Praying for others in public is wrong, right?

  • Welcome to Christian Forums, a Christian Forum that recognizes that all Christians are a work in progress.

    You will need to register to be able to join in fellowship with Christians all over the world.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon and God Bless!

thelord's_pearl

Well-Known Member
May 1, 2021
1,335
1,868
113
O`nowhere you have to know
Faith
Christian
Country
Canada
Hi all,
Someone on this forum PM'd me on this forum asking politely why I pray for others in public when it's supposed to be in secret to God so it got me thinking, Yeah I pray for others in public because it's fun, I'm on a psychiatric medication that causes me a lack of motivation which I'm withdrawing from 'cause something else natural helped me so I've got nothing to do except I can still do simple things like pray and it's easy to organize my thoughts of prayer in typing rather than just praying by myself and it not being released to others like an exchange like socializing and only truthfully, I do enjoy the praise if someone thought highly or good about my prayer or about me but all-in-all, fundamentally I care for those I pray for, I care for others but I know that the scriptures did say not to pray in public like the Pharisees and also not to forecast that you are going to pray so that means both those who say "Praying" or do an actual prayer have sinned so I must stop doing that. Prayers must be created in a post on a forum and then left alone, or you could still message something without praying but here's the thing, there are pro's and cons to prayer for others in public, the cons are already mentioned, scriptures say not to do that but the pro is I get to know others better sometimes and I get to know the hearts of people who pray, the more caring people or I get to know those who are strong in the faith and I get to know others who care about me, people feel comforted to know they're being prayed for but then by reading people's comments in the section or post in other sections on the forum, we also can get that or privilege and so I guess it's not that important.
The scripture also says to go in your room and close the door and pray to your God in secret, then you will be rewarded. What if you're in your living room and online and you have other people around and you want to pray for others online? I guess that would depend on motive.

What about Prayer leaders. You "know" they're going to pray for you and you're not supposed to forecast it but when you give your prayers to them it's already a forecast that they're going to pray for you, is it wrong? that's confusing. How will you know the answer to that.
What are your thoughts?
 
Last edited:

quietthinker

Well-Known Member
May 4, 2018
11,562
7,587
113
FNQ
Faith
Christian
Country
Australia
Hi all,
Someone on this forum PM'd me on this forum asking politely why I pray for others in public when it's supposed to be in secret to God so it got me thinking, Yeah I pray for others in public because it's fun, I'm on a psychiatric medication that causes me a lack of motivation which I'm withdrawing from 'cause something else natural helped me so I've got nothing to do except I can still do simple things like pray and it's easy to organize my thoughts of prayer in typing rather than just praying by myself and it not being released to others like an exchange like socializing but all-in-all, fundamentally I care for those I pray for, I care for others but I know that the scriptures did say not to pray in public like the Pharisees and also not to forecast that you are going to pray so that means both those who say "Praying" or do an actual prayer have sinned so I must stop doing that. Prayers must be created in a post on a forum and then left alone, but here's the thing, there are pro's and cons to prayer for others in public, the cons are already mentioned, scriptures say not to do that but the pro is I get to know others better sometimes and I get to know the hearts of people who pray, the more caring people or I get to know those who are strong in the faith, but then by reading people's post in other sections on the forum, I also get that privilege and so I guess it's not that important.

What about Prayer leaders. You "know" they're going to pray for you and you're not supposed to forecast it but when you give your prayers to them it's already a forecast that they're going to pray for you, is it wrong? that's confusing. How will you know the answer to that.
What are your thoughts?
Praying is about talking to your Father and friend in Heaven. Men have made it a song and dance; a performance of sorts.
Titles like 'prayer leaders' and 'prayer warriors' and the like, are methods of flattering individuals egos.

In my view, any performance when it comes to God is nothing more than that, a performance!
 
