WHY DO LIBERALS HATE PRAYER?

“The potency of prayer has subdued the strength of fire, bridled the rage of lions, hushed anarchy to rest, extinguished wars, appeased the elements, expelled demons, burst the chains of death, expanded the fates of heaven, assuaged diseases, dispelled fraud, rescued cities from destruction, stayed the sun in its course and arrested the progress of the thunderbolt. There is (in it) all sufficient panoply, a treasure undiminished, a mine which is never exhausted, a sky un-obscured by clouds, a heaven unruffled by the storm. It is the root, the fountain of a thousand blessings!” - John Chrysostom  

Why do liberals hate prayer? 

I see the attack on Christian prayer and its affect in the public discourse of life.  The United States is a country that stands in the tradition of prayer.  From inauguration of presidents to assemblies of congress prayer has been a part of the American political fiber.  Our military institutions have from the beginning invoked the strength and providence of Almighty God before troops engaged in battle.  Today’s military continues to provide chaplains for the fighting men to make peace with God.  Presidents, since the days of George Washington to the National Days of Prayer invoked by President George W. Bush, have led our nation in prayer in times of crisis. Even while proposing laws to restrict freedom of prayer our Congress begins its sessions with prayer.  Our Supreme Court that has passed limits on public prayer invokes God in its inscription at the building that houses this austere organization.

Yet, since 1963, prayer has been under attack by a liberal agenda that desires to remove it from our schools, our public assemblies and our hometown celebrations.  I have often wondered why a group of people have such a hate-filled objection to a practice of faith that they proscribe to not even believe in.  So why do liberals hate prayer?

Because prayer works.

Let us assume for a minute that there is no God and that prayer is a simple empty ritual.  Even that does not keep prayer for having its effect on the lives of believers and in the life of a society.  Prayer works much like the baker’s leaven, changing the quality of life, the character of the believer and those upon whom the believer influences and the very fiber of the society in which it is plied.  The first century Roman government was ruled by pagan worshippers who enriched themselves while its citizenry lived in squalor.  Its leaders participated in every form of licentious behavior including pornography, bestiality, homosexuality and adultery as an accepted way of aristocratic life.  Roman society held little regard for the value of life.  Abortion, desertion of children and the sick, slavery and inhumane treatment of political captives were daily events with no remorse or recourse. Women, children, slaves and foreigners had no legitimate status in social life.  The Apostle Paul commanded the early Christians to pray for the government and its leaders, to pay taxes and to live orderly and peaceably.  Within 300 years the prayers of Christians changed the course of civilization.

Prayer gives hope. 

No matter the crisis, no matter the difficulty of task, the believer is never devoid of hope that comes from prayer.  Even if the believer believes the answer is “no” we have hope that God is busy working on our behalf to bring about strength or repentance.  As Paul prayed thrice for the thorn to be removed God’s answer was, “My grace is sufficient for you.”  The liberal wants America to believe hope is available only through legislation, government policy or power of a select political party. Even when government cannot (and does not) provide or fulfill its promises, it points the finger at oppositional political forces to reinforce its hold on the electorate.

Prayer reinforces a higher calling.

Yes it is true that prayer addresses a higher power than a political leader.  It focuses allegiance and belief to God.  It demands an accountability for behavior.  It calls for a response of human kindness and help to others.  It demands a rejection of pride and prejudice that alienates people and unites each of us to benevolent action in times of tragedy, poverty and human heartache.  When we pray for other we set aside prejudices of race, background, social status and educational achievement.  Prayer puts to action the belief that all men are truly created equal. Prayer produces a righteous and moral behavior. The agenda of the liberal is to enacted laws and policies that outlaw and ban religious practices. There is a standard of morality and a standard of patriotic behavior that conflicts with the liberal agenda.  Liberalism depends upon distorting moral and righteous behavior in order to change allegiance and curry favor with those who lack the desire to abstain from corrupt behavior.  Prayer demands a repentance that requires public people to abide by a high standard of moral behavior in public and private life.  When a public figure engages in immoral behavior the call is to repentance and not permission to continue in reprobate behavior.  Repentance often demands the removal and loss of public trust and responsibility.  It is not sufficient for the behavior to be ignored, or blame the behavior on circumstances or people or to justify through excuses the behavior to be passed on to the political opponent as a “vast right wing conspiracy”. Or a reason that the behavior should be overlooked, such as “it depends upon what the meaning of is, is”.  The liberal seeks to make policies and pass laws that ban and outlaw standards of living and then provide excuses and exemptions to the select. 

In ancient Persia, in an effort to rid evil men of the righteous influence of Daniel, his opponents followed Daniel to see what his habits were.  Daniel was a man of prayer.  To bring about Daniel’s downfall, they passed a law to make it illegal to pray to God. (It was legal to pray to their gods, just not the Almighty to whom Daniel prayed.)  So when Daniel prayed, he was cast into the den of lions.  The liberal agenda has outlawed prayer in schools, public assemblies and hometown celebrations.  It begins by changing our holidays and traditions.  In the past 40 years it began by banning prayer in the morning devotionals.  It progressed to PTA meetings.  Soon sporting events and holiday programs were forbidden to mention God in announcements, prayers or songs.  Graduation and commencement ceremonies were banned from religious observations. The attack began with mocking public discourse and elevated to enforcing fines.  Can imprisonment be far behind?  Truly when prayer is outlawed; only outlaws will have prayer!

Prayer reinforces inner character and strength. 

The liberal agenda depends upon a nation whose character is weakened, lacks resolve and relies on governmental favor for day to day existence.  Prayer builds our character, strengthens resolve and promotes morally discipline and self-reliance.   When there is an earthquake in Asia, a typhoon is the Pacific and flood or famine in Africa, the prayer of Christians goes out to the altar of God followed by assistance of help, supplies, food and money.  From the founding of the Red Cross, the Salvation Army, the Christian Relief Fund serve as a few of the many avenues the prayer of Christians are focused. Prayer promotes our allegiance to those righteous causes and requires praying for our leaders even when we disagree with their policies and agenda.

Prayer works.

People who pray lead happier and longer lives.  Liberals demand a populace that lives in misery and relies upon government for relief.  People who pray are self reliant.  Liberals require people to empower them who are dependent upon government handouts, welfare and social programs that meet minimum social needs.  People who pray are patriotic.  Liberals want a populace that rejects allegiance to ideals, principles and spiritual values.  When these concepts are rejected and subdued, liberal programs rush to fill the un-fill-able void in order to self-generate itself in perpetuity.

-People who pray trust in God.  -People who pray demand a higher public example of appropriate behavior.  -People who pray display mercy and kindness to others, helping through sacrifice of time, talent and money to those who face the hardships and tragedies of life.

  Prayer can move mountains, heal the sick and help the needy and hurting.  It directs our focus on the Almighty God not on the Almighty Government.  That is why liberals hate prayer.