True, but does your neighbor know which god you are praying to? If he sees you, in a civic or other ceremony, praying to a nameless "god" along with Hindu's, Muslims, Animists, etc, who are also all praying, then who are you praying to? That is an important point. Ceremonies which invoke "god" and "faith" but specifically don't mention Jesus are problematic at best.
Nowadays, most congregations don't worry about the Boy Scouts, but in my father's day, it was forbidden (along with many other such organizations) because while they required a belief in "god", there was no specification on what that god was.
In short, it is to prevent from bearing false witness to Christ. In this society, many people say "all paths lead to heaven" and specific religions are not important. As a Christian, I know that Jesus, because of his death and Resurrection, is the only way to Heaven. So participating in a way which implies that there are other god besides the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is very dangerous. Our forefathers in the faith died for that distinction.
" he sees you, in a civic or other ceremony, praying to a nameless "god" along with Hindu's, Muslims, Animists, etc, who are also all praying, then who are you praying to?"
Never gonna happen, so I don't worry about it.
"Nowadays, most congregations don't worry about the Boy Scouts, but in my father's day, it was forbidden (along with many other such organizations) because while they required a belief in "god", there was no specification on what that god was."
What strikes me as funny, is that they could be purely sectarian --- say, the Marines (also founded by a mason) --- and not mention God at all, and that would be OK.
1/2 of the way there would strike me as better than not getting off the starting line.
I agree completely, and that is why I opposed what LCMS Atlantic District President Benke did--and LCMS Synodical President Kieschnick approved--at the interfaith prayer service, "A Prayer for America."