I beg to differ, Squeaker. I think these are easily influenced kids who know they're on camera (watch the boys on the left looking around) and therefore there's an element of acting involved. I think Jesus referred to it as “praying on the street corner.”

I beg to differ, Squeaker. I think these are easily influenced kids who know they're on camera (watch the boys on the left looking around) and therefore there's an element of acting involved. I think Jesus referred to it as “praying on the street corner.”

“I just wish someone was there to tell me you can pray fervently without repetitious (we may still disagree on this) words or swaying. “

Yah, well I agree with that one. My experience with that kind of denomination was there was a certain way to worship or pray. I was never comfortable with it because it wasn't who I am, but I was basically told to get outside my comfort zone.

But, I think for some of those kids it is also the passion and fervency of youth. Faith is new and exciting for them, and they truly believe their prayers are moving mountains. Sometimes I miss those days–Faith seemed a lot simpler then–you know, back in the olden days when everything was in black and white.

Have a good weekend!

Listening to the prayers again I can definitely hear an entirely different tone than what has typically been shown to Obama, and yea it is refreshing.

Blessings.

I don't see this as a video that is a witness to the world, but rather a witness to our fellow Christians. Many of my own Christian friends are very negative towards Obama and have bought into the hateful rhetoric that has been leveled towards him. It builds the church because it reminds us that we are called to pray for our leaders whether we agree with them or not.

The point that this is “so that people can see them” is a bit concerning. I would have preferred it had been posted to the Christian version of YouTube (can't remember what it is called), as you are right–it invites ridicule from those who don't understand. This to me seems more a matter for Christians rather than non-Christians and more a convicting video for those who have been less than respectful or Christlike to our president.

“Why not pray for people with more power than the president, like Congress or The Supreme Court?”

Because we are called to pray for ALL in authority. We are not called to pray only for those who have the most authority.

They aren't babbling repetitiously. They aren't repeating the same prayer over and over. You're beef concerns style, not substance. Jesus was concerned about substance, not style. Having been in circles that pray that way and having prayed that way myself, I know that repeating “Lord” like that is an unconscious habit, and that's all. It's not what Jesus meant when he spoke of vain repetitions.

I didn't see it as a stunt because I'm not familiar with the other video, thus I guess I am less inclined to read such motives into this video.

I agree with your last point, and I too carry a lot of baggage from that experience. But having judged others for how they pray has too often blinded me to the heart behind the prayer, and I'm not going to turn around and do it to the people who are still in the Christian circles I came out of. It's tempting to do so, but I remember their hearts, even if I don't agree with the style of prayer.

Put yourself in the kid's shoes–I was one of those kids once, and I know when I prayed like that I felt like I was storming the gates of Heaven. I would be absolutely crushed if someone who doesn't even know me were to question my motives or say my prayer doesn't count because of how I was praying. If it were me, and I heard that criticism, I probably would have stopped praying aloud, given my introverted and self-conscious nature. How would you feel if you knew you stifled someone's prayer life or passion for the Lord in that way? Kids self-impressions are very fragile–be careful in your passion for what is “right” you don't crush the budding spirit within them.

It would be well to look at Mathew 6:5-15 for Jesus' instruction on prayer. This is not “rules”. I'm not saying there are specific “rules” to prayer, but Jesus gives explicit instruction. This video shows “praying..so that people can see them” and “babbling repetitiously”.
How does this build up the church? How does this witness to the lost?
If this was a stunt to reverse the “Jesus Camp” video, why make it look like the same video with a different cut out?
Why not pray for people with more power than the president, like Congress or The Supreme Court?

I too came out of a charismatic fellowship and began seeing how loosely we held theology and sound doctrine and I regret passing that on to people I witnessed to and fellowshipped with.

Would you prefer these kids didn't pray for Obama at all? You seem to be saying, “pray the right way, or don't pray at all.” Is that what you mean to say?

It's not easy, at least not for me, as an introvert, to pray in front of people. Usually I'm spending the whole time thinking of what to pray, and the last thing I'm thinking of is whether or not I'm inserting “God” between every sentence.

Ironically, if you study Corinthians closely, you just quoted the saying that Paul keeps throwing in their face. Paul was making fun of them for flaunting their “freedom”, kinda like the way you are flaunting it.
His point is not to go about life in arrogance, but in respect of others.

I do have experience in attending actual Pentecostal churches and Charismatic ones. I have heard many people pray and at the beginning of every sentence in a long prayer, they said “Father God.”

As in the example which Jesus gave to pray, “Father” only needs to be used once and according to Jesus' own words, when you pray, your prayers go through him.

I haven't been able to attend church services in a while by I am Pentecostal by experience.

But, the way that the children prayed in the video is very much like the children in the “Jesus Camp” Movie prayed.

Most of the Charismatic churches today have as a part of their history the Charismatic movement of the latter 1950s and early 1960s. Don't confuse classical Pentecostal denominations with Charismatic churches. Most of the latter came out of non-Pentecostal churches.

I did check out the church's website and also read the Statement of Faith. I don't have any conflict with that.

Ironically, I'm someone who came out of that kind of spiritual background, and so I have my share of issues with it. So, here I am defending their praying.

I don't think we need to be judging each other on how we pray. I have learned that people pray in the way they relate to God according to how God created them. There are, in fact, a myriad ways of relating to God, and I would say there as many ways as there are people. The important thing is THAT they are praying, now HOW they are praying. And the how is often based on one's spiritual tradition.

Also ironically, when I was steeped in that type of spiritual community, I was judgmental of others who prayed differently–quietly, or with written prayers. So, although I have since learned that the charismatic approach is not how I naturally relate to God, I'm not going to look down my nose at those who pray that way. Nor will I judge any for their way of relating to God.

There is nothing wrong with praying for whomever is the President of the USA at the time you pray. It is necessary that every Believer in Jesus in the USA do that often.

But, apparently no one has ever taught the children who are involved with Becky Fisher's ministry how to pray.

When you pray for a person, you are supposed to talk to the Lord Jesus like you talk to an older brother when you are asking him for something and he doesn't make you beg for it. And, you don't have to say the same thing over and over when you pray for someone or just say any other kind of prayer.