GUEST COMMENTARY

GREG SEMPSROTT

Editor’s note: The Reverend Greg Sempsrott serves as the Senior Pastor of the First Church of God in Vero Beach. 

I attended the recent IRC School Board meeting where the issue of prayer was on the agenda. The primary issue was not whether we would allow an invocation at the meetings, but rather, who would offer the invocation. The resolution called for the invocation to be offered by clergy of our community. After several citizens and school board members spoke to issue, the resolution passed 4-1.

What I found interesting was the reason behind the dissenting vote. Ms. Jimenez stated that if the resolution passed as read, she would not be allowed to participate in the invocation. She clearly stated that she does not believe we should have clergy praying before meetings, even though these clergy represent a wide spectrum of belief systems, including her own, I suspect.

My takeaway was that it wasn’t an issue of not being included, as much as not wanting others to be allowed to pray what they believe. She stated that she would rather see a moment of silence before the meeting begins. Is that freedom OF religion or freedom FROM religion?

She went on to cite several scriptures in the Bible to make her case. Unfortunately, much of what she quoted was taken out of context. While Jesus did say that we should go to our prayer closets to pray, He was not saying that all public prayer is wrong. Jesus was actually speaking to the issue of hypocrisy among the Pharisees. The issue he addressed was using prayer to make a public spectacle. He wasn’t saying that all public prayer is wrong. In fact, the Bible is replete with passages where public prayer was offered to God and He answered those prayers.

In fact, our nation is replete with examples of public prayer in important decisions and times of great trial. Let me cite one example:

When the Constitutional Convention of 1787 came to an impasse as they were drafting the U. S. Constitution, it was Benjamin Franklin who challenged the convention to pray.

This is what Franklin said: “In this situation of this Assembly, groping as it were in the dark to find political truth, and scarce able to distinguish it when presented to us, how has it happened, sir, that we have not hitherto once thought of humbly applying to the Father of Lights to illuminate our understanding? In the beginning of the contest with Great Britain, when we were sensible of danger, we had daily prayer in this room for the Divine protection. Our prayers, sir, were heard, and they were graciously answered. All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of a superintending Providence in our favor. . . . And have we now forgotten that powerful Friend? Or do we imagine we no longer need His assistance? I have lived, sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth – that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? We have been assured, sir, in the Sacred Writings, that “except the Lord build the House, they labor in vain that build it.” I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without His concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel. . . . I therefore beg leave to move that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessings on our deliberations, be held in this Assembly every morning before we proceed to business.”

George Washington recorded that they went to church to hear an address. In the service, the Rev. William Rogers had a special prayer for the Constitutional Convention.

Here is Rev. Rogers prayer: “We fervently recommend to thy fatherly notice . . . our federal convention. . . . favor them, from day to day, with thy immediate presence; be Thou their wisdom and their strength! Enable them to devise such measures as may prove happily instrumental for healing all divisions and promoting the good of the great whole; . . . that the United States of America may furnish the world with one example of a free and permanent government. . . . May we . . . continue, under the influence of republican virtue, to partake of all the blessings of cultivated and civilized society.”

When they reconvened, the U.S. Constitution was drafted in ten weeks. Ben Franklin said, “I beg I may not be understood to infer that our general Convention was Divinely inspired when it formed the new federal Constitution . . . [yet] I can hardly conceive a transaction of such momentous importance to the welfare of millions now existing (and to exist in the posterity of a great nation) should be suffered to pass without being in some degree influenced, guided, and governed by that omnipotent, omnipresent, and beneficent Ruler in Whom all inferior spirits “live and move and have their being” (A quote from the Bible – Acts 17:28).

Other founders agreed:

Alexander Hamilton – “For my own part, I sincerely esteem it a system which without the finger of God never could have been suggested and agreed upon by such a diversity of interests.” It is interesting that Mr. Hamilton believed it was God’s influence that resulted in unity among such a diverse group.

James Madison – “It is impossible for the man of pious reflection not to perceive in it a finger of that Almighty Hand which has been so frequently and signally extended to our relief in the critical stages of the Revolution.”

Clearly, praying to God is woven into the fabric of our nation’s history. As Franklin said, “God governs the affairs of men.” Does that mean that everyone should now be forced to pray to God, like some of our founders? I hope not! But neither should we abandon praying to God simply because some citizens disagree with our prayers. All citizens should be able to pray as they believe, and respect others who believe differently.

Many of our founding fathers testified that praying to God played a vital role in shaping our nation’s history. I for one, agree. What we cannot do is ignore these facts of history, or worse, hide them simply because we believe differently.

Patrick Moynihan once said, “You are entitled to your own opinion, but you are not entitled to your own facts.”