Texas Governor Rick Perry suggests that we pray for our nation. I read the article, then began reading the comments. Here’s the link: https://tinyurl.com/3sasw88. Fascinating, really.
America wants leaders who live by a high standard of ethics, who seek the best for their citizens, and for the world at large. America wants leaders who believe in honesty and truth.
So Gov. Perry, who may be the Republican presidential candidate, says it’s important to pray. Not to a God who calls for child sacrifice, or asks us to wage war for our faith. Not to a God who is hateful. Not to a God who accepts lies.
Gov. Perry asks America to pray for help in hard times. Not to smite his enemies. (He said we should pray for our president as well.) Not to let him win the election. Just to pray in our day of distress.
That’s a kind of useful humility, I believe.
America wants the things that Christianity offers, but without calling it that, or allowing a candidate to believe it. America loves the idea that certain things are true: the poor need to be loved and helped, peace is better than war, prosperity is a good thing, everyone needs health-care.
But America’s elite hate the idea that those ideas might have a source other than their own imaginations. And America’s intelligentsia and media typically detest the idea that a politician might locate that source in God. A God whom, according to USA Today, intelligent and educated people actually believe worthy of reverence. In other words, perhaps America’s intelligent people, her educated people, are ahead of the curve. They might actually be praying too.
Ironic, isn’t it? We want the trappings of faith, but not the faith. The goodness that would come from a God, but only if that God lies dead.
C.S. Lewis said: ‘In a sort of ghastly simplicity we remove the organ and demand the function. We make men without chests and expect of them virtue and enterprise. We laugh at honor and are shocked to find traitors in our midst. We castrate and bid the geldings be fruitful.’ (Abolition of Man.)
How long will we wring our hands over faith, even as we desire it’s benefits?
And how long will we assume, out of hand, that a praying politician is a stupid one?
Ed,
The trappings without the faith. That’s the idea that occured to me as I heard all the criticism. That, and asking why a governor had to abandon his personal faith once elected to public office. Thanks for the thoughtful post.
MC
12 years ago
There is that part in the bible about how a man who makes a public show of faith has surely received his reward by being seen but the one who prays in private will receive a genuine reward from Jesus.
Gaby
12 years ago
The bible also states: ‘where two or more are gathered in My name, I am in the midst of them’. 🙂
MC
12 years ago
Good point, Gaby, thanks. I would love to see a a nation wide revival, I just think we should be careful of using an enthusiastic show of faith to further political goals-I mean, this IS the guy who is very gung ho about executions too. Also, gathering in His name might not mean with media coverage, lots of publicity and flash and invitation of big name politicos.
What’s up?. I just ran across your entry and I must inform you that I’m very fascinated by the level of your writing abilities.I feel like I spend so much time obessing about my hobby blog, but I’m still not getting any search engine traffic. Any tips or tricks you could share?
I keep trying to subscribe for the Letters thing, but there’s nowhere to do so! When i sign in, under the MANAGE YOUR SUBSCRIPTION url, there’s only my Book Club subscription. How do I add the Letters thing for $5?
{"id":null,"mode":"form","open_style":"in_place","currency_code":"USD","currency_symbol":"$","currency_type":"decimal","blank_flag_url":"https:\/\/edwinleap.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/tip-jar-wp\/\/assets\/images\/flags\/blank.gif","flag_sprite_url":"https:\/\/edwinleap.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/tip-jar-wp\/\/assets\/images\/flags\/flags.png","default_amount":100,"top_media_type":"none","featured_image_url":false,"featured_embed":"","header_media":null,"file_download_attachment_data":null,"recurring_options_enabled":true,"recurring_options":{"never":{"selected":true,"after_output":"One time only"},"weekly":{"selected":false,"after_output":"Every week"},"monthly":{"selected":false,"after_output":"Every month"},"yearly":{"selected":false,"after_output":"Every year"}},"strings":{"current_user_email":"","current_user_name":"","link_text":"Leave a tip","complete_payment_button_error_text":"Check info and try again","payment_verb":"Pay","payment_request_label":"EdwinLeap.com","form_has_an_error":"Please check and fix the errors above","general_server_error":"Something isn't working right at the moment. Please try again.","form_title":"EdwinLeap.com","form_subtitle":"If you enjoy the content you read here, please consider dropping something in the tip jar!","currency_search_text":"Country or Currency here","other_payment_option":"Other payment option","manage_payments_button_text":"Manage your payments","thank_you_message":"Thank you so much! I appreciate the tip!","payment_confirmation_title":"EdwinLeap.com","receipt_title":"Your Receipt","print_receipt":"Print Receipt","email_receipt":"Email Receipt","email_receipt_sending":"Sending receipt...","email_receipt_success":"Email receipt successfully sent","email_receipt_failed":"Email receipt failed to send. Please try again.","receipt_payee":"Paid to","receipt_statement_descriptor":"This will show up on your statement as","receipt_date":"Date","receipt_transaction_id":"Transaction ID","receipt_transaction_amount":"Amount","refund_payer":"Refund from","login":"Log in to manage your payments","manage_payments":"Manage Payments","transactions_title":"Your Transactions","transaction_title":"Transaction Receipt","transaction_period":"Plan Period","arrangements_title":"Your Plans","arrangement_title":"Manage Plan","arrangement_details":"Plan Details","arrangement_id_title":"Plan ID","arrangement_payment_method_title":"Payment Method","arrangement_amount_title":"Plan Amount","arrangement_renewal_title":"Next renewal date","arrangement_action_cancel":"Cancel Plan","arrangement_action_cant_cancel":"Cancelling is currently not available.","arrangement_action_cancel_double":"Are you sure you'd like to cancel?","arrangement_cancelling":"Cancelling Plan...","arrangement_cancelled":"Plan Cancelled","arrangement_failed_to_cancel":"Failed to cancel plan","back_to_plans":"\u2190 Back to Plans","update_payment_method_verb":"Update","sca_auth_description":"Your have a pending renewal payment which requires authorization.","sca_auth_verb":"Authorize renewal payment","sca_authing_verb":"Authorizing payment","sca_authed_verb":"Payment successfully authorized!","sca_auth_failed":"Unable to authorize! Please try again.","login_button_text":"Log in","login_form_has_an_error":"Please check and fix the errors above","uppercase_search":"Search","lowercase_search":"search","uppercase_page":"Page","lowercase_page":"page","uppercase_items":"Items","lowercase_items":"items","uppercase_per":"Per","lowercase_per":"per","uppercase_of":"Of","lowercase_of":"of","back":"Back to plans","zip_code_placeholder":"Zip\/Postal Code","download_file_button_text":"Download File","input_field_instructions":{"tip_amount":{"placeholder_text":"How much would you like to tip?","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"How much would you like to tip? Choose any currency."