They Have Their Reward.Recently the United States Supreme Court ruled that a high school football coach has the constitutional right to kneel and pray alone on the football field following the games.  The church world is celebrating a favorable ruling relative to individual’s right to express his/her religious beliefs publicly.  I am not at all interested in the constitutionality of the actions of the coach.  I look at his actions through the prism of the Holy Scriptures.  While the church world rejoices, I am reminded of the words of Jesus Christ concerning the very thing that, though having been declared constitutional, is diametrically opposed to what He said concern public prayer.

I take my Truth concerning this subject from what is written in Matthew 6:1-6.  In the first four verses Jesus addresses individuals who gave money to the poor in a public venue.  As He said in verse two, “They have (received) their reward”–attention.  Then in verses 5 and 6 Jesus addresses individuals who prayed to God publicly.  Notice that He said the exact same thing about them: “They have their reward”–attention.

Notice that in both cases Jesus did not say that public giving and public praying were acceptable if one had a good reason for doing so, or if one’s heart was right, etc.  What He said was: “DON’T DO IT.”  People wear crosses on their person and fish symbols on their cars.  Others have pictures, statues, etc. of Jesus and Mary in their houses and yards.  God said: “DON’T DO IT.”  After being shown in Scripture that God condemns the use of any “graven (man made) images (crosses, fish, statues, pictures, etc.) in the worship of or service to Him, the common reply is some variation of “But I do it for the right reason.”  It does not matter why one does what one does if God says: “DON’T DO IT.” 

 They Have Their Reward

Concerning the praying coach, I am happy that he prays.  I am not happy that he chooses to pray in direct defiance of God’s command.  I am sure he is sincere in his religious actions.  But, if we can believe God, he is sincerely wrong in where he performs them.  It doesn’t matter that others sometimes gather around him and join him in prayer.  God said: “DON’T DO IT.”  Nowhere can we find Jesus or His disciples praying in a public area.  In fact, it was prophesied about Him: “He will not strive (argue), nor cry out (in prayer), and His voice (of ministry) will not be heard in the streets” (Mat. 12:19).  Nowhere do we find the disciples preaching or praying in the streets.  The only time Jesus preached to crowds was when they followed Him into the countryside.  In one case a crowd had gathered around Him as He walked along the shore of the Sea of Galilee.  He spoke to them from a boat anchored off-shore.

Of course we do not always have a closet to pray in.  Jesus used the word “closet” symbolically to mean a secluded, private place.  And notice that He said to close the door.  Personal prayer is designed by God to be private.  Recall that when Jesus took the disciples into the Garden of Gethsemene to pray, He separated Himself from them in order to be alone with the Father.  He took Peter, James and John with Him, then left them to go on farther to pray.  When He had finished praying He came to where they were and found them asleep.  Once again He separated Himself from them in order to pray (Mat. 26:36-46).

They Have Their Reward

The well-meaning, though disobedient coach should study His Bible, learn what God said, believe it and obey it.  I am quite certain that no one will remind him of what Jesus said in Matthew 26.  Nor will anyone remind him of what He said about the Law, and the Sabbath, and Christmas, and Easter, and the trinity, and denominations, and the resurrection of Jesus, and ….  See the Introduction to this website for other God-condemned church beliefs and practices.

This website is dedicated by God to those who, like this well-meaning though deceived coach, are in need of rebuke, correction and training in righteousness (2 Tim. 3:16).  These are they who have been deceived into embracing Satan and his “any way you want it” brand of Christianity.  Adam and Eve were the first humans to believe his sweet-sounding spin of what God had said.  Over the years the devil has lured billions of salvation seekers through his “wide gate and along his broad path that lead to destruction,” all the while “knowing” that they are headed for heaven (Mat. 7:13,14).  As Jesus said, “They do worship Me in vain ….” (Mat. 15:9).

They Have Their Reward

Contrary to universal church opinion, man does not know more than God.  Nor does God need to be corrected by man.  Nor do His Holy Scriptures need to be edited by man.  Nor do they need to be judged by man.  All of which has been going on since the Garden of Eden, and with the same results.  As I watch my beloved nation fall apart I need only consult the Scriptures to understand why.  And Satan smiles.  L.J.