Blog Post — Some Politicians Scoff at God and Those Calling for Prayer
On Wednesday San Bernardino, California became the sight of the latest terror attack in the United States. It took the FBI until late this afternoon to make the announcement in its weekend media dump – Yes, they were investigating the killing of 14 as an act of terror. You know, late Friday afternoon is used for releasing news to the media that those releasing the story knows will get lost in Friday night and weekend activities. What better way for the FBI to tell the nation something that any person who can halfway think knew within hours of the California shooting!
This story has so many components, but I’ll try to zero in on one – the pushback against those calling for prayer for the victim’s families!
The New York Daily News said, “after yet another mass shooting in America, GOP presidential contenders were conspicuously silent on the issue of gun control. Instead, the Republicans were preaching about prayer.”
Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy tweeted out, “Your “thoughts” should be about steps to take to stop this carnage. Your “prayers” should be for forgiveness if you do nothing – again.”
The Huffington Post published a headline and subhead that read: Another Mass Shooting, Another Deluge of Tweeted Prayers — Seems to have been an ineffective strategy so far.
Staffers from Vox, Think Progress and the Daily Kos joined the attacks of prayer.
Tweets abounded ridiculing those offering prayers.
The negative responses and outright hatred leveled at those who offered prayers for the victims of the San Bernardino are a reflection of how far our nation has left its foundation. Prayer to Almighty God was an integral part of the establishment of this nation. The Founders fully recognized that without the aid of the God of Nature and Nature’s God they could never defeat the world power that they fought against in order to gain the freedom and liberty that they desired.
Example after example of the important role prayer played are found in the writings of the Founding Fathers.
The First of the Ten Amendments restricting the Federal Government (the Bill of Rights began:
“CONGRESS shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, OR PROHIBITING THE FREE EXERCISE THEREOF; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
One week after the First Amendment was approved by the U.S. Congress, President George Washington issued the First National Day of Thanksgiving and Prayer to Almighty God on October 3, 1789. In the first few lines of his National Proclamation of Prayer and Thanksgiving, President George Washington stated OCTOBER 3, 1789:
“Whereas it is the DUTY of all nations to acknowledge the Providence of ALMIGHTY GOD, to obey His will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and
Whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me ‘to recommend to the People of the United States A DAY OF PUBLIC THANKSGIVING AND PRAYER to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of ALMIGHTY GOD, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to ESTABLISH A FORM OF GOVERNMENT for their safety and happiness;’
Another example is from a few years earlier on September 7, 1774, the First Session of the Continental Congress was opened with prayer in Carpenter’s Hall, Philadelphia.
Threatened by the most powerful monarch in the world, Britain’s King George III, America’s founding fathers heard Rev. Jacob Duche’ begin by reading Psalm 35, the Anglican Book of Common Prayer’s “Psalter” for that day: “Plead my cause, Oh, Lord, with them that strive with me, fight against them that fight against me. Take hold of buckler and shield, and rise up for my help.
Draw also the spear and the battle-axe to meet those who pursue me; Say to my soul, ‘I am your salvation.’ Let those be ashamed and dishonored who seek my life; Let those be turned back and humiliated who devise evil against me.”
Then Rev. Jacob Duche’ prayed:
“Be Thou present, O God of Wisdom, and direct the counsel of this Honorable Assembly; enable them to settle all things on the best and surest foundations; that the scene of blood may be speedily closed;
that Order, Harmony and Peace may be effectually restored, and that Truth and Justice, Religion and Piety, prevail and flourish among the people…
Preserve the health of their bodies, and the vigor of their minds, shower down on them, and the millions they here represent, such temporal Blessings as Thou seest expedient for them in this world, and crown them with everlasting Glory in the world to come.
All this we ask in the name and through the merits of Jesus Christ, Thy Son and our Saviour, Amen.”
Until prayer and seeking God’s face once again become a part of who we are as a nation, don’t expect to see much change in our national character! Ridiculing those who offer thoughts and prayers to victims is a new low even for liberals!!
II Chronicles 7:14 specifically says that one of the key to healing a land is to seek God’s face. We must ignore the critics and daily seek His face.
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