Ravi Zacharias’s Statement Regarding His Participation in the National Day of Prayer
I was truly honored when last fall, Shirley Dobson, the Chairman of the National Day of Prayer Task Force, asked me to assume the role of Honorary Chairman for 2008. As Honorary Chairman, I was given the privilege of writing and praying the official prayer for the nation, speaking at the Pentagon and at the Cannon House Office Building, and of writing a small book on the importance and efficacy of prayer, which was to be distributed nationally. No restrictions were placed on my message or on the book, nor on any one else who was taking part, other than the official prayer for the nation. As with all who had gone before me, I wrote out my prayer and submitted it to the National Day of Prayer Committee, after reading through the prayers that had been written by previous Honorary Chairmen and understanding the intent of the prayer. The prayer had to be very brief and free from what might be perceived by watchdog entities as the government sponsoring one religion.
Contrary to what we as Christians would prefer to think, the National Day of Prayer was not designed to be an exclusively Christian event. It was signed into law in 1952 by President Truman but was never really observed. At the end of his presidency, President Eisenhower remarked that until a specific day was assigned as the National Day of Prayer it would not be observed in any meaningful way. Not until 1988 was a Congressional Bill designating the first Thursday of May as the National Day of Prayer signed into law by President Reagan through the efforts of the first Chairman of the National Day of Prayer Task Force, Vonette Bright. Even then, while the stipulations were not ideal, evangelical leaders felt it important that it nevertheless be wrested to the best of advantage. America is a secular country where the freedom to practice one’s religion is observed and protected; therefore, this day has been set aside by Congress for all Americans, regardless of religion or creed, to pray for their country, not just those who call themselves Christians and certainly not just evangelical Christians. This is important to note: There are no restrictions on any of the events that take place on this day across the country, except for the official prayer for the nation that goes into the public record and must be approved by the appropriate government representative. In distinction to anyone else praying or for even the prayers that are prayed at the invitation of the President at his inauguration, the chairperson’s prayer at the National Day of Prayer must meet certain conditions. In fact, my prayer was only approved for reading one day before the White House ceremony.
Writing and delivering this prayer for the National Day of Prayer has been the privilege of the Honorary Chairman each year. In the past, these have included well-known Christian statesmen such as Charles Swindoll, Max Lucado, Adrian Rogers, and Henry Blackaby. They all had to meet the same conditions that I did and their prayers had to be approved as consistent with the intent of Congress before they were finally submitted and entered into the public record.
To me, the challenge was how to keep the predatory atheistic groups from banning this event in the future while at the same time keeping a biblical worldview in my prayer. There are numerous biblical instances that helped me in my preparation. Any one with a good understanding of world religions would have picked up immediately that I did, in effect, take some liberty in that I addressed God as “Holy Father,” using Jesus’ words in John 17:11, a distinctly Christian way of addressing God as no other faith sees God as “Our Father.” My prayer as it was prayed at the White House on behalf of all Americans is included in this statement.
As you are aware, though I prayed the prayer at the White House ceremony in which President Bush took part, I did not pray at the Cannon Building. The event at the White House ended later than it was scheduled to, which meant that I had to be rushed to the Pentagon, arriving half an hour late to speak to a packed audience comprised of all branches and all levels of the military. No restrictions were placed on my message there. I had only a moment to sit down before I was introduced to speak. By the time we finished there, the main event of the day at the Cannon House Office Building was well underway. So again we rushed off and arrived at the Cannon Building