True Discernment

from Slice of laodicea:

We have just confirmed with Ravi’s office that Ravi Zacharias did not pray at all at the live webcasted 2008 National Day of Prayer Capitol Hill event. (As you can see posted below, he was scheduled to pray according to the Task Force’s official schedule for today.) Amazing. His response to the controversy over his prayer was to not pray at all. If he had prayed in Jesus name, he would have contradicted his official written prayer from the National Day of Prayer Task Force. If he had prayed without Jesus name, the public furor would have only grown worse, and it would have been on the record. As the Honorary Chairman of the 2008 National Day of Prayer, Ravi Zacharias was prayerless at the Capitol Hill event. The NDP is hoping that the uses of Jesus name by other participants will damp down the controversy. Shirley Dobson’s introduction of a Jewish Rabbi at the beginning of the event set the confusing spiritual tone. This is what Rabbi Bruce Lustig said to the assembled group and to those watching live:

“…whether you are a Christian, Jew, Buddhist, Muslim or some other religion we are EQUAL in prayer before God.”

Sorry, Rabbi, not according to God’s Word. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father, but by me.”

This is an interesting choice on the part of Dr. Zacharias. His office seemed to be somewhat at a loss for words when pressed as to why he didn’t read his official prayer. The spokesperson mumbled something vaguely about scheduling difficulties. The truth is, Ravi spoke for several minutes, but he decided not to pray. In the end, it is better that he did not pray at all rather than pray a Christ-less official prayer.

P.S. Did anyone else catch the comments by Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne when he talked about being in Milwaukee for the blessing of the Harley motorcycles by Roman Catholic Archbishop Dolan? He then threw in a quote from the Archbishop with a use of the word “d***” for good measure. A little profanity on the National Day of Prayer, I guess. It beggars belief that they think God was honored by that.

P.P. S. Here is the schedule for today’s Capitol Hill event as was given at the NDP website.

Prelude Music — Military Band Brass Quintet

Joint Armed Forces Color Guard and Anthem Vocalist — National Anthem

Opening Remarks — Mrs. Shirley Dobson, Chairman of National Day of Prayer

Scripture Reading/Blowing of the Shofar — Rabbi M. Bruce Lustig

Opening Prayer – Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, Archbishop of the Military Services

Prayer for the Nations –Her Excellency Inonge Mbikusita-Lewanika, Ambassador of Zambia

Worship—Mr. Charles Billingsley

Prayer of Repentance—Rev. Dick Eastman, National Prayer Committee

Executive Branch Remarks — The Honorable Dirk Kempthorne, Secretary of the Interior

Prayer for Executive Branch — Mr. Dave Butts, NPC*

Legislative Branch Remarks — The Honorable Mike McIntyre, North Carolina

Prayer for Legislative Branch—Dr. Paul Cedar, NPC*

Worship— Mr. Charles Billingsley

Prayer — Chaplain Barry Black, Senate Chaplain

Keynote Speaker — Dr. Ravi Zacharias, Honorary Chairman NDP**

Prayer for the Nation—Dr. Ravi Zacharias

Special Song— Ms. Abby Schrader

Judicial Branch Remarks — Judge Janice Rogers Brown, U.S. Court of Appeals

Prayer for Judicial Branch — Mrs. Vonette Bright, Co-Chairman NDP**

Armed Forces Remarks — Lt. General Patrick Caruana (retired U.S.A.F)

Prayer for the Armed Forces — Mrs. Kathy Branzell, NPC*

Worship— Mr. Charles Billingsley

Prayer Challenge— Mr. Brian Toon, Vice Chairman, NDP**

Closing Song—God Bless America—Charles Billingsley

*National Prayer Committee

**National Day of Prayer Task Force

Reserved seating must be in place before 11:30 am

Schedule is subject to change