Posted on 12/19/2010 7:18:00 PM PST by Benchim
Giving to the Needy--- Matthew chapter 6: 1 “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Prayer 5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward" !!
How could we get so far off the commands of Christ? Ill tell you how. The institutional "church" of whatever denomination seeks control FOR THEIR BENEFIT. How can we be such sheep?
You’re confused
How about I pray - right now - that you realize this is ridiculous.
In Jesus name, Amen
So you’re saying Christians are the same as Muslims?
“DO NOT PRAY IN PUBLIC!!”
My soul magnifies the Lord,
And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
For He has regarded the low estate of His handmaiden,
For behold, henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name. And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with His arm:
He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He has put down the mighty from their thrones,
and exalted those of low degree.
He has filled the hungry with good things;
and the rich He has sent empty away.
He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy;
As He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to His posterity forever.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen
Magníficat ánima mea Dóminum,
et exsultávit spíritus meus
in Deo salvatóre meo,
quia respéxit humilitátem
ancíllæ suæ.
Ecce enim ex hoc beátam
me dicent omnes generatiónes,
quia fecit mihi magna,
qui potens est,
et sanctum nomen eius,
et misericórdia eius in progénies
et progénies timéntibus eum.
Fecit poténtiam in bráchio suo,
dispérsit supérbos mente cordis sui;
depósuit poténtes de sede
et exaltávit húmiles.
Esuriéntes implévit bonis
et dívites dimísit inánes.
Suscépit Ísrael púerum suum,
recordátus misericórdiæ,
sicut locútus est ad patres nostros,
Ábraham et sémini eius in sæcula.
Glória Patri et Fílio
et Spirítui Sancto.
Sicut erat in princípio,
et nunc et semper,
et in sæcula sæculórum.
Amen.
Don’t you think Jesus really had motive in mind here, when he admonished us not to want to be seen by others? Anyone can put out a showy, verbose prayer to impress people, but God will not be mocked. He does encourage us to pray in agreement with others, as in Matt 18:19:
“Jesus said, “Again I tell you that if two of you on earth agree on anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in Heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.”
Many people ONLY pray in public. Those are the hypocrites spoke about. They only in Church functions, before ball games, and maybe before a meal with their family. They spend no time in personal secret prayer.
This verse is not a commandment not to pray in public, it’s a reminder to make sure that’s not the only place you pray, to make sure you set a time and place for your own private prayers between only you and the Lord, not including everyone else.
The early church met together and prayed, together. The admonition to not pray in public like hypocrites do is meant to expose those people who want to look like they are pious and humble, when in reality they are not. Showing off or being theatrical for a public spectacle is not godly, but praying with fellow Christians in church most certainly is encouraged.
Actually its about praying and giving for the right reasons rather than to show others how righteous we are.
>>Actually its about praying and giving for the right reasons rather than to show others how righteous we are.<<
Spot on!
You are misquoting the meaning of the sentence.
It's built on praying in public in front of Planned Parenthood Clinics -- be sure to check the number of babies (and mothers) saved from abortion at the bottom of this post.
THREE ELEMENTS
Constant vigil
 |
The visible, public centerpiece of 40 Days for Life is a 40-day, round-the-clock prayer vigil outside a Planned Parenthood center or other abortion facility in your community.Those who are called to stand witness maintain a peaceful and educational presence. |
This 24-hour-a-day presence send a powerful message to the community about the tragic reality of abortion. It also serves as a call to repentance for those who work at the abortion center and those who patronize the facility.
If you do not have an abortion facility or Planned Parenthood office in your town, you can still conduct 40 Days for Life. However, you will need to select a different location which has some strategic significance ... perhaps near city hall, a courthouse, or a highly visible intersection.
Community outreach
 |
During 40 Days for Life, the pro-life message is proactively taken to every corner of your community. This can identify hundreds, or even thousands, of pro-life supporters. |
A door-to-door petition and education drive reaches out to every household in your town or city. Informational flyers are distributed in neighborhoods to raise awareness about the local crisis of abortion. Citizens are invited to sign a petition of support for the sanctity of human life, and people are given the opportunity to visibly show their support for 40 Days for Life by wearing wristbands, placing signs in their yards, or displaying bumper stickers on their vehicles.
These people can then be encouraged to pray and join in local pro-life efforts.
Church involvement begins by meeting with local pastors, other church leaders, and members of different congregations. The Body of Christ is invited to pray together and participate in 40 Days for Life, uniting in one focused mission that can save lives and make an eternal impact.
Media outreach is conducted through carefully targeted news stories, talk shows, editorials, and letters to the editor. This enables you to get the pro-life message out to many people who would never see the inside of a local church.
If your community has a college campus, many students can be impacted through an intense 40-day campus outreach. This can consist of flyer raids, sidewalk chalking, petition drives, table displays, and much more.
Local leadership with 40 Days for Life
 |
40 Days for Life is primarily a local campaign. Yes, there is a national team that provides information, resources and encouragement, but all campaigns are based at the local level. Each community knows best when it comes to countering the damage abortion has caused in each individual city and town. |
No one is appointed as a local 40 Days for Life leader; in each community, someone must step up and accept the challenge.
The campaign is also a group effort. There needs to be a main coordinator, but there is a whole level of duties and responsibilities that must be filled in addition to the director's position:
A line from Scripture comes to mind: "Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will." Please pray for discernment and guidance. 40 Days for Life won't happen without somebody. "Somebody" could be you!
As reports continue to pour in following 40 Days for
Life campaigns across America and around the globe,
the total number of lives confirmed saved from this
fall’s campaign has exceeded 600 — 607 to be exact!
Jesus was talking about motives not geography. Learn context.
I remind you that we are told to “pray without ceasing.” Presumably we are not in private without ceasing.
Some examples of apparently endorsed public prayer from Scripture:
“And they prayed and said, “You, O Lord, who know the hearts of all show which of these two You have chosen to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.’ And they cast their lots and the lot fell on Matthias. And he was numbered with the eleven apostles.” Acts 1:24-26
Peter and John pray publicly together with a group in Acts 4. “And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.”
When Paul left the Ephesians, “. . .he knelt down and prayed with them all. Then they all wept freely, and fell on Pauls neck and kissed him. . .” Acts 20:36-37.
I could go on but reading through your Bible you will find public prayer in abundance.
Since Scripture interprets Scripture, we understand we are not to pray as the hypocrites do, that we can be seen of men. But we are to pray with other believers.
Hi. Well that is not what God said. He specifically says to not pray aloud in the synagogue. Is it ok in a “church”? I am amazed at the selectivity of the institution profession “churches” in picking out verses to talk about. These that I mentioned are ignored along with Matthew 17:24 where Jesus scoffs at the temple tax.You just don’t hear that Very much.
Bingo! Context is everything.
But God said to pray in private. That is what He said and we should follow his commands.
YOU HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD! AMEN! AMEN!
Matthew 6:7
And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.
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