Christians unclear on the concept
May. 4th, 2005 11:02 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
xiphiasWe saw a bumper sticker today.
It said, in big letters, "MY CAR IS MY PRAYER CLOSET."
I'm not a Christian. But, well, being in this culture, one does pick up SOME basic familiarity with Christian scripture. And this is pretty clearly referring to Matthew 6:5-6. Which states that prayer is private, not public. And that you are not to show off that you're praying.
Now, prayer can be private, public, or communal, which is something kinda in-between private and public. And, as a Jew, I believe that, while there IS private prayer, and it can be important, the most important prayer is communal. And most Christian sects of which I'm aware do tend to include communal prayer. But the reference to the "prayer closet" is a reference to private prayer.
And if you are publically announcing that you're doing private prayer, well, that pretty much destroys the concept right there.
It said, in big letters, "MY CAR IS MY PRAYER CLOSET."
I'm not a Christian. But, well, being in this culture, one does pick up SOME basic familiarity with Christian scripture. And this is pretty clearly referring to Matthew 6:5-6. Which states that prayer is private, not public. And that you are not to show off that you're praying.
Now, prayer can be private, public, or communal, which is something kinda in-between private and public. And, as a Jew, I believe that, while there IS private prayer, and it can be important, the most important prayer is communal. And most Christian sects of which I'm aware do tend to include communal prayer. But the reference to the "prayer closet" is a reference to private prayer.
And if you are publically announcing that you're doing private prayer, well, that pretty much destroys the concept right there.