I remember once when my wife Sandra and I were at a restaurant and we held hands across the table and prayed out loud before we ate, as we always do. While we were eating a couple came over to us and commented that they were encouraged to see someone praying there in the restaurant. I didn’t notice this couple before they came to our table so I don’t know if they had taken the time to return thanks before they ate. And since we weren’t really praying for their benefit, I didn’t think too much about it, because after all, isn’t a prayer just a prayer?
Several months later when I was meeting a gentleman for a business-related lunch, I asked him after he joined me at the table if it would be okay if I prayed. (To be honest, I would have prayed regardless of his response, but I always ask first.) After I prayed, he volunteered that he never prayed at a restaurant while he was sitting at the table, but prayed as he was walking to the table since he felt a little awkward praying in a public place. Although I didn’t say anything, I questioned the part about praying as he was walking to the table and I was honestly disappointed by his apparent embarrassment to be seen praying in public.
I wondered about this man: If he was ever confronted, would he back down if someone “accused” him of being a Christian? Would he deny Jesus as Peter did if he felt threatened? (John 18:25-27) I wondered if I could trust this man enough to do business with him. Would I be able to depend on someone like this “to have my back” if I ever needed to count on him during difficult times?
Jesus said, “whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory, and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.” (Luke 9:26) Was this man with whom I ate lunch afraid of what people might think of him for taking a minute to thank God for His blessings? He told me he was a believer. But was he ashamed of our Lord?
I wonder: Are there other people who give thanks before a meal at home but forgo this “ritual” when eating out because they feel self-conscious praying in public. I wonder if more people were to start praying at restaurants, would it feel a little less awkward. I never thought of praying in public as being a particularly bold thing to do; but if it is bold, aren’t we supposed to be bold? Maybe a prayer is a statement of our faith when done in public. Maybe we should make that statement every chance we get before we’re told we can’t pray in public anymore because it makes other people feel uncomfortable. Maybe we should think about how we would feel if Jesus was embarrassed to know us. Maybe we should be ashamed, not of Jesus but of ourselves, if we’re not setting the right example for others to follow. Now that I think about it, maybe a prayer isn’t just a prayer.
Thom Fishow
February 13, 2011