Why do we pray? Some thoughts on the invocation that is sweeping the nation.

If you haven't seen Pastor Joe Nelms' pre-race prayer from this past weekend's Nationwide Series NASCAR race, you should check it out.  I'll hand it to him, it has certainly got folks talking.

Here's the link if you are interested.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CM_MKCg1U-c&feature=related

Since I'm pretty outspoken about my faith and my love for NASCAR racing some folks have asked me what I thought of it.  While many people are calling this the greatest sports prayer ever (including some Pastor friends of mine), I just cannot agree.  The prayer didn't sit well with me for several reasons.

First, this pastor was asked to come pray before a highly dangerous sporting event.  The drivers and crew members in NASCAR put themselves in potentially deadly situations with regularity.  Part of the reason that NASCAR always starts events with a prayer is that although this reality is not often openly talked about, it is something that everyone in that community understands.  That moment before those guys strap in their seats and fire engines is a serious moment for them and their families.  It was inappropriate not to recognize that.

Second, this pastor lost sight of the fact that a public prayer should be more about bringing honor and glory to The One being prayed to and not the one doing the praying.  We should pray to seek God's blessing, not to entertain people listening.  It reminds me of the way the Pharisee prayed in Luke chapter 18.  You might remember that there the Pharisee gave a long, proud sounding prayer to impress all those around him.  In response to this Christ says in Luke 18:14 "...For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted."

Third, it is absolutely great to give thanks for your wife.  Men should do that.  The Scripture says that he who finds a wife finds a good thing.  However, living in a culture that routinely makes sex objects out of women, I don't think that it set a good example for a pastor on national tv to objectify his wife by calling her "smokin' hot".  I'm glad that he finds his wife attractive.  I find my wife attractive too.  However when I think of her beauty and all the reasons I'm thankful for her, physical attractiveness takes a back seat to all of her other traits that matter so much more.  Emphasizing physical attractiveness over Godly character in prayer is a prime example of the culture influencing the church instead of the church influencing the culture.

Fourth, it was fairly obvious that this pastor's "inspiration" for this prayer was a scene from the movie Talladega Nights where Will Ferrel's character offered a rather ridiculous prayer before a meal.  The purpose of the scene was to make people laugh by making fun of people who actual take saying grace before a meal seriously.  It was irreverent and sacreligious.  Pastors ought to be seeking their inspiration for prayer from other sources.


I know that some will read this and think that I'm just an uptight Christian who can't take a joke.  That's not the case at all.  It's just that I expect that kind of humor from Will Ferrell.  I expect something a little different from a pastor.

At the end of the day, his prayer was more about entertainment than anything else and that bothered me.  When called on to give an invocation before a sporting event, it's best to leave the entertaining to the drivers/players.