Last edited:

Rita

Well-Known Member
Staff member
Dec 20, 2020
3,385
6,154
113
65
South
Faith
Christian
Country
United Kingdom
The passage about praying in private is about the motive of what the Pharisees were doing, they prayed in public to make themselves ‘ look holy ‘ ect. It was like ‘ look at us , we are such good prayers ‘
God knows your heart and why you are praying, and as you have shared, it is not to ‘ look good before others ‘ …….
Jesus came to bring change and so he needed to address the attitudes to prayer. He also stated elsewhere that prayers didn’t need to be long In order to sound good, which is once again is about motive.
Rita
 

Gospel Believer

Well-Known Member
Aug 2, 2019
593
267
63
71
Columbus Ohio
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
Praying is about talking to you Father and friend in Heaven. Men have made it a song and dance; a performance of sorts.
Titles like 'prayer leaders' and 'prayer warriors' and the like, are methods of flattering individuals egos.

In my view, any performance when it comes to God is nothing more than that, a performance!


You are onto something , but God looks at the heart of the person that prays.....sincere , public prayers NOT Done to bring attention and glory to the person making a public prayer is fine—- Jesus did it.
 

Randy Kluth

Well-Known Member
Apr 27, 2020
7,625
2,340
113
Pacific NW
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
I agree that it's the "performance" motivation that is wrong--not the public praying. Solomon had a virtual army of professional prayers, it seems--priests who publicly served God. And they all prayed together to the Lord their God.

Jesus was not banning public prayer--just prayer that has the wrong motives. It can be pride to show yourself "religious." It can be embarrassing to others, in which case it isn't serving them. It can be noisy, and offend others or distract them, in which case it isn't serving them.

Why do others need to hear your personal prayers? But if you want a larger group to agree on a prayer that everybody is on board with, public prayer is a great idea, in my thinking.
 

Gospel Believer

Well-Known Member
Aug 2, 2019
593
267
63
71
Columbus Ohio
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
I agree that it's the "performance" motivation that is wrong--not the public praying. Solomon had a virtual army of professional prayers, it seems--priests who publicly served God. And they all prayed together to the Lord their God.

Jesus was not banning public prayer--just prayer that has the wrong motives. It can be pride to show yourself "religious." It can be embarrassing to others, in which case it isn't serving them. It can be noisy, and offend others or distract them, in which case it isn't serving them.

Why do others need to hear your personal prayers? But if you want a larger group to agree on a prayer that everybody is on board with, public prayer is a great idea, in my thinking.
Personally, I can’t IMAGINE praying in public, but that’s just me...
 
  • Like
Reactions: GracefulWarrior

Randy Kluth

Well-Known Member
Apr 27, 2020
7,625
2,340
113
Pacific NW
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
Personally, I can’t IMAGINE praying in public, but that’s just me...
Try praying in King James English. ;)
I don't like doing it either....
My church once started getting in the habit of calling on me to pray for the church. Then, when we were having problems with division in the church, I asked the Lord to forgive the pastor if he's done anything wrong. That's the last time anybody in church asked me to pray! ;)
 

Lambano

Well-Known Member
Jul 13, 2021
6,238
8,930
113
Island of Misfit Toys
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
Someone on this forum PM'd me on this forum asking politely why I pray for others in public when it's supposed to be in secret to God so it got me thinking, ... What are your thoughts?

My first thought is that anybody who thinks they can tell me what and how I should pray needs to mind their own d*** business. Then Jesus's teachings about praying kinda humble me a bit... Okay, Jesus, you can tell me what and how I should pray.

I am NOT comfortable praying in public, but I have intentionally chosen at times in these forum Prayer Requests to "pray out loud". I do this in the hope that it will encourage the one asking for prayer. That it will show that I am not just saying I will pray, but showing that I am actually praying for them. To show them somebody really does care.

