I remember from my high school days, gathering on certain days of the year around our school's flagpole on the front lawn. "Meet You at the Flag" was what they called it. And there we'd all gather, boldly standing and praying in defiance of a culture gone secular.
Today after reading about the absurdity of the violence in Gaza, I wonder if God could really be all that pleased about being used for political or civil idealism. What we're doing, in essence, when we gather in force to publicly pray in defiance of some social or civil injustice is saying "I'm telling God on you." How childish is that?
If we were truly praying for guidance or for deliverance from whatever situation ails us, wouldn't we do so in quiet, believing that our God hears and helps us? When the God of the Universe hears our cries, what need is there for social demonstrations that fall on ungodly ears? Does it not just put more bitterness in the mouths of those who condemn us for being followers of our God?
Maybe I'm simply overacting, and running with a thought that should have been discarded. I don't know. But it just seems to me that civil disobedience should not be the place to play the God card.
Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover–up for evil; live as servants of God.- 1 Peter 2:13-16
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 men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 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 you. - Matthew 6:5-6
