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Historically, because our nation was founded on essential freedoms, not the least of which is freedom of religion, prayer has been a vital part of our country. In 1775, the Continental Congress asked the colonies to pray for wisdom in forming a nation. On Feb. 19, 1795, George Washington proclaimed a day of public thanksgiving and prayer.
On March 30, 1863, Abraham Lincoln signed a congressional resolution that called for a day of fasting and prayer during the Civil War. On April 17, 1952, a bill proclaiming an annual National Day of Prayer was unanimously passed by both houses of Congress. President Truman signed it into law. It required the president to select a day for national prayer each year. And finally on May 5, 1988, President Reagan signed into law that the first Thursday in May be the National Day of Prayer each year.
Reagan said, “On our National Day of Prayer, then, we join together as people of many faiths to petition God to show us his mercy and his love, to heal our weariness and uphold our hope, that we might live ever mindful of his justice and thankful for his blessing.”
Some will want to cite the “separation of church and state” as a reason why we should not have a day of prayer. In fact, the term “separation of church and state” appears nowhere in the U.S. Constitution. The concept of “separation of church and state” stems from the opening clause in the Bill of Rights that states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof …”
This clause was never meant to keep the church out of the state, but rather to keep the state out of the church. This clause was to keep the state from establishing a national religion. It was to keep the state from interfering with the free exercise of religion in our nation.
The First Amendment was never meant to keep people from practicing their faith or bringing religion into the daily affairs of our nation. This is why the founding fathers would often quote from the Bible, ask for God’s help and have clergy offer prayers at certain events.
If you want to see numerous examples of this, go to www.wallbuilders. com. It is very unfortunate that in our culture today this clause has been twisted and misused to cause people to think that doing anything in the name of God on public property or at public events is wrong.
In times of great uncertainty, economic fear and moral collapse, why would anyone not want our nation to ask for divine help? Even those who do not believe in God certainly would see no harm in those who do believe in God asking for His blessing on our nation. This day of prayer is not a day to pressure anyone to follow Jesus. It is not a day for preaching and proselytizing. It is simply a day to ask the almighty to help us. Doing this will not harm anyone and could help
everyone.
Here in the 7 Rivers Region, for the past 12 years we have had a Mayoral Prayer Breakfast on the National Day of Prayer. Christians from all denominations come together to pray for our nation as well as our local leaders and public servants. It is a great display of humility, unity and faith in God.
For those who want to replace this day of prayer with a “day of reason,” please be reasonable and see the historical basis for this day as well as the practical benefits of having it.
David Holt is senior pastor of First Evangelical Free Church, in Onalaska, Wis.