That may well fall into the category "praying for show"; if so, this is yet another thing for which I'll have to ask Jesus's forgiveness at the Judgment. So be it. I trust Jesus knows my heart and will take motivation into account. (And my motivations may not be a pure as I think they are.) But just in case, if any of you who have asked for prayer do find "hearing" the prayer encouraging, I may need you to testify before Jesus on my behalf. ;)
 

thelord's_pearl

Well-Known Member
May 1, 2021
1,335
1,868
113
O`nowhere you have to know
Faith
Christian
Country
Canada
You are onto something , but God looks at the heart of the person that prays.....sincere , public prayers NOT Done to bring attention and glory to the person making a public prayer is fine—- Jesus did it.
In what scripture, did Jesus do a public prayer for others? I don't recall it. :( Yes, if you're praying together on a matter and you're in a group to agree on a matter and you have no wrong motive and you care then it's ok to pray in public for others.
My first thought is that anybody who thinks they can tell me what and how I should pray needs to mind their own d*** business. Then Jesus's teachings about praying kinda humble me a bit... Okay, Jesus, you can tell me what and how I should pray.
We're called to call out if our brother/sister did wrong so I don't think he should've minded his own business. He was helpful to me, it was cloudy to me before but now I seem to see better on what scripture has said so I'm sorry and have repented. That was too harsh, Lambano.

I edited my original post, if you guys can read it again and discuss anything else, I'd appreciate it
 
  • Like
Reactions: GracefulWarrior

amigo de christo

Well-Known Member
Sep 12, 2020
22,820
39,123
113
52
San angelo
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
You are onto something , but God looks at the heart of the person that prays.....sincere , public prayers NOT Done to bring attention and glory to the person making a public prayer is fine—- Jesus did it.
That is IT right there . Its about the heart . Are we praying to be seen of men , OR are we simply praying to GOD .
Its the heart . Its evil to do as we do for our own personal glory of men . No matter how good it was .
I can give food to the poor out of love and kindness and desire no glory of men .
YET many give to be SEEN . THEY WANT to be praised . THAT IS THE EVIL right there . ITS the heart .
The cup is filthy on the inside no matter how beautiful it can appear on the outside .
BUT PRAISE BE TO GOD for JESUS CHRIST who changes the hearts desire of the lambs . WE DO
not to be SEEN and praised of men , we just do for the sake of others unto the GLORY OF GOD .
 

amigo de christo

Well-Known Member
Sep 12, 2020
22,820
39,123
113
52
San angelo
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
Personally, I can’t IMAGINE praying in public, but that’s just me...
Its a prime example of the pharisees . Everything they did was to recieve glory of men .
JESUS KNEW THEM WELL . He knew they did all to clean the outside up to appear righteous and pious and holy to MEN
but inside they were full of dead mens bones and filth . THEIR HEART was not towards GOD nor man . IT WAS ON THEMSELVES .
WHY ya think i always holler out against the POPES . Sitting on chairs , having men kiss rings
Being called most holy father or reverand . and they aint alone its all over the protestant realm too .
GOD knows the heart . The heart of a lamb HAS been changed by GOD . Their allegiance is TO THE LORD
and they do all desiring all glory to GO to GOD .
SO many are in a very dangerous place . having a form of godliness but its only a form .
they do to appear righteous and to be seen as good and holy . within their hearts lies a grave yard
which though on the outside can sure appear pious and righteous , BEWARE what inside it . and they KNOW how to decieve too .
But again , allow me to PRAISE GOD . I was the worst of the worst . GOD changes a heart . TO HE ALONE goes all glory .
TRUTH is ,
before i go on BB i want you to sit down so as you faint not .
TRUTH IS , I HAVE NO GOODNESS , BUT THE GOODNESS that cometh OF GOD .
TRUE my friend . T RUE that is . The flesh is a monster and there is nothing good in the hearts of men .
WHY YA THINK WE NEED A SAVOIR . Exactly . But lets not forget IF we are HIS , its seen in our fruits .
JESUS changes hearts . that too is a fact .
 

