Questions from Our Readers

Over the years I have received more questions regarding prayer which, to date, have remained unanswered. This is partly due to my hesitation to address a matter which is so tender because it involves speaking not to or among men, but men speaking with the Most High God. Prayer is, and remains, a very personal matter, even in public, although I realize that public prayer must also be edifying to those who pray along.

If you open a random search on the subject of prayer, you will stumble upon a multitude of counsel which personally I often find difficult to digest and accept. Many articles, chapters, and even complete books have been written about this subject, degrading it sometimes to an activity that looks more like an “owners’ manual” that one must master and can improve on, as opposed to what a disciple said when he saw his Master pray: “Lord, teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1). Prayer is such a private, tender, holy activity that we ought to be very hesitant to write any more about it than what Scripture itself relates. May the Lord grant the Spirit of prayer that teaches what Paul relates in Romans 8:26. I believe that if that Spirit indeed helps our infirmities and begins to teach us to pray as we ought, that the outward form will also be God-glorifying.

Having said this I do not reject or condemn everything that has been published about the subject of prayer. Far from it. What always comes to my mind when thinking about prayer is the reverently and pastorally written book by Rev. F. Bakker, published in English under the title Facets of Prayer and Praying Always. In the past I have heard that the translation of this book leaves something to be desired, but I have not had the opportunity to verify this. Also, Calvin has written things worthy of consideration regarding prayer, and so has Brakel.

On a sidenote, it is also very interesting to read what, for example, our forefathers Brakel and Comrie wrote about many other elements of (public) prayer. I admit, they did not shun addressing the voice, the content, and similar issues in public prayer. Brakel mentions concerning physical gestures that they “do not attribute worthiness and fortitude to prayer.” Saints have prayed in various bodily postures, that is, being prostrate, sitting, standing, and kneeling.

The difficulty of this question is that Scripture itself shows several forms which we do not observe either. Think of the lifting up of the hands (Psalm 141:2 & 143:6), prostration (Joshua 7:6), and Christ’s prayer in John 17:1, where we read, “…and lifted up His eyes to heaven…” This indicates the eyes open, while we teach our children to close their eyes.

To answer your question more directly, I assume your concern is more the element of reverence vs. what is scripturally permissible. The answer is simple: utmost reverence in whatever physical gesture is observed is biblically commanded. If a minister or elder is unstable on his feet, or has balance issues, I see no problem if he holds on to the lectern with both hands. If he lost his balance and fell, it would cause more distraction. Folded arms seem extreme, and I agree that this posture does not convey what we would expect in terms of reverence. Let us stay as much as possible with folded hands and closed eyes, for young and old. Prayer is too holy a matter to be taken lightly, and if we would all practice closing our eyes and folding our hands in our homes, schools, and churches, as we have been taught, we will not be distracted by what others do.

Send your questions to: Rev. H. Hofman, 2339 Deer Trail Dr. NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505, or hofman@premieronline.net.

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