Sunday, January 18, 2009

HISTORY OF INAUGURATION PRAYERS
...a necessity or pomp and circumstance?

Here is a list of past Inauguration Prayers dated from present back to FDR. It is an interesting read to view the content of each of the prayers.

In like manner, Dan Phillips at Pyromaniacs had an excellent idea by inviting some Christian leaders to post what they would pray if asked to do so; or if they would even agree to do so given the current controversy surrounding President-elect Obama's inauguration. Only two have responded so far: Pastor Thabiti Anyabwile and Dr. John Frame with hopefully more to come.

Pastor Thabiti Anyabwile gives some very helpful and practical content and conviction counsel if he were asked to pray. He would "pray through the gospel." I really appreciate that. Dr. Frame responded with more the generic typical content that has marked most of the past inauguration prayers. Needless to say, the call to repentance for our nation and its leaders should mark an inauguration prayer this week. However, as Dr. Frame's prayer typifies, most evangelical leaders today lack the courage and spiritual conviction to risk name, station in life, and platform for the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ and His gospel.

One thing that is vitally important, our nation needs much prayer; our leaders need much prayer; and the church in America needs prayer for revival and Reformation. Amen?

The Cross Waves Higher Than the Flag,
Steve
1 Tim. 2:1-4

5 comments:

Rick Frueh said...

Many times prayers offered up in secret by commited believers are much more fervent and effectual than ones constructed with the knowledge they will be heard.

To ask God to "bless America" is to ask Him to bless an array of sin, including unborn murder, homosexuality, violence, greed, and religious idolatry.

I will watch the inaguration festivities because of their entertainment value, however in the realm of the eternal it is no more important than the crowning of the lion in the Emerald City.

Scott Shaffer said...

Steve,

You wrote, "However, as Dr. Frame's prayer typifies, most evangelical leaders today lack the courage and spiritual conviction to risk name, station in life, and platform for the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ and His gospel."

You aren't really saying Dr. Frame lacks courage and spiritual conviction are you?

SJ Camp said...

Rick
To ask God to "bless America" is to ask Him to bless an array of sin, including unborn murder, homosexuality, violence, greed, and religious idolatry.

Hard words, but true ones.

The issue should be: "when will America ever bless God?"

Thank you brother as always for your comments here.

Steve

SJ Camp said...

Scott
You aren't really saying Dr. Frame lacks courage and spiritual conviction are you?

I like many of Dr. Frame's writings. He is obviously a gifted theologian. What I was saying was that his prayer was a-typical for an inauguration prayer. Any Mormon, JW, Romanist, Word/Faith, Anti-Trinitarian, etc. could pray the prayer Frame wrote. So as a prayer, it was weak. IMHO, Frame wrote as an academic; not as a preacher of the gospel. And there is a difference.

As to the "courage and spiritual conviction..." issue; people don't follow initials by someone's name; they don't follow titles or degrees; and they are not inspired to spiritual service by academic training. But people will follow men of God who are courageous, full of uncompromised passion for His Word, and men who think not of themselves, but will abandon all by spiritual conviction to honor the Lord Jesus Christ in the face of the moorings of the times in which they live.

Consider Paul, Peter, James, Stephen, Polycarp, Luther, Calvin, Spurgeon, Huss, Athanasius, etc.

Again, this is not personal - Dr. Frame, for the most part, gets it right theologically (though he denies someone has to have knowledge of or believe in the bodily resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ to be saved).

I do thank you for your comment here.

Hope this helps to clarify...
Steve
1 Cor. 15:1-21

Unknown said...

Steve
Did you hear Rick Warren's prayer today? If so, what did you think about it?

Curious.