What does the New Testament say about prayer in public places such as schools and restaurants? It’s pretty clear.
Jesus said:
Matthew 6:5-6
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 you.
I’m opposed to a formal organization-driven prayer in public schools. (Either driven (and required) by the state, or the school board, or the school, or the teacher, etc.) At best, such a prayer becomes little more than a “to whom it is concerned” recitation because it can’t directly address any particular entity without violating someone’s freedom of religion.
In short, it makes a farce of prayer.
What I am concerned about are attempts to scrub any hint of religiosity from all things public. Especially in the schools. To me, the attempts to connect a candycane to “government endorsement” of religion (for example) are sinister.
From a different angle, grabbing a snippet of scripture and declaring that Jesus dictates there should be no prayer in school is a misapplication of scripture, IMO.
Snippet?
I think this is pretty plain and clear in meaning.
Matthew 6:5-6
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 you.
Each individual can interpret it as they want. I have interpreted it for myself.
