Is it right to say your own prayer while someone else is praying in worship?
Question:
Good day,
First, I find great biblical knowledge on your Facebook page! It is a very valuable resource for Bible questions and answers. I want your assistance regarding some questions that I have.
Is it appropriate or biblically correct to pray aloud (in a hushed but audible voice) while someone is praying during service? Whether before the Lord’s Supper or at the end of service while someone is praying aloud.
Our minister and his wife both do this. Often, I find it very distracting, and it breaks my concentration while bowing my head in prayer by the one appointed to pray at any such time. Due to the same situation, my husband is often distracted while praying at the Lord’s Table.
Is this biblically accurate?
If so, should we all (as a congregation) pray separately while someone publicly prays for the congregation, such as during a prayer at dismissal?
I do not wish to cause strife. I have not approached them because I fear that will be the result.
Recently, I confided with our minister’s wife. I wanted to ask her for a biblical answer. I did not want her to share our private conversation with her husband, our minister. She did. I would have asked if I had thought he was someone to ask.
How would I respectfully convey to her that I didn’t want our private conversations to include him unless asked?
She is extremely knowledgeable and a good source for clarification and direction toward a biblical answer. Our minister did not attend a school for preaching. I would say he is self-taught, which may cause him to be less knowledgeable than an educated minister. Again, no disrespect.
I appreciate your time! Thanks for answering my questions.
Answer:
Congregational worship is jointly conducted. "What is the outcome then, brethren? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification" (I Corinthians 14:26). Because the emphasis is on edification, Paul explains that those addressing the congregation are to take turns (I Corinthians 14:27-32). To not do so would result in confusion. "For God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints" (I Corinthians 14:33).
While leading the congregation in prayer is not mentioned here, earlier, Paul said that if someone cannot follow a prayer, he cannot say "amen" when it is finished. "Otherwise if you bless in the spirit only, how will the one who fills the place of the ungifted say the "Amen" at your giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying? For you are giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not edified" (I Corinthians 14:16-17). Worship is not the time or place for uttering individual prayers simultaneously.
God never authorized training schools for preachers. Preachers are trained by other preachers. "The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also" (II Timothy 2:2). Your preacher has his Bible. He can read it. Any lack of school attendance has nothing to do with whether he is following the teachings in the Bible.
I would expect a husband and wife to share the events of their day. If you don't want something you shared with a wife to be discussed by her with her husband, then say so upfront. Don't expect another person to guess what you are thinking.
Response:
Thanks for your time! I appreciate it. I was surprised when I saw the question on Facebook. Before I clicked on it, I thought, “Oh boy! Someone has a question like mine”.
Personally, I don’t think that everyone needs a college education. It is furthest from the truth. I only meant that he was self-taught. We should all be self-taught. And, I disagree with your opinion about speaking to “the wife” and automatically expecting whatever we talked about to be relayed to her husband, who is a minister. However, I agree that if it is a private conversation, it should be noted. It should be acknowledged when conversing with anyone. So, thank you!
Truly, I appreciate your taking the time to address my inquiry. Your Facebook page has some very informative information. I’m thankful that you take the time to address such inquiries. I find it discouraging when a minister says he is “available for any inquiries” and does not respond. It means a great deal to me that you took the time to address an inquiry. It takes courage to ask a biblical question. As equally courageous to answer such questions!
