Why do groups of people pray out loud in church? Is not prayer a silent thing?

Answer 1

DING DING! We have a winner!

Glad your eyeballs are open!

Yes, the Bible does not advocate praying in front of others, Y'shua scorned the Pharisees for it. Creates spiritual pride.

It is something between you and G-d, not a tool to show off how spiritual you are.

Bless you.

Answer 2

The church is the house of God. No problem with praying out loud. My church has silent prayers.

Answer 3

People sometimes pray out loud in church because there are Bible references to praying in one accord. That meaning, all together. Prayer is simply a conversation between you/God. It can be silent or not, your choice.

Answer 4

We are not supposed to pray in a show-off way in front of others, when it's just to impress somebody. That is vanity. But when believers sincerely pray together, it enhances the worship experience, and when one is being prayed for, it can be very comforting. Personally, I find praying silently is much better because it is such a personal matter, but that's just me.

Answer 5

Matthew 18:19,20
If two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

Satan promotes the idea that people should only pray privately because it's good for his agenda. He puts fear of praying in front of others in new Christians to keep them from getting into the habit. If they overcome the fear, then he gives them other excuses not to pray. If Christians would pray together more, we could have a major revival.
It is possible to pray with others without being prideful.

Answer 6

The Bible speaks of two types of prayer, public and private. Private prayer is going to the LORD in your chambers as Jesus spoke of in the gospels; public prayer is also mentioned in scripture:

"And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.

14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren." - Acts 1:13,14.

See also:

prayer meetings in a house (Acts 12:5-17)
by the river (Acts 16:13)
on a beach (Ax 21:5).

Answer 7

well in part people pray out loud because most people, when told to, do not pray silently. Ive also been told, and i like this answer, that the devil, unlike God, cannot read our thoughts so we pray out loud to punch him in the face (symbolically)

Answer 8

Prayer is just speaking to God....it can be silent or outloud....my friends and I ususally get in a circle and all pray outloud at the same time it just depends on how you're conforta ble communicating with God.

Answer 9

Prayer is talking to God. When praying in a group, are you not just having a mutual conversation with God?

Answer 10

Private prayer sometimes is silent. Usually vocal prayer is corporate prayer, ie prayer that is in partnership with others. You have to talk so others can agree and you can petition God together.

Answer 11

Amen to that one! How does one know when they're in a group prayer that the appointed speaker isn't gonna pop off obsenities or ask that he get a new Jag????Hmmm? I mean, would you apart of that stint if your head is in bow mode and your hands are in prayer form? God wants us to pray in our inner chambers....alone, with just you and he (she?). The inner chambers can be in your mind in your car, your room, or even in line at the supermarket.