Offended by thankful prayer?

Yesterday, I read a news article about a high school football coach who is in trouble for bowing on the field after his team played to thank God. He didn’t make a big deal of it nor was he trying to put himself in the limelight. It was his habit to thank God for everything and he had been doing this for a long time.

Those who protested said this was “unconstitutional” as he was a public servant and should not be ‘religious’ in a public place. The reporter was not impressed, saying something like it is okay to bow the knee and protest the American flag, but not okay to bow the knee and thank Almighty God.

Sports figures can be seen raising their hand or saying words of praise to God during and after games. When I see it, I sometimes offer a prayer too, asking God to bless them for their thankful hearts. Reading of the protests against this coach is disheartening, but this is not new. It happened to King David way back around 1000-900 B.C.

“And David danced before the Lord with all his might. And David was wearing a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting and with the sound of the horn. As the ark of the Lord came into the city of David, Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, and she despised him in her heart. And they brought in the ark of the Lord and set it in its place, inside the tent that David had pitched for it. And David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord. And when David had finished offering the burnt offerings and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts and distributed among all the people, the whole multitude of Israel, both men and women, a cake of bread, a portion of meat, and a cake of raisins to each one. Then all the people departed, each to his house. And David returned to bless his household. But Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David and said, ‘How the king of Israel honored himself today, uncovering himself today before the eyes of his servants’ female servants, as one of the vulgar fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!’ And David said to Michal, ‘It was before the Lord, who chose me above your father and above all his house, to appoint me as prince over Israel, the people of the Lord—and I will celebrate before the Lord. I will make myself yet more contemptible than this, and I will be abased in your eyes. But by the female servants of whom you have spoken, by them I shall be held in honor.’ And Michal the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death.” (2 Samuel 6:14–23)

David celebrated the return of the ark of the Lord to Jerusalem. He was tremendously excited and filled with joy, expressing his emotions in exuberant dance. Instead of being joyful with him (“Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.” Romans 12:15) his wife berated this godly king for making a fool of himself.

Today’s devotional reading says David was celebrating God’s choice of him to be king, but that does not fit with the context. Clearly, David was rejoicing because the ark was restored to Jerusalem. His mention of God’s choice was in defense of the accusation Michal made against him, saying he had the right to dance before the Lord since the Lord had chosen him to be king. Further, his exuberance was for God, not for the people over whom he was appointed to rule.

The news article about the football coach indicated he has like-spirit. He was kneeling before God; his actions had nothing to do with the people. He wanted to honor the Lord, not bow to the opinions of the crowd or the players. However, he is going to suffer abuse because of it.

^^^^^^^^^^^

Jesus, Your Word predicts increasing antagonism against Your people. However, You also said that Your people would be blessed when harassed for righteousness’ sake, when others revile us and utter all kinds of evil against us falsely on Your account. You tell us to rejoice and be glad, for our reward is great in heaven — for the prophets also were treated this way before us. (Matthew 5:10–12)

My prayer for this coach is that You will keep him in Your care and bless him for his faith and love shown toward You. Give him wisdom and keep him faithful to You, no matter what the protesters think or do. I’m almost chuckling to realize that if he danced like David did after the football games, no one would interpret or protest that as a ‘religious’ display! The players do it all the time.

Family note: My husband’s surgery yesterday went well. He was in the doctor’s office for 3 hours instead of 6. They got all the offending tissue removed on the second attempt, leaving him with a ½” X 1” wide hole in his face that includes part of one nostril gone. He slept very well last night and feels good today. Tomorrow’s reconstruction surgery will be another hurdle. We need to get up early as he must be at the hospital at 6:15 a.m.

Watch how I talk

2 Chronicles 6:12–8:18, Titus 1:10–16, Psalm 94:1–23

In the New Testament, God warns that not many should be teachers. Standing up before the people of God to teach them is a weighty responsibility. Even though God provides teachers and the spiritual gift of teaching, He is aware of the damage His people can do with their talk.

I am aware of this too. Sometimes I want to talk and know I should be quiet. Sometimes I am quiet and know that I should say something. The Lord disciplines me for being contrary.

Today’s OT reading begins with Solomon’s prayer at the dedication of God’s temple. “Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the assembly of Israel and spread out his hands.” (2 Chronicles 6:12). Then he talked to God.  

This verse stood out to me because he did this in the presence of all the people. So much of my spiritual life is a private matter. I usually pray alone, study alone, and when God answers prayer, I share it with a few rather than all the people. I’m assuming many are like me. Yet one of my seminary professors said that a careful reading of the psalms shows God intends our thanksgiving be a corporate sharing.

Talking to God aloud before others can be difficult. However, speaking to God alone, or about the goodness of God to only a few people could be compared to exercising only one muscle. That part of the body is built up and strengthened, but the rest is left out and may even suffer. My prayers, studies, praise, and thanksgiving are intended to be shared with others in the body of Christ.

Yet teaching those is the body of Christ is reserved for a few. Why is that? To me, the obvious answer is that not everyone is qualified to teach. However, there is a greater problem with allowing just anyone to teach . . .

“For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party. They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach.” (Titus 1:10–11)

Empty talkers who defy authority and deliver a false message (for money, no less) should not be allowed to stand before the people of God and publicly teach. Paul says they should be silenced and if this command were obeyed today, many of the “teachers” on television and who write books would be put out of business.

In their case, insubordination is rebellion against established doctrine, the teaching agreed upon by the body of Christ and expressed in creeds and statements of faith. The circumcision party refers to those who insist that salvation requires that certain laws or rules must be kept or no one can be saved. That is, they mix human works with grace and ruin whole households because of this false teaching.

The phrase shameful gain is obvious. These ‘teachers’ are in it for the money. Proud people want to hear how they can contribute to their salvation, some to the point that they will pay those who give them this “good” news, even though it is empty, false, and deceptive.

For this, even the psalmist prays, “Rise up, O judge of the earth; repay to the proud what they deserve! O Lord, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked exult? They pour out their arrogant words; all the evildoers boast.” (Psalm 94:2–4)

Is it unkind to ask God to deal with those who do these things? Some say we are supposed to be kind and merciful, but God says He disciplines those He loves. The psalmist puts it this way: “Blessed is the man whom you discipline, O Lord, and whom you teach out of your law, to give him rest from days of trouble, until a pit is dug for the wicked. For the Lord will not forsake his people; he will not abandon his heritage.” (Psalm 94:12–14)

It is far better to be under the heavy hand of God as our Father, than to be ignored and allowed to persist in evil and destined to the pit that is dug for the wicked.