Matthew 6: Jesus condemns public prayer

[Coffee Jesus]

Right before introducing the longer version of the Lord's prayer (it apperas twice in the Bible), Jesus criticizes those who pray in public.

Why do so many Christians support public prayers?

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You can select multiple options on the poll.

Mathew 6:5-13 NIV

“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

“This, then, is how you should pray:

"Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.’

[truthBtold]

Jesus ...god.. same shit same bullshit

[Minimalist]

Obviously.....fucking jesus didn't know what he was talking about!

[Coffee Jesus]

Obviously.....fucking jesus didn't know what he was talking about!

I imagine them emulating your avatar while everybody else follows their lead and prays with them.

[Minimalist]

"Jesus" supposedly said "turn the other cheek" and "rich people suck" too, and you you don't have to go far to watch today's variants of xtian assholes come up with all sorts of reasons why their god did not mean what he said. One almost has to wonder who is the 'god' and who is the 'follower,' eh?

Religion is bullshit. That is the one universal constant.

[Lek]

Right before introducing the longer version of the Lord's prayer (it apperas twice in the Bible), Jesus criticizes those who pray in public.

Why do so many Christians support public prayers?

---edit---
You can select multiple options on the poll.

Mathew 6:5-13 NIV

“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

“This, then, is how you should pray:

"Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.’

The pharisees would pray in public so everyone could see how "holy and rightous" they were. Christ often criticized them for pretending to be holy on the outside while being evil on the inside. They loved to be seen by the people doing all these supposedly pious things and then being idolized by them. Jesus told his disciples not to be like the pharisees and pray to be seen, but to pray earnestly to God who hears you even if you're not praying audibly. He wasn't giving a prohibition against group prayer.

[Coffee Jesus]

The pharisees would pray in public so everyone could see how "holy and rightous" they were. Christ often criticized them for pretending to be holy on the outside while being evil on the inside. They loved to be seen by the people doing all these supposedly pious things and then being idolized by them. Jesus told his disciples not to be like the pharisees and pray to be seen, but to pray earnestly to God who hears you even if you're not praying audibly. He wasn't giving a prohibition against group prayer.

What about school sponsored prayer at a graduation ceremony? Is that earnest prayer, even though the praying is triggered by conformity rather than an earnest desire to pray?

4:30





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Besides, even if Jesus didn't necessarily condemn all group prayer, he did specifically endorse private prayer in "your room", in "secret".

[Jacob(smooth)]

The pharisees would pray in public so everyone could see how "holy and rightous" they were. Christ often criticized them for pretending to be holy on the outside while being evil on the inside. They loved to be seen by the people doing all these supposedly pious things and then being idolized by them. Jesus told his disciples not to be like the pharisees and pray to be seen, but to pray earnestly to God who hears you even if you're not praying audibly. He wasn't giving a prohibition against group prayer.

What about school sponsored prayer at a graduation ceremony? Is that earnest prayer, even though the praying is triggered by conformity rather than an earnest desire to pray

I
How could you even ask


You know what it's like. You're outside the Whitehouse with a bunch of your political friends and feel a sudden, Ernest and sincere desire to pray. So you all fall to your knees (happily you all had your matching kneeler pads just in case) and crank on. Then, annoyingly, a bunch of press arrive and start taking pictures. Obviously you don't WANT voters to see you praying, that's totally not the point. But you know, whatcha gonna do?

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I will say this for Great Britain. If a bunch of politicians tried that here they'd be a laughing stock.

[Coffee Jesus]

Oooh! That chick off to the right is really getting into it.

[Lek]

What about school sponsored prayer at a graduation ceremony? Is that earnest prayer, even though the praying is triggered by conformity rather than an earnest desire to pray?

I'd say no to public school sponsored prayer. As for the politicians, it looks like a show to me. If a certain church body were to get together and have an outdoor service, say at a park, then I would say that it wouldn't violate Jesus' words. I don't know what's going on in the heads and hearts of the individuals.