The Inaugural Prayer

Much has been written and said about the various prayers given around the inauguration. Some thing the Bishop of Sodom's prayer was great because it was so inclusive. After all, it was addressed to "the God of our many understandings." Meanwhile, some have been glad for Warren's prayer with his reference to accountability to the Creator someday and his recitation of the Apostles' Prayer. Others hate how small-minded and overly-Christian his prayer was. I didn't read or listen to the last prayer, but I understand that it was not something I would have agreed with.

This may surprise you, but I say that we throw the whole thing out. After all, what is the point now? If we can have three such diverse prayers around the same event then it is clear that the organizers of the event really don't have a dog in the fight other than inclusiveness. If Obama's theology matched the Bishop of Sodom's, then he should have had three like that. If he really was a Bible-believing evangelical then he could have had three like Rick Warren's. However, he chose to take a centrist route, which is supposed to be what he is all about. The problem is that you cannot simultaneously pray to "the God of our many understandings" as well as the actual Creator of the universe. The Creator of the Bible is funny about that kind of thing.

It seems to me that this tradition started because the Founding Fathers were either Christian or at least respectful of orthodox Christianity. George Washington recognized the need of divine assistance in getting our country going. Now we are so self-sufficient that we just need to find political ways to fill the traditional prayer times. I don't blame any of the men who gave their prayers. They have their beliefs and will be accountable to the Lord for them. I am more concerned with this mockery of the Creator. As the saying goes, if you don't stand for something you'll fall for anything. How many things will President Obama fall for?