A Federal judge in Madison Wisconsin just declared that the National Day of Prayer is an illegal violation of the constitutional ban on government-backed religion.
I'm not a constitutional scholar, but I find it strange that the National Day of Prayer has been part of our country's calendar since 1952, and we are just now figuring out that it is an inappropriate use of government authority. Obviously, since our money declares trust in God, and official buildings in Washington DC have more scripture quotations and allusions than most churches, not all mention of things spiritual is inappropriate. Of course Judge Barbara B. Crabb was not looking out for us back then. She would have put a stop to it.
I do, however, agree with part of the Judge's reasoning. She says that Prayer "must be left to individual conscience." Governmental decrees can't, and shouldn't try to, make people pray, and as the Old-Testament Prophet, Daniel clearly demonstrated, governmental edicts cannot prevent one from praying either. In her defense, Ms. Crabb is not trying to prevent people from praying, she is just saying that the United States cannot encourage us to do so. I can, though.
May 6 is the National Day of Prayer. I suggest that in addition to thanking the Lord for His blessing on our land and praying about the many needs that we have, that we offer prayer for Judge Crabb. She might not know it, but she needs it.
It's STTA.
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