Just so that he/she wouldn't draw attention or make everyone else uncomfortable.
2006-10-05 03:32:54 · 30 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I see nothing wrong with accepting the customs of the host when in their home and company. It does not change you one bit and the host, knowing the preferences of the guest should likewise not make this a sermon or point of contention which could make the guest uncomfortable.
2006-10-05 03:36:09 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's okay for anyone to say Grace...as long as they mean it. If you do not love God or even believe in Him, he knows it and it won't do any good. God knows your heart so you cannot hide it from Him.
If everyone at the table is bowing their heads and saying Grace, then no one should know that you didn't. Chances are the people who invited you are Christians and know that you are not so they would not be offended if you didn't say Grace.
On the other hand, they could be "condemning Christians" and did that just for you so you would feel uncomfortable afterward because you are not a Christian or did it just to see how you would react to it. It could be their sick way of trying to bring you to Christ.
However, you know them better than I do, so you would be able to answer that question.
You just have to do what is in your heart. Only you and God know where your heart truly stands with regards to Him. Sure you can bow your head and think of other things, but if one of the Christians at the table saw you doing that, they would question it more than you not bowing your head.
2006-10-05 03:56:52 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
CHRISTian here:
Here is the deal; I won't bow before a false god, therefore I don't expect an unbeliever in Christ to bow before the Lord, even while others are praying.
God understands FREEDOM more than any of us which is why He made us with FREE-WILL.
Jesus never forced anyone to bow before Him. He simply shared and then left people to their free will thinking to choose Him or deny Him. As His follower who is trying to follow His example, I am not about to force anyone to bow before Him.
If I tried to force anyone to bow before the Lord Jesus Christ, this would be an all out assault on the gift of FREE WILL that God already gave that person.
That being said; When we have an unbeliever at our home, we always ask if the person would mind if we said grace at the table, letting them know we are sensitive to their beliefs and not necessarily asking them to chime in, but that *we are going to say grace.
Then--- We keep the prayer short and simple. Why? Cause God knows!
2006-10-05 03:46:30 · answer #3 · answered by NONAME 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If saying grace is offensive to the atheist, he should just sit quietly in pretty much the same posture as the other people at the table and wait until the grace is complete. This should not attract attention to himself if done discretely.
2006-10-05 03:40:14 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I used to do that... i used to bow my head at the table or whenever i was in a group that did a prayer session. I did it out of respect and to not draw heat. These days i don't bother. Why pretend just to make other people happy? All I'm doing is tilting my head to give the impression that I'm in on the thing, when in reality I'm not. Why bother and give people a false impression?
2006-10-05 04:05:34 · answer #5 · answered by ChooseRealityPLEASE 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it is something I have had to deal with at a public restaurant on several occasions. My father used to be a pastor, and insists in the whole hand holding pre-meal prayer. I either bow my head to be polite, or just be quiet and eyeball everyone to see who else is peeking and would rather just crawl under their chair and hide from the embarassment of the scene.
2006-10-05 03:39:40 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. One should not speak a prayer unless one has faith in what the prayer is offered to. Politely say to the person who invites you to say grace, "I really can't." and simply leave it at that. You are under no obligation to explain. If they are insistant, deflect it with a compliment, "John, why don't you say grace? You are always so good with words, I couldn't do it justice."
During the grace, sit quietly out of respect for the other people who do wish to pray.
2006-10-05 03:35:19 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
No. I don't see any reason to pretend to do anything religious just to make everyone else comfortable. I have never lowered my head during prayers or grace. I don't say anything about it or make a scene. I respect their right to believe in it... they should respect my right not to.
2006-10-05 03:55:42 · answer #8 · answered by Kithy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To pretend to pray would be considered good form.
It's not sweat off of your nose to bow your head and think pleasant thoughts while the prayer is being said.
2006-10-05 03:35:54 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just bow your head for a moment of silence. If they ask you to say the grace, pass it off to someone else.
2006-10-05 03:35:53 · answer #10 · answered by Funchy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