Response to the Praying in Jesus Name Controversy

Some people don’t understand the difference between (1) a denominational worship service and the prayer therein and (2) a public prayer at a mandatory formation that should meet the needs and lift the spirits of all in attendance, believers (of all faiths) and non-believers alike. Offending and denigrating others whose beliefs are as strongly held and as sincere as ours even though they don’t include our belief in the divinity of Jesus is NOT a way to draw folks into the presence of Jesus.

I work hard to pray prayers at mandatory formations that will move non-believers toward a loving, accepting and forgiving God. I want to demonstrate a God who cares much more about individuals and less about cultural religious formulae. Have I prayed any more or less in the name of Jesus if I do or do not say the words "In Jesus Name?" The chaplain wears a CHRISTIAN cross and they ask him or her to pray at their mandatory formations. This is an awesome privilege to influence for Christ that I would hate to lose in favor of insisting on a favorite closing formula.

Chaplain Gordon James Klingenschmitt has the right, the mandate of the military chaplaincy and the backing of the Constitution of the United States of America to pray however he wishes when he is leading Christians in a worship service or praying in a private or a non-mandatory setting. Military chaplains CAN and DO pray “according to their individual faith traditions.” There’s no need for an Executive Order.

Part of the “protecting religious freedom” that the chaplain is demanding from the President consists in protecting the rights of those who are not of the Christian faith tradition, ensuring that they not be forced to pray in a tradition that is not theirs—in the same way that we Christians ought not to be forced to pray within the strictures of another’s faith tradition. It’s a matter of respect for all of God’s children—not just the ones we see as special.

It sounds as if the good Chaplain Klingenschmitt has somewhat less tolerance and respect for others than that demonstrated in Scriptures by Jesus Himself. Perhaps our prayer for him should be that he be guided to develop a sensitivity for the rights and beliefs of others, and an ability in all circumstances to ask himself: “WWJD?”

IMHO, Christianity does not need this sort of behavior put forth as an example of what it means to be a Christian clergy-person.