ThePuffyBlob

Well-Known Member
Dec 16, 2019
1,116
419
83
( ^◡^)
Faith
Christian
Country
Philippines
Someone on this forum PM'd me on this forum asking politely why I pray for others in public
and that's me and you then said you'll put me on ignore because of the language barrier T_T
I do enjoy the praise if someone thought highly or good about my prayer or about me
this is why I said something and you got upset about it because it is swearing but idk how to explain it that's why I put it that way
I now understand but will still ask another person about it theirs might be different answer

as you can see
[NHEB]Matthew 6:5 “When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.

the christ said Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.

when you pray and ask God online God will not give you what you have asked but will still reward you something you have asked for I'm sure you know what it was....
 

ThePuffyBlob

Well-Known Member
Dec 16, 2019
1,116
419
83
( ^◡^)
Faith
Christian
Country
Philippines
What if you're in your living room and online and you have other people around and you want to pray for others online?
I think right now you are lost let me help you straighten your way it is forbidden christ forbid you to don't even reason about things

your prayers will be in vain if you do so because you just want to be praise by people because you feel good about it

no man sees your heart God can
if you're in your living room and online then don't say anything about praying to God before you sleep after you log off that's when you pray to God all alone in your room or if you're not alone then go to the bathroom or just pray but hide it don't say out loud and tell the whole world you are praying right now when you want to pray while there's people around you don't act like you are praying act like you are not at all so that God will see you and will reward you
 

ThePuffyBlob

Well-Known Member
Dec 16, 2019
1,116
419
83
( ^◡^)
Faith
Christian
Country
Philippines
What do you mean I'm sure you know what it was?
excuse me but I am brutally honest as long as it is the truth I will say it without thinking the consequences TwT

idk if should I say it or not because you did not get it because it was not revealed to you yet should I overstep God then and explain or should I just let God do it instead in time he will tell you

at first I also do not know what was the reward given on that verse but now I know someone did not say it to me the spirit did

in time you'll understand
 

thelord's_pearl

Well-Known Member
May 1, 2021
1,335
1,868
113
O`nowhere you have to know
Faith
Christian
Country
Canada
I think right now you are lost let me help you straighten your way it is forbidden christ forbid you to don't even reason about things

your prayers will be in vain if you do so because you just want to be praise by people because you feel good about it

no man sees your heart God can
if you're in your living room and online then don't say anything about praying to God before you sleep after you log off that's when you pray to God all alone in your room or if you're not alone then go to the bathroom or just pray but hide it don't say out loud and tell the whole world you are praying right now when you want to pray while there's people around you don't act like you are praying act like you are not at all so that God will see you and will reward you
I don't pray for others just so I was to be praised by people and feel good about it. I truthfully started praying out of boredom and I think that was the primary reason and I thought to glorify God and I also liked the praise so a mix and I also care for others so I believe that's the secondary reason. As I got to know others better and more, I cared more, just like when I pray for my family, if we pray together I like it when they like my prayer and think it's good (praise) but when I pray alone it is pure and only because I care for my family the deepest and I give glory to God.
 

thelord's_pearl

Well-Known Member
May 1, 2021
1,335
1,868
113
O`nowhere you have to know
Faith
Christian
Country
Canada
excuse me but I am brutally honest as long as it is the truth I will say it without thinking the consequences TwT

idk if should I say it or not because you did not get it because it was not revealed to you yet should I overstep God then and explain or should I just let God do it instead in time he will tell you

at first I also do not know what was the reward given on that verse but now I know someone did not say it to me the spirit did

in time you'll understand
we're called to correct our brothers/sisters. if the brother\sister still does not understand then you'll have to give it to God. I understand now, thanks :)
 
Last edited:

Adam

Well-Known Member
Nov 30, 2022
690
379
63
43
X
Faith
Christian
Country
Canada

Matthew 18​

19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.