Is there some reason Christians refuse to follow the bible?

Question

Matthew 6:

5: "And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward."

6: "But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly."

7: "But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking."

8: "Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him."

(instructs to recite Lord's Prayer in passages following)

KJV Bible

The cited passages specifically prohibit public prayer.

Or, is this another one of those passages really mean whatever a person wants them to mean situations?

Repent,

I'm waiting for an explanation. That's why I posed the question. But your explanation wasn't very helpful.

I am Moses.Trying to lead the sheep out of the bondage of ignorance & superstition.

I only have one commandment:

"Intentionally cause no malicious harm."

God gave it to me to give to you.

So, you can pray openly if you want to?

That's not what it says.

Miraclewhip(?):

The comment about being Moses was intended as sarcasm in response to the comment I look like Moses.

What other people believe is irrelevant to me. I have no interest in playing God.

And, I am well aware that the bible is contradictory and meaningless for any practical purpose. As you unintentionally pointed out.

Miraclewhip(?):

I am in complete agreement the bible is contradictory. We don't need to waste time proving it.

But, what does that have to do with the fact Jesus specifically said do not pray in public or ask for anything? Was he (once again) lying?

Answer 1

They're confused by what should be in the closet and what should be out of the closet... It wouldn't be the first time...

Answer 2

JT says in a PS to his question: I only have one commandment:
"Intentionally cause no malicious harm." Were a person to make the claim (in a public prayer, for instance) that at all times he followed that particular code, he would be a hypocrite. It's that same hypocrital, self-serving, arrogant, holier-than-thou attitude (atheists AND folk who call themselves "God-fearing" can have it in SPADES) that is being condemned in Matthew 6. The "look-at-me" prayer is a stench that emanates from a haughty person.

Those who participate in public prayer are not condemned, they are in fact encouraged to do so in the Scriptures, with the proviso that the attitude of one praying is not the one decried in Matthew 6: 5- 8.

I have a challenge for you, JT. I can think of at least three scriptures off the top of my head right now which ADVISE believers to pray in public, without contradiction to the passage you cited. How many can YOU come up with???? I bet I can come up with more than YOU can, once I start digging into the Bible for more instances. Or maybe not.

Let the better Bible Scholar win. :P
********
What shall the deadline for this contest be? Would 12:01 a.m. EST Tuesday July 11, 2007 work for you?

The simplest format would seem to be a numbered list of Bible references. You seem to quote from the King James Bible, that's what I'll use, too. Quoting the entire passage wouldn't be necessary; it will suffice to quote just a few key words to prove that each citation truly *is* an endorsement of public prayer. If you have the higher number of references, you win this round. If I have the higher number of references, I win it.

See ya in a few days! And by the way, don't worry if you're compelled for some reason to put this particular question to a vote before the deadline I've suggested. In that case, I could present my results in reply to one of your future questions, providing a link to this current question for reference.

Again, may the better Bible scholar win! :D

Answer 3

there's a distinction in believing contained in the Bible and believing in God vs. believing that God is our Heavenly Father and loving Him. Christians are His toddlers. i'm your Father, and that i love you on an similar time as i love my son, Jesus. John 17:23 For in Jesus, my love for you is printed. John 17:26 he's the precise representation of my being. Hebrews a million:3 He got here to illustrate that i'm for you, no longer adverse to you. Romans 8:31 And to allow you to understand that i'm no longer counting your sins. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 Jesus died so that you and that i should be reconciled. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 His demise became the perfect expression of my love for you. a million John 4:10 I gave up each and everything I loved that i'd benefit your love. Romans 8:31-32 in case you receive the present of my son Jesus, you receive me. a million John 2:23 And no longer some thing will ever separate you from my love back. Romans 8:38-39 Come living house and that i'll throw the biggest celebration heaven has ever considered. Luke 15:7 I actual have always been Father, and could always be Father. Ephesians 3:14-15 My question is…Will you be my baby? John a million:12-13 i'm waiting for you. Luke 15:11-32 i love You, Almighty God.

