When Did Urge Become Authority
Some weeks ago a request came to me from a brother in another city to write an article for the Gospel Guardian setting forth my views concerning a practice that is gaining some popularity in his city among the churches. This is my first opportunity to comply with his request. The practice in question is that of offering a prayer just prior to extending the invitation in a service. The practice is one that is entirely new to me. I have never seen it done and until the aforementioned request came, I had not heard of its being done. This, of course, makes it neither right nor wrong, but has raised a number of questions in my mind.
Prayer is one of the sacred duties of a child of God but it is also one of the precious privileges emanating from his filial relationship to the Father. These facts: lay upon the Christian a twofold responsibility. He must be dutiful in the exercise of prayer and, at the same time guard against all abuses of his privilege. That prayer is many times abused none will deny. The question confronting us is: does the practice under consideration constitute a proper or improver employment of prayer?
Since the practice is comparatively new and relatively rare, the individual who institutes such a practice should be required to give his reasons for so doing. Many services begin with an invocation of God's blessings upon them through the medium of a short prayer. All gospel services are characterized by a general prayer of praise, thanksgiving, and petition prior to the sermon, and by a prayer in conclusion. Why should a prayer be offered immediately before the singing of an invitation hymn? For what should one pray at that time for which he has not already prayed in the service? About the only answer, according to my source of information, that has been given to such questions is, "I pray when I feel the urge to pray." But, is the "urge" sufficient reason Does an "urge" justify the practice Should one pray anywhere, at anytime, and for anything simply because he has the "urge" to pray? I heard not long ago of one brother who had the "urge' while crossing a busy street at a downtown intersection in one of the larger cities of the nation, so he prayed then and there, right in the middle of the street. The traffic light changed, but his "urge" was not satisfied, so he continued to pray. Horns blared, drivers raved, traffic became snarled, and general pandemonium reigned until a policeman threatened to arrest the pious (?) brother, Being a policeman, he was probably tolerant of the imbecility of religious fanatics. A number of years ago SOME pious (?) preacher boys of my acquaintance in one of the schools of the brethren found it inconsistent with their consciences to deny the "urge" to pray even when they so much as drank a soft drink at a soda fountain. I suppose that piety (?) might reach such unplumbed depths as to develop within some tender and devoted heart the "urge' to pray before and after every song; before, during, and after the sermon; and before and after every prayer.
There should be a reason consistent with truth, good sense, and decorum for any prayer which we offer, and this is certainly true with reference to public prayers Our social worship is not for the satisfaction of the "urge' of some super-pious preacher, but for the edification of the congregation. Let the brother pray "in his closet' until his soul is satisfied, until his passion for souls has been satiated through the most fervent and tender appeals to the Almighty with reference to their salvation. No word of criticism should pass our lips with regard to such devotions. However, that prayer should be offered in our social worship at any time or place when some person among the assembled worshippers feels the "urge" is unreasonable and unsound.
In praying immediately before the invitation hymn, do we seek some favor from God relating especially to the coming of sinners to Christ? The gospel has been preached. It is "God's power unto salvation." Do we seek some additional exercise of God's power upon the sinner's heart through prayer? Is it God that needs to act at that moment or the sinner? Reason and scripture argue that the overtures should be made to the sinner and not to God at that particular time and place. Could it be that prayer is utilized for the creation of an effect? Do we use prayer to dramatize our appeal to sinners to turn from their evil ways? If so, is this a legitimate use of prayer I greatly fear that, whatever the man who practices such may believe concerning his motives in this matter, he is misusing prayer. If he will do a little soul searching, he will convince himself that his prayer is for the effect it may have upon man and not in order to influence Jehovah.
Prayer is one of the greatest blessings, most solemn duties, and richest privileges of the child of God, but praying and preaching are not the same. Prayer and exhortation are also two different acts. God speaks to man through His Word; Man speaks to God through prayer. Man speaks to man in the spiritual realm through preaching, exhortation, and the influence of a godly life. Let us not be confused with reference to the place and purpose of prayer in the life of the individual and the social worship of the church. It is my conviction that if the brother who offers a prayer immediately before the invitation song in a gospel service will state his reasons for so doing, then examine the content of his prayer, the indictment of the practice will be manifest to him. Jesus forbids and, therefore, we should not "pray to be seen of men" (Matt. 6:5).