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"How much would you like to tip? Choose any currency."},"invalid_curency":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Please choose a valid currency."}},"recurring":{"placeholder_text":"Recurring","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"How often would you like to give this?"},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"How often would you like to give this?"},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"How often would you like to give this?"}},"name":{"placeholder_text":"Name on Credit Card","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter the name on your card."},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Enter the name on your card."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Please enter the name on your card."}},"privacy_policy":{"terms_title":"Terms and conditions","terms_body":null,"terms_show_text":"View Terms","terms_hide_text":"Hide Terms","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"I agree to the terms."},"unchecked":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Please agree to the terms."},"checked":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"I agree to the terms."}},"email":{"placeholder_text":"Your email address","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter your email address"},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Enter your email address"},"blank":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Enter your email address"},"not_an_email_address":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Make sure you have entered a valid email address"}},"note_with_tip":{"placeholder_text":"Your note here...","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Attach a note to your tip (optional)"},"empty":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Attach a note to your tip (optional)"},"not_empty_initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Attach a note to your tip (optional)"},"saving":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Saving note..."},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Note successfully saved!"},"error":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Unable to save note note at this time. Please try again."}},"email_for_login_code":{"placeholder_text":"Your email address","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter your email to log in."},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Enter your email to log in."},"blank":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Enter your email to log in."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Enter your email to log in."}},"login_code":{"initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Check your email and enter the login code."},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Check your email and enter the login code."},"blank":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Check your email and enter the login code."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Check your email and enter the login code."}},"stripe_all_in_one":{"initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter your credit card details here."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Enter your credit card details here."},"success":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter your credit card details here."},"invalid_number":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card number is not a valid credit card number."},"invalid_expiry_month":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's expiration month is invalid."},"invalid_expiry_year":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's expiration year is invalid."},"invalid_cvc":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's security code is invalid."},"incorrect_number":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card number is incorrect."},"incomplete_number":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card number is incomplete."},"incomplete_cvc":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's security code is incomplete."},"incomplete_expiry":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's expiration date is incomplete."},"incomplete_zip":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's zip code is incomplete."},"expired_card":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card has expired."},"incorrect_cvc":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's security code is incorrect."},"incorrect_zip":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's zip code failed validation."},"invalid_expiry_year_past":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's expiration year is in the past"},"card_declined":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card was declined."},"missing":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"There is no card on a customer that is being charged."},"processing_error":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"An error occurred while processing the card."},"invalid_request_error":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Unable to process this payment, please try again or use alternative method."},"invalid_sofort_country":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The billing country is not accepted by SOFORT. Please try another country."}}}},"fetched_oembed_html":false}
Ed,
The trappings without the faith. That’s the idea that occured to me as I heard all the criticism. That, and asking why a governor had to abandon his personal faith once elected to public office. Thanks for the thoughtful post.
There is that part in the bible about how a man who makes a public show of faith has surely received his reward by being seen but the one who prays in private will receive a genuine reward from Jesus.
The bible also states: ‘where two or more are gathered in My name, I am in the midst of them’. 🙂
Good point, Gaby, thanks. I would love to see a a nation wide revival, I just think we should be careful of using an enthusiastic show of faith to further political goals-I mean, this IS the guy who is very gung ho about executions too. Also, gathering in His name might not mean with media coverage, lots of publicity and flash and invitation of big name politicos.
I agree MC, I see your point, too. Thank you.
nice blog! thanks for the help.
I am not really fantastic with English but I line up this really easygoing to understand….
Wow!!! Adore the depth and reception photographs!! Oh, and anything in concerning! Beautiful.
What’s up?. I just ran across your entry and I must inform you that I’m very fascinated by the level of your writing abilities.I feel like I spend so much time obessing about my hobby blog, but I’m still not getting any search engine traffic. Any tips or tricks you could share?
Zeppie reported on September 20, 2012
I keep trying to subscribe for the Letters thing, but there’s nowhere to do so! When i sign in, under the MANAGE YOUR SUBSCRIPTION url, there’s only my Book Club subscription. How do I add the Letters thing for $5?
I like it. I expect more such posts. When can I expect a new article?
Thank you concerning writing this you protected us quite a number of talk with the following word of advice!