The Point: They’re Gonna Hate Us Anyway

Just keep praying. Recently, a journalist posted a photo of teens saying grace at their pre-prom dinner. “[This picture] says a lot about young people these days,” he wrote along with his Facebook posting. “It’s REALLY nice to see.” The backlash was swift and furious. One commenter wrote, “So now we are supposed to praise kids for praying to an invisible man in the sky?” Another complained, "I'm so tired of the arrogance many religious people display and their disdain for non-believers.” Saying grace before a meal shows disdain for non-believers? That sounds silly to me, but the overall reaction to the picture is a snapshot of where our culture stands on public expressions of faith. Of course, we were warned.  “If the world hates you,” Jesus said, “keep in mind that it hated me first.” So let’s just keep praying, and keep feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the prisoner, and preaching the Good News. Our personal faith was never intended to be kept private.

05/7/18