I like the observance and would hope in the interest of bipartisanship that the Obama administration would reach out to the Dobsons and continue the observance.  Of course, they have every right not to, but I’d like to think that President Obama would continue reaching out to those who do not necessarily share his views.  Regardless of what the White House does, Christians should still continue the observance and not let it be merely symbolic but rather a reminder of our great God who can and does answer prayer.  It could also serve as a springboard in my churches to return to prayer.

“QUESTION:  What’s your take on this?  Is the National Day of Prayer important and really have an impact, or is it pretty much symbolic?  How do you think this will work out?”

Once upon a time, this nation would engage in national days set aside for prayer, fasting, and humiliation.  It was upon the national consciousness that to have a federal republic such as ours, we should take time as a nation to fall on our faces before God for what He provided to us.  Abraham Lincoln did so back in 1863, for instance.

Then, over time, the, “humiliation,” became too, “humiliating,” and got dropped from those events.

Then, likewise, the, “fasting,” got quickly dropped.

Now, we see the, “prayer,” getting pushed to the side, with national leaders turning away from getting on their knees before God.

As this nation continues staying further away from being close with God, He will continue letting us go down our own paths of depravity.  And it should be no surprise when He rightly judges us and pours out His wrath upon us.

We can only hope and pray for things to be turned around.

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CS

We don’t need the National Day of Prayer anymore ... it’s an obsolete observance ( ... so BO and his buds would have us think!) Doing away with it is simply “a sign of the times.” As the question asks: “What difference does it really make?”

The main line denominations seem to observe World Day of Prayer.  When I mentioned NDP to the pastors in my community, one pastor commented that it was Republican.  I suspect that World Day of Prayer is considered to be more politically correct since patriotism is interpreted as” the evil of nationalism.” The new plan is for us to become citizens of the world.  The president’s bowing to an Arabic king is symbolic of our new, apologetic approach.  The sentiment is “forgive us for being Americans!”

In response to Rev. Larry’s comment:

I agree that it’s sad…
It’s crazy when something like NDP is viewed as partisan…

It’s like the Tea Party gathering that happened on Tax Day.  The whole Tea Party deal that happened was made up of people of all backgrounds:  Democrats, Independents, Green party folks, Republicans and Conservatives (and more) and even with an obviously diverse make-up it was totally billed as a Republican stunt (even though most of the stuff I saw written indicated that the people were fed-up with Republicans too) so I guess we shouldn’t be too suprised that this happens on the subject of prayer too…

When something like wanting to uphold the constitution is viewed as ‘extreme’ that really says something...and when something as accessible to everyone as ‘prayer’ is regarded as ‘republican’, that says even more…

But letting our light shine and trusting in God in uncertain times is what we’re all about so we have yet another chance to show what we’re made of; without being a resounding gong of course…

In the 1950’s, in the midst of the Cold War and McCarthyism, we did a lot of things in an attempt to distinguish ourselves from the communists.  In 1952, Eisenhower signed the law instituting National Day of Prayer, in 1954 ‘under God’ was added to the Pledge of Allegiance.  In 1956 ‘In God We Trust’ was declared our national motto, and began to be printed on paper money (it was on coins much earlier).  I doubt that any of these things really helps the spiritual condition of the country.  Just because we put In God we Trust on our money, doesn’t mean we trust Him.  Because we mumbled our way through the pledge every day in school, doesn’t mean our nation is submitted to God, and just because there is a National Day of Prayer, doesn’t mean we have humbled ourselves as a nation.  These things are mostly religious veneer.  As Jerry said, Christians are to be praying regularly for our leaders already.  We shouldn’t be waiting for a National Day of Prayer.  And for those who aren’t Christians participating in NDP, it’s probably mostly an empty ritual.

Responding to Katrina, I guess then you have no tolerance for your fellow humans if you claim your god is the only God.  That’s one of the needs or reasons for such a National Day of Prayer to be more tolerant and accepting of others faith/belief.  God is the God of all, just not for Christian (look that up in your gospels) And having a toleration for others you need to read Paul’s letter to the Romans.

There is only One who can judge or determine whether one’s faith is acceptable or not, and that is God alone.

Responding to CS and the only one to determine what is falset?  God. 

Also take some time and read Amendment 1 to the US Constitution.  As our government can not establish what religion to follow, then being tolerant of others is all the more important to adhere to.

Paul:

“Responding to CS and the only one to determine what is falset?  God.”

Do you see the logical fallacy in your statement?  If your statement is true or false, how would we be able to discern that? 

