Amen!

Were you taught to pray out loud in front of or with others?  Or were you taught to go in your room to pray?

“Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven. “So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. “And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. “And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. - Matthew 6:1-6,16-18

Other than in church on Sundays when we would recite the prayers together, I was not exposed to praying aloud or in front of others.

We didn't even say a prayer before dinner, so I was not familiar with the practice of leading people in prayer and having them openly respond.  Do I hear an Amen here?

So, I may be inclined to agree with Jesus here, and favor practicing my piety in private.

Leading the prayers in church is one thing.  Standing before others and having them participate in my conversation with God is another.

I know.  In many churches, that is the way it is done.  One person talks for the group and all react in support of the message.

You could say that prayer leader is not praying for themselves, so they are not looking for rewards form the congregation, but that is what they get, don't they?

I am sure if I grew up in one of those church settings where outward expression of one's faith was common, I would feel differently, so I am not trying to be judgmental.

So much of what we do in life goes unnoticed by others, but occasionally, we are discovered and given accolades.  When that happens, we either take our bow graciously, or we are embarrassed.

Jesus could be fine with that.

But when we go around bragging to all about how great we are, that is going a bit tooo far.

Do I hear Amen?

More to come...