Answer 4

Ignorance. I see no place that says there should not be any corporate prayer as in a meeting or in a church setting. If you really think about it, this is condemning the prayer of a proud person that is doing it for attention, not a sincere man that is leading a prayer of real praise. Those that pray publicly should do so only for the good of all the people gathered there, not for self gratification. Jesus prayed in public so does that mean He sinned? I don't think so. I think what is meant here is that we need to do it more in private so we do not get proud but that if we do it publicly that it should be without pride but with sincerity. Wouldn't you agree with that?

Answer 5

Because unlike Islam, which still believes in the literal meaning of their holy texts, Christianity ahs gone through a reformation (several, actually), and no longer does.

You want to change that? Have you read the Bible? Do you really think that because they had the wisdom to see the limitations of the Bible that they are now worse than Islam because Islam does what their Qu'ran says every time?

Have you read the Qu'ran?

Your argument is silly and would have Christianity go backward several centuries.

How come medical doctors no longer bleed patients? That's about the level of this question.

Answer 6

So what you are advocating is more “closet Christians?” That American Christians, in general, spend far to little time in prayer, and then usually only to petition God for some more ‘stuff’ to make their pampered life easier. I doubt that God hears or answers 99% of their prayers anyway, so what’s the big deal? At least this way we can easily identify the hypocrites among the multitudes of professing followers of Christ.

I use the same approach regarding the asking of money by any religious person. If they ask, let alone beg, cajole, plea, or scheme for donations, for any reason, they are not of God. If a god needs my money to fund his ventures, then I don’t need that god to run my life. I do pretty well screwing up my own finances and life without help from a supernatural source. But that YHVH does not need or request my assistance in any running of His kingdom, either by prayer or financing, is yet another proof of His existence and worthiness to follow. That He may lead me by His Spirit to pray for someone or give to a person in need is different than fulfilling a religious need to pray or give or to be seen by men and admired. True prayer and giving is always done in secret, with no hope of reward and is judged successful, not by its end, but by its means.

Answer 7

This scripture does not prohibit public prayer, it is talking about the attitude of the person interceding.

Matthew 6 relates to those who were hyprocrites (as I'm sure you are wanting to point out!) because they were praying with one eye shut and the other eye to see who was noticing them!
That does happen know and again still today, mind you! (tongue in cheek there!)

Matthew 6 relates to the attitude of heart behind the prayers, paraphrasing, saying whererver you pray, do it for the right reasons, long words and phrases are not important.....

A more modern translation of scripture would make it clearer to you.
Hope that helps.

Answer 8

You actually mistake the message, and it is not my private interpretation, either.
What IS prohibited is the MOTIVE behind that type of public prayer. We have much to learn from, not only the direct commandments, but from the life examples given to us in the Bible.
In a congregational setting we are shown to pray, before meals, in times of sorrow, in times of crisis. If we are not at home, behind closed doors, we still should pray, just not for the motivation of impressing others with our supposed piousness.

Answer 9

What is it you don't get? It seems fairly simple to me, don't pray in public ir order for others to think you're righteous. The pharasees were big into showcasing their "righteousness", making a big show of any act of faith, and they did it for one reason and one reason only, to have people look up to them, to believe them to be holy. Prayer should be an intimate, private talk with God, not a community event. Kinda like the people who make a big deal out of giving to charity, they do it for show, not because they truly want to help anyone. So not only should our prayer be private, charity should be annonymous.

Answer 10

it says not to be a hypocrite in prayer, meaning publicly pray for the sake of letting others think you are holy, good and God following when you aren't. and yes you should spent time to pray with God alone. but any time you want to pray honestly and truthfully you aren't being a hypocrite so it is OK.

Answer 11

Christians refusing to follow the Bible is a contradiction. True Christians follow the Bible. They repent went they don't. This requires change.