-PUBLIC PRAYER-
Does Scripture Forbid It?
Is there an example anywhere in the Bible of one person "leading" others in prayer?
Yes. Absolutely!
David prayed PUBLICLY! "Wherefore David blessed the Lord before all the congregation: and David said (prayed out-loud), Blessed be You, Lord God of Israel our father, for ever and ever. Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the Heaven; and in the earth is Yours; Yours is the Kingdom, O Lord, and You are exalted as Head above all. Both riches and honour come of You, and You reign over all; and in Your hand is power and might; and in Your hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all. Now therefore, our God, we thank You, and praise Your glorious Name. (David’s public, spoken prayer continues through verse 19 and in verse 20 closes with) and David said to all the congregation, Now bless the Lord your God. And all the congregation blessed the Lord God...." (I Chronicles 29: 10-20). {One could not ask for a more concise and clear-cut scriptural example of public prayer than this.}
Yet another clear example of public prayer is presented in the book of Nehemiah: "And Ezra the Scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose....and Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people; (for he was above all the people [meaning that he was standing on a raised platform];) and when he opened it, all the people stood up: And Ezra blessed the Lord, the Great God (prayed). And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands:" (Nehemiah 8: 4-6). [This is very similar to the way Christians worship today].
Additionally: Paul prayed with the Elders of the Church. He (Paul) "kneeled down, and prayed with them all" (Acts 20:36). {To refute praying publicly is to reject the very sacrificial death of Jesus Christ Himself as it is His sacrifice and atoning blood alone by which our broken relationship with God is restored and we are provided access to Him through the privilege and power of prayer.}
Could praying in public cost you your eternal life? This is so ridiculous and insulting to God I am not even going to address it.
Isn’t Matthew 6: 1-5 a warning against praying in public? NO. Absolutely Not!
NOWHERE does this scripture state, hint, or in any way allude to any type of instruction against or forbidding of praying in public. What it does say is that we are not to do it "for the wrong reason" (for attention) which would be hypocrisy in prayer. The Scribes and Pharisees were guilty NOT of praying publicly but rather of vain-glory and vain repetitions. The duty or responsibility of public prayer on the part of the true believer does not become less necessary and wonderful in its privilege simply because it is sometimes abused by hypocrites to serve their own pride. Were this the case then it follows that since there are those who worship the Lord for the wrong reason then no one should worship the Lord. Without question there are a great many more who pray "in private" for the wrong reasons (asking for material possessions, earthly riches and wealth etc) then there are those who offer up such prayers "publicly." Therefore, if we are to "refrain" from public prayer because of others hypocrisy then we must also refrain from praying "in private" because of others whose private prayers are wrapped in hypocrisy. Bottom line - ALL prayer would need to be done away with! And If prayerless, then graceless. If graceless, then all hope is lost. Public prayer is, without question. both scripturally supported and encouraged.
God bless you,
Mark Shutts