National Moment of Silence, Instead of Prayer, for Arizona Shooting Victims?
I am not normally a sarcastic person, but I could not help contrasting this with the Presidential calls to prayer from other Presidents ranging all the way from President George Washington to President George W. Bush. Actually, President Obama also declared a National Day of Prayer in May, as well as being a defendant appealing a judge's decision that called the National Day of Prayer unconstitutional. Our country's Presidents have always known that a call to national prayer not only unites the nation, but it unites the nation under One God, Who has been America's strength from the founding.
All of the unalienable rights given to Americans, the ones we fought and died for, come from God. Prayer to Him during national tragedies, such as the shooting, wounding and killing of our fellow citizens in Arizona, give us strength and hope as a nation, along with comfort that comes from a reliable source. But silence?
Joining together in silence is meaningless. It is a symbolic gesture, supposedly of unity, but since it is an empty act, it only unites us in the emptiness of a nation that refuses to turn to their constant source of strength. Prayer reminds us as a nation to turn to the source of our national unity. But a government that leads the way in replacing religion with meaningless gestures only symbolizes the emptiness to be found apart from God.
Being silent before Almighty God is a far different thing from being silent in a unified national hopelessness and grief. Faith in Almighty God Who actually has power is not the same thing as faith in ourselves, we who are powerless in the face of tragedy. 1 Chronicles 7:14 tells us "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."
Perhaps those who have no hope would best remain silent. But for those who know a Living God, won't you join me in national, unified prayer for the victims of the shooting in Arizona and for our nation?
Sources:
FoxNews.Com, Obama to lead moment of silence after shooting targeting Ariz. Congresswoman
Holy Bible
CBN News, President Obama Defends National Day of Prayer, David Brody
Published by Tracie Walker
After homeschooling our three sons from K-12, I began doing more of the writing I love, with some success. The success I'm proudest of, though, is the more than 30 years of happy marriage I am enjoying with... View profile
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26 Comments
Post a CommentI'm afraid I have to disagree. A moment of silence is a very appropriate and honorable show of respect for the victims and has nothing to do with religion, nor should it. If you are told to have a moment of silence for someone you lost, it is your prerogative to do with it what you feel would be most appropriate. If that means saying a prayer, then go right ahead. But to tell people they should be praying when not everyone believes in prayer is just wrong. Did it not occur to you that some of the victims may have been atheists or agnostics? Maybe they were Jewish or Muslim or Buddhists or Wicca or any other religion that isn't Christianity. If you want to pray for these people, by all means, you go ahead. But I don't think you can or should mandate prayer, and a moment of silence is one way to show respect for people you do not know and cannot be sure of their level or type of faith (or lack thereof).
These are, my friend, some of the most powerful words ever stated: "Being silent before Almighty God is a far different thing from being silent in a unified national hopelessness and grief." Would that this nation would read your article and understand.
Very well said!!!
We cannot find peace apart from God. Good article Tracie, thank you.
Very well said. Many of these same thoughts ran through my mind as I continuously heard about the "moment of silence." Of course, that's what we have in school each morning - a concept lost on most of the kids. In reading some of the other comments, I guess we have to decide if the moment is to honor the victims or to call upon God to come to our aid in a time of unbelievable tragedy.
Just read your one on diabetes, and couldn't leave a comment. So annoying. I am following the thread on the forum to see what happens.
♥ nice job
I agree with Mike's comments and I think you missed the point, Tracie. A moment of silence honors the victims and shows our respect and sadness for them. We can also choose to pray at this point for the victims and their families. I do believe that a moment of silence does create a unity within our nation by showing concern for the families and the nation as a whole condemning this senseless act.
Tracie - I agree with you. A moment of silence is great for people that want to do some sort of expression but who don't believe in any deity. But in effect, what the President did was actually cut off our freedom of peaceful religious speech in public ("our" meaning people of all faiths). As for Christian prayer, the verse your guest "jennipher" quotes about praying in secret is often taken out of context. If the motive of the heart is boastful, then yes, pray in secret. But, if we did that always, we wouldn't be "letting our light so shine before men" (Matt 5:16) so that other people might want to glorify our God.
Being silent before GOD - waiting to hear from HIM. I moment of silence - - the President's way of not getting "involved" in religions. Our Country is in deep trouble...we have LEFT OUR GOD and HIS judgement is coming upon the entire earth....Read the book of Revelation....