Did you hear the opening and closing prayers for the Inauguration? If so, what is your opinion of these two prayers?
What about Rev. Warren's prayer stayed with you?
What about Rev. Lowery's prayer stayed with you?
I will not print simply negative comments.
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When Quoting Scripture Inflicts Harm
6 years ago
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I wondered why the President didn't say the Lord's Prayer?
I thought the way Rev. Warren closed his prayer was very good, using the various names for Jesus (languages).
What stuck out to me from Warren was how he ended the pray in saying
"I humbly ask this in the name of the one who changed my life – Yeshua, Isa, Jesus, [Spanish pronunciation], Jesus – who taught us to pray:"
I always look forward to the end of a Christians prayer when they are a public figure. I want to hear if they will pray in the name of Jesus. I was so happy he did.
For Pastor Lowery's prayer I liked:
Lord, in the memory of all the saints who from their labors rest, and in the joy of a new beginning, we ask you to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to get back, when brown can stick around -- (laughter) -- when yellow will be mellow -- (laughter) -- when the red man can get ahead, man -- (laughter) -- and when white will embrace what is right.
It had a taste of Jessie Jackson with the rhyming but it was simple request to the lord for all of us to unite, pursue happiness, and do whats right.
I too enjoyed the ending of Rev Warren's prayer. He made reference to all and he was trying to show unity as best he could.
But I feel that Rev Lowery made a mistake by using a ryhme in his prayer.
"we ask You to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to get back, when brown can stick around; when yellow will be mellow; when the red man can get ahead, man; and when white would embrace what is right."
As a white person I was offended by his last comment. There was no unity in his "prayer" by throwing in that last remark. I feel (my opinion) that Rev Lowery has some anger still left from his early youth in the sixties.
Hey we just inaugurated a white/black president. We all need to get with the times. They are a changin'.
I wanted to offer this single question: Did the true God of Heaven and Earth even “hear” all those ecumenical, non-specific, generalized, ultra-tolerant prayers?
Isaiah 1:10-15, 59:1-3, 7-8, 65:12
Thus says the Lord God Almighty, the Great I Am:
Hear the word of the LORD,
You rulers of Sodom;
Give ear to the instruction of our God,
You people of Gomorrah.
“What are your multiplied sacrifices to Me?”
Says the LORD.
“I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams
And the fat of fed cattle;
And I take no pleasure in the blood of bulls, lambs or goats.
“When you come to appear before Me,
Who requires of you this trampling of My courts?
“Bring your worthless offerings no longer,
Incense is an abomination to Me
New moon and sabbath, the calling of assemblies–
I cannot endure iniquity and the solemn assembly.
“I hate your new moon festivals and your appointed feasts,
They have become a burden to Me;
I am weary of bearing them.
“So when you spread out your hands in prayer,
I will hide My eyes from you;
Yes, even though you multiply prayers,
I will not listen
Your hands are covered with blood. . . .
Behold, the LORD’S hand is not so short
That it cannot save;
Nor is His ear so dull
That it cannot hear.
But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God,
And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.
For your hands are defiled with blood
And your fingers with iniquity;
Your lips have spoken falsehood,
Your tongue mutters wickedness. . . .
Their feet run to evil,
And they hasten to shed innocent blood;
Their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity,
Devastation and destruction are in their highways.
They do not know the way of peace,
And there is no justice in their tracks;
They have made their paths crooked,
Whoever treads on them does not know peace. . . .
I will destine you for the sword,And all of you will bow down to the slaughter
Because I called, but you did not answer;
I spoke, but you did not hear.
And you did evil in My sight
And chose that in which I did not delight.”
I, and millions of other believers are praying for the failure of Barack Obama in his attempts to widen access to child-killing in abortion clinics, grant full legitimacy to homosexual relationships through civil unions, and establish a socialist economic system in this country.
I certainly will be praying for Barack Obama, and I pray failure on every design and scheme the man has planned that will destroy life, promote perversion and establish an economic system based on further abuse of taxpayers.
Well, Maybe Lowery was trying to include a little attempt at rap to communicate with a hip generation? However, it sounds racist to pray for white men to embrace what is right? How about all men embrace right?? Most offensive is the audience viewing the prayer with open eyes as a speech. Including Michelle Obama!! AND, someone tell him the Red man IS ahead! Check out those casinos!!
If we truly want to unite as a people...stop separating us by pointing out color differences!!
I also liked Rev Warren's ending.
I'm sorry, but you cannot state that you will not post negative comments, only to then post what is probably one of the most judgmental and negative pieces I have ever seen on your site (I'm referring to the post by Bob R, where he's declaring that he will be praying for the failure of Obama, and where he criticizes the notion of ecumenism and tolerance. This level of judgmental condemnation contrary to the message of Good News.
Bob R seems to be fond of quoting scripture, so I will quote a passage too:
If I speak in the tongues[a] of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind.
It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.
For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.
When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.
Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face.
Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
I too appreciated Rick Warren's inclusiveness in ending his prayer. With respect to his "white" comment, as a white person, I'd like to think that I personally have matured to the point that I don't take generalities to heart, and I saw it for what is was, an attempt to come up with a rhyme that would include white folks. There would have just as many folks upset if he had not mentioned white folks at all.
I repeat what I posted earlier on another thread -
I know that some topics are volatile and that opinions will vary. As you share your opinion, simply try to state your position without characterizing those who may differ with you idea. Some do cross the line but without posting them the discussion would not take place. I try to make a judgment, if I offended anyone, please forgive me.
Also, be patient, contrary to popular belief, I do not live with my computer strapped to my side. It may by a few hours at times before a post if approved and added. I received two angry messages about their post not being accepted and others were. Give it some time and I'm excited about the interest in the blog.
I did not appreciate Lowery's closing prayer. It was strange, incorrect, and the remarks seemed petty on a day like yesterday. He needs to move on but yet he enjoys stirring race relations instead of healing them. That is not a respectful approach to doing so and I can't believe he would think it would be. Makes me question his judgement BIG TIME!
Reverend (I use the term very loosely in this sense) Lowry is an outright racist. It's sickening to speak of "white embracing what is right". It's very offensive to me who happens to be white and a Christian who always strives to embrace what is right. I don't hate anyone but as I am commanded to love my brethren of all races I strive to put differences aside. Obviously the racist reverend hasn't done so. Lowery, there won't be just blacks in heaven. If you can't love all people when you're here you may not get to see any over there.
"we ask You to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to get back, when brown can stick around; when yellow will be mellow; when the red man can get ahead, man; and when white would embrace what is right"
I'm a typical white guy, okay, so I guess I need to go to an african american based church to figure out what exactly this means? Am I bad? Do these yellow colored people(?) have anger issues? Have the red ones lost their ability be succesful? And who's telling the black ones to get back? Whoever it is they sure are mean!
I watched the inauguration. I did not vote for President Obama but I still wanted to see him sworn in as the commander in chief of this country. I still want to support and respect the office he holds. I still hope and pray he can help us unite as a country and put a salve to heal partisan politics and the division that has been worsening over the last couple of years. Abraham Lincoln said "A house divided against its self cannot stand." We as a country have been divided but I long to see us work as one for the common good of this country.
I am praying for our administration fervently. Praying God gives wisdom on all issues. I do not agree with most if any of President Obama's policy while he was a Senator. I however acknowledge though I did not vote for him while he was running for office he had a more medial approach to policy and issues. I hope that rings true during his presidency.
On the inauguration prayers..
The simple fact is the very last words at the inauguration ruined the whole thing for me. I am an inter-racial person. I am "yellow," a term I have always found the use of offensive just as the Native Americans do not like to be referred to as "red." I am "white" as well. I stand in a gap and have struggled all of my life to be acknowledged as an individual and not a race. Which was not easy in the areas and generation that I grew up in. Inter-racial marriages were deeply frowned upon and even my American grandparents tried to get my mother sterilized as to not have any "half-breeds." I am here despite their efforts. I have managed to move beyond my differences, rejections from both of my races and am able to look at things from a dualistic perspective, often giving me insight I would not have had otherwise.
I found the rhyme quoted by Rev. Lowery to belittle what was happening yesterday. If we have indeed moved beyond racial division in the country (I hope for my children's sake who are even more diverse than I, that we have) why does it have to be broken down into terms that some would consider divisive and insulting? Yellow - mellow - I recall a beverage by the name. I took people in this country of the Asian persuasion perhaps are too high strung for this country? White - embrace what is right? That to me was the most insulting of all. My father is white and the most honorable person I've ever known. He taught me that integrity is non-negotiable. Although people were laughing at what he was saying, they should have been crying. We have not come as far as we should have and the opportunity to prove to the world that there is no difference in individuals due of their shade of melanin failed miserably.
Although I didn't like the rap, I did like other parts of Rev. Lowery's prayer. I listened, even with my dislike of his theology, and God spoke to me, in spite of me.
I'm very offended by Rev. Lowery's "rhyme". I don't feel anything uniting about using sterotypes about skin color on a day we are celebrating unity and change. He doesn't seem to have heard the message. Extremely poor choice.
What's in a person's heart will come out of their mouth.
I believe that what President Obama was trying to do with inviting both men to pray was the extreme points of the spectrum. He was, I believe, trying to include all people of as many different faiths and physical characteristics as possible. In his political persons around him he is trying desperately to have different points of view surrounding him so that his decisions are good for most or at least acceptable by them. When I heard the two people that he chose for the prayer, this is how I reacted--that he was trying to get the full attitude from one end to the other--and I truly believe that the people who are so vocal against President Obama should try and listen to him and his ideas without judging him--take your blinders off your eyes and ears and be more open to accepting everyone instead of condemning--stop hating!!You truly cannot be a Christian with all the hate that is being shown towards our new President--Be Christians and follow Jesus without condemning! Keep your mind open-as Dionne said--it is a simple request to the Lord for all of us to unite, pursue happiness, and do what is right!
Lorie Lowery
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