Once again, an internet Atheist is rehashing the shopworn argument against public prayer. This time it's a guy on the Atheist Revolution blog known as Vjack, quoting the same verses from Matthew:
https://www.atheistrev.com/2007/07/public-prayer.html
"The book many Christians seek to elevate above all other books might not be clear about much, but it seems fairly clear in discouraging public prayer. Matthew 6:5 - 7 says:
5. And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
6. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
7. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
Pretty clear, isn't it? Public prayer is compared to hypocrisy and is discouraged while private prayer is valued."
No Vjack, evidently it isn't clear... to you. In that very same Bible, the Apostle Paul encourages us:
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18
So how are we supposed to pray without ceasing? Are we never supposed to leave our prayer closet? I'm sure that would make a lot of Village Atheists happy, but it just isn't realistic.
The very same Bible that Vjack quoted is full of examples of people praying in public. Even Jesus prayed in public. So what is Jesus telling the people about prayer? To hide every time you want to pray?
Look at the wording of the verses in Matthew. Jesus is specifically citing the prayer of people who make a show of their faith to impress others. Of course private prayer is encouraged. Jesus took time alone to fast and talk with The Father.
This Atheist is trying to convince us to be ashamed of our faith and to hide it from public display at all costs, based on his MISunderstanding of Scripture.
Next time an Atheist tries to educate you about your faith, just read the Bible. You'll discover that Atheists DON'T read the Bible, but simply google and cherry-pick verses in their weak arguments. It doesn't take a Bible Scholar to easily shred an Atheist's criticism of what Atheists clearly don't understand.
'Nuff said.
