When Prayer is Controversial

A Letter From Franklin Graham

May 17, 2010 - There was an alarming amount of controversy recently about the National Day of Prayer.

At the same time, the news media gave extensive coverage to outspoken anti-religion activists who persuaded the military to cancel my personal participation in a Pentagon prayer event on grounds that it might offend Muslims.

Then an Islamic advocacy group in Washington tried to keep me from participating in a prayer event on Capitol Hill with members of the House of Representatives.

It is shocking to experience, in our own country, such open opposition to Christian prayer for the nation. Despite that, millions of people across America did pray on May 6. And on May 7, on May 8, and every day since.

The truth is, whether or not there is an official day of prayer, no judge and no critics will ever stop believers from praying.

In the Bible, God says, “Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage” (Psalm 2:8). That is a clear call to prayer—evangelistic prayer. And it is a call to pray for more than just our own country.

God sent Jesus Christ “as a light for the nations” (Isaiah 49:6) and intends “that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him” (Daniel 7:14). But God wants us to ask.

Imagine the great, eternal heritage of ordinary Christians who commit to intercede in prayer on behalf of a nation, asking God to bring its people to repentance and salvation through Jesus Christ.