Praying in Public

Today’s topic of ‘going public’ with our Orthodoxy is not so simple. Christ Himself said, “But when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut the door, pray to your Father who is in secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.” (Matthew 6.6) How then can I suggest that we pray in public when Christ tells us to pray in secret?

First, we should agree that either Christ didn’t mean that we should only pray in secret, or that every Christian in the world is openly disregarding Him. Every Sunday Churches are filled with Christians praying, very much NOT in secret. St John Chrysostom speaks to this very question in Homily 19 on the Gospel of Matthew.

And when you pray, says He, you shall not be as the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues, and in the corners of the streets. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward. “But you, when you pray, enter into your closet, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father which is in secret.” These too again He calls hypocrites, and very fitly; for while they are feigning to pray to God, they are looking round after men; wearing the garb not of suppliants, but of ridiculous persons. For he, who is to do a suppliant’s office, letting go all other, looks to him alone, who has power to grant his request. But if you leave this one, and go about wandering and casting around your eyes everywhere, you will depart with empty hands. For this was your own will. Wherefore He said not, such shall not receive a reward, but, they have it out: that is, they shall indeed receive one, but from those of whom they themselves desire to have it. For God wills not this: He rather for His part was willing to bestow on men the recompence that comes from Himself; but they seeking that which is from men, can be no longer justly entitled to receive from Him, for whom they have done nothing. But mark, I pray you, the lovingkindness of God, in that He promises to bestow on us a reward, even for those good things which we ask of Him. Having then discredited them, who order not this duty as they ought, both from the place and from their disposition of mind, and having shown that they are very ridiculous: He introduces the best manner of prayer, and again gives the reward, saying, Enter into your closet. What then, it may be said, ought we not to pray in church? Indeed we ought by all means, but in such a spirit as this. Because everywhere God seeks the intention of all that is done. Since even if you should enter into your closet, and having shut the door, should do it for display, the doors will do you no good. It is worth observing in this case also, how exact the definition, which He made when He said, That they may appear unto men. So that even if you shut the doors, this He desires you duly to perform, rather than the shutting of the doors, even to shut the doors of the mind. For as in everything it is good to be freed from vainglory, so most especially in prayer. For if even without this, we wander and are distracted, when shall we attend unto the things which we are saying, should we enter in having this disease also? And if we who pray and beseech attend not, how do we expect God to attend?

Second, we should accept that there is a difference between praying in public and praying for public. It is the intention that matters as Chrysostom points out. For example, how many times do we each say a prayer, or at the very least cross ourselves, before eating a meal? This is one simple and non-boastful way of praying in public. We shouldn’t pray before a meal in such a way as to gain attention to ourselves. Other ways we can pray quietly in public is our interactions with others. When we encounter a friend, a loved one, or in this case a total stranger, who is in the midst of struggle, we should take a brief moment and offer a blessing. “May God bless your struggle.” If these words are genuine, not only have we prayed in public, but we have shown love for our neighbor in public as well.

Third, we must understand there are times the Church is called to public witness and prayer, whether it be on the National Day of Prayer, or other public forum during which people are taking turns to pray. In this case, I would strongly recommend you DO NOT take your turn publicly until you have spoken with your spiritual father, as this particular sort of public prayer can be very delicate. If you have been invited to ‘represent your Church’ at one of these events, it is our Orthodox Tradition to receive an official blessing to represent the Church, because what we say and do in these moments must properly and appropriately reflect the teachings of the Church. Let’s be honest. Not everyone is suited for such an event, and it is an act of humility to the Church to seek permission from the local clergy first.

Finally, I think the best way to pray in public, is to be honest with others about where we are headed when we go to Church. If our friends invite us to a function, even if not during Great Lent, but there is a Church service we should be attending, we should be honest and respond by saying, “I’m sorry I can’t make it. I’ll be in Church then.” This simple public admission of prayer, though not prayer directly, will be its own witness to our love for God and commitment to prayer. Who knows….it may even spark some curiosity in your friends to ‘come and see’ for themselves what could be so important that you would be willing to miss the party of the century.