Northwestern was originally formed out of Wesley Memorial. Modern medicine as it is today would not have been possible without deeply religious people motivated by their faith to engage the natural and social evils. Harvard University’s first beneficiary was a Puritan Minister, John Harvard. So historically, Christians created much of infrastructure from which we all benefit. Only a fool would suggest otherwise and only those who choose not to see would suggest that Christ’s Church is not active today.

Well said, Chad.