Saturday, October 29, 2005

Really? Redux


At it again.


Okay, so it's not a synagogue, or techinically a street corner. But they do seem to have received their reward.
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2 comments:

Bob Ramsey said...

OK, Robert, I have your back on this.

So, dbravo. We have a picture of people intentionally praying in public, but your think it is "premature" to question their intent. It is possible that it never occurred to them that people would see them praying in a public place, and it is just possible that they were shocked, shocked to find cameras there as well. And they probably always carry that "National Clergy Council" sign on a stand with them everywhere they go, and that it is in no way related to a desire to publicize their praying. It is possible that they were "sincerely crying out to God" and that none of this was "before men". But taken together, not very likely, no?

And yet, you seem perfectly capable of questioning Robert's motives on the basis of one blog post. Actually, you don't question, but assign the motivation of pride to him, since he obviously hasn't met with the people in the picture.

I'm glad you're working on your pride. I'm working on it too. It is a besetting human sin - you and I will struggle with it until we die.

But until then, three words:

Pot, Kettle, Black.

8:33 PM
Paddy O said...

Over the course of my various years of life I've occasionally prayed in public, even on a street corner. When my car broke down I prayed at the bus stop. Indeed, on a trip some friends and I took around this country we would spend a little time in the morning praying and doing a little devotion, often near monuments of national significane.

I have been to a lot of public places in this nation, and prayed near or by more than a few. Curiously enough there aren't any pictures of me doing this, nor, as far as I know, did the media or passers-by know what I was about.

I wasn't talking to them, you see. And the media doesn't really care about most people. You have to really make a point or show in order to get on the news.

If they weren't making a public show out of their prayer we wouldn't even know they were praying. But, like protesters who throw blood on folks wearing fur, or others who carry gaudy signs, these people were specifically using prayer as a tool for attention.

"See, we can pray here, look at us and the cause we are fighting for."

Indeed, having a sign, and what appears to be wires for audio recording implies this wasn't the kind of prayer beseeching God, but a sermon in disguise.

Their motives may in fact not be to attract attention to their own devotion, but I think it's quite worth pointing out the possible dangers of their public religious show. Our own sin notwithstanding, we do have the responsibility to consider the motives and methods of others in the Church.

Just because I wrestle with pride doesn't mean I can't point it out in others. The goal isn't to make myself look better but try to find growth as a community.

Like Paul said, "Is it not those who are inside that you are to judge?"

If only the sinless could critique, then we wouldn't really get anywhere.

9:56 AM

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