“Also take some time and read Amendment 1 to the US Constitution.  As our government can not establish what religion to follow, then being tolerant of others is all the more important to adhere to.”

Yes, let’s look at that Amendment:

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof”

Last time I checked, saying that there is a national day of prayer does not restrict anyone else’s right to follow their religion, nor would it create an establishment of religion.  It just says that there are people who want to pray publicly for the nation.

And, if you define, “tolerance,” as, “being nice to people of other faiths,” that’s fine with me.  But, if you define, “tolerance,” in, “saying that all faiths are equal,” then that is heretical.  My God is not the same as the false gods of Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, or any other faith, and I would never place Him on the same level.  He is the only true God, and all the others are idols.  He is the only way to eternal life, and all others are the way to eternal death.

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CS

Paul,

Even though I am a Christian, your concerns are one of the things that gives me pause about our country having a national day of prayer. We are not a Christian theocracy, and those who aren’t part of my faith shouldn’t feel shut out as you do. Don’t get me wrong, I still am pretty conservative Christian in my beliefs and theology, but the fact that you find the day of prayer potentially offensive is something to think about.

In any case, this is probably the wrong place for this particular discussion anyway, and those of us who are Christians might not really be well served by arguing with Paul’s points on a blog anyway.

Paul, to believe that the God I believe in is the one and only god is not intolerant, it is simply my belief.  Based on this belief I can be tolerant or intolerant of people who espouse other beliefs, but just believing that the God I believe in is the one and only god is not in and of itself intolerant.

I do not want to offend you, or any others who practice other religions, but more than that I do not want to offend Jesus.  Acknowledging that that any religion other than Christianity is valid IS offensive to Jesus, therefore inter-faith worship services are offensive to Jesus.  A National Day of Prayer does NOT mean that we all have to pray together and acknowledge the validity of the prayers of other religions.  We need only tolerate each others rights to believe as we do.

I believe I am a very tolerant person, I acknowledge your right to believe whatever you believe, do you acknowledge my right to believe you are wrong?  And if I believe that you are wrong and that what I believe is right, how is that intolerant?  It is only intolerant if I try to inhibit your right to believe as you do.

Who’s intolerant?  Me, because I believe someone else is wrong but I accept their right to be wrong, or those who refuse to accept my right to believe as I do and to believe that those who believe differently are wrong?

I’m very uncomfortable with the idea of a National Day of Prayer.  It is not because I have any hesitation about praying to the One God, publically or privately.  Rather, it is because this event has become perceived (as evidenced by these the posts on this thread) as a “Christian” and worse yet “Republican” event.

Paul – I agree with Peter, your potential offense is a very unfortunate byproduct of the Christian right co-opting an event that, if is to be sanctioned in any way by the White House and our government, should always have been completely inclusive and tolerant of all faiths.

There was a great article by Jon Meacham titled ‘The End of Christian America,” published in the April 4 edition of Newsweek. (http://www.newsweek.com/id/192583/page/1) In the article Meacham quotes Thomas Jefferson, reminding readers that “his statute for religious freedom in Virginia was [Jefferson] ‘meant to comprehend, within the mantle of its protection, the Jew and the Gentile, the Christian and the Mahometan, the Hindoo and infidel of every denomination.’ “

Meacham also says: “As crucial as religion has been and is to the life of the nation, America’s unifying force has never been a specific faith, but a commitment to freedom—not least freedom of conscience. At our best, we single religion out for neither particular help nor particular harm; we have historically treated faith-based arguments as one element among many in the republican sphere of debate and decision. The decline and fall of the modern religious right’s notion of a Christian America creates a calmer political environment and, for many believers, may help open the way for a more theologically serious religious life.”

Meacham is right.  Any official blessing on a national day of prayer MUST NOT favor any particular faith or god.  If Obama withdraws his blessing because this day has become too associated with one particular faith, it in no way restricts my freedom to worship and pray to the One God of the universe, but it does honor and respect those who do not share my faith. 

Next Thursday, I hope our president stays far away from the Dobsons, encourages all Americans to pray and then models his own commitment to prayer by attending a prayer service at his church.

For those of you who feel the “right” have co-opted the NDP, you might want to remember that you can’t co-opt what you started.  Remember that the NDP didn’t exist any longer in a participatory way, until leaders like Dr. Dobson and others brought it back as a reminder to pray for this nation.  So, they didn’t co-opted anything; I don’t remember any Mormons, Jews, Muslims, or Hindus’ seeking to call the nation to prayer for the last fifty+ years.