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

If the questioner's concern is not "stage fright", but instead being regarded as a hypocrite, I would say that the primary objective in praying the prayer or carrying out other assigned church responsibilities should be wanting to avoid using the act only as a public show of piety, or using the content of the prayer or the manner of the questioner's actions only to glorify himself, both of which the Pharisee did in Jesus' parable of the Pharisee and the publican (Luke 18:9-14).

If the individual is praying or acting as an usher because of being requested to do so in a spirit of service to God, or because of being assigned that responsibility based on the position that he holds in the congregation (rather than actively seeking to do so as a public display), and is aware of his own faults and shortcomings (even if others are also aware of those characteristics on his part), I would say that the questioner would not need to regard himself as a hypocrite, and no one else could justifiably view him as one, even though the questioner would have no control over their private feelings (which might also be indicative of unjustifiable pride or lack of humility on THEIR part, for which they would be as much in need of repentance and forgiveness as the questioner might be for anything that he had done).

December 05 2020 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report

Danny Hickman Supporter Believer in The Gospel Of Jesus Christ

The best way to overcome stage fright is to get on stage. Not everyone is gifted to get out in front of people and perform. I don't think everyone should be assigned the same responsibilities. But if you're desiring to get past your fear of talking to God in front of others, then you might be okay after some shaky starts. 

Some advice: (1) Decide on a theme, don't try to pray for the whole world and everybody in it. (2) The easiest theme, the one that will help you to relax is to concentrate on a prayer of praise. Acknowledge who God is to the congregation (Helper, Provider, Savior, Healer, etc), and be thankful unto Him. Keep it short and you'll be fine.

December 06 2020 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jim Riddle Old, tired, retired, fat, bald, gimpy and happy

I used to fear prayer in church because of semantics and interpretations. Then a comic strip character quoted
Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.

I'm reassured that if I "mess up" the Spirit still conveys my thoughts correctly to the Father.

March 12 2021 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report