Tim Maas Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

I would say that a Christian personally praying to the deity or supreme being of another religion would be wrong. However, to me, participation in inter-faith activities would be a potential opportunity to provide a witness of Christian faith, love, and conduct to people outside the faith whom Christians might not encounter or be exposed to otherwise.

This issue is a particularly significant one for me personally. I recall that, at the time of the mass school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, in 2012, a Newtown pastor from my own denomination, who had members of his congregation who had been directly affected by the shooting, was rebuked by the head of the denomination for participating in, and offering a prayer at, an interfaith memorial service that included not only ministers from other local Christian denominations, but representatives of non-Judeo/Christian religions, as well.

To me, the crucial consideration would have been what Jesus would have done. If people were in need of comfort, would Jesus have refrained from ministering to them just because others might be present with whom He not only disagreed, but disagreed strongly, about theological practices? I think that John 11 indicates emphatically that His primary concern would have been consoling and helping those who were hurting.

February 03 2017 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report

Warren Wittstruck

I believe that God hears the prayers of all of us and when there are more than one to do that prayer He is there. It is up to God to judge those that pray and not us. I do not believe God brands anyone by religious names but instead by what is in the heart of those who pray. Too many children and adults were led to religions without freedom of choice. 

The Holy Spirit is needed to save one's soul and not the brand of any religion to restrict it from working. Therefore, when praying with a group Jesus gave us the Lord's Prayer to do that praying. May the world be blessed by knowing it and using it in groups always. 

Amen

February 10 2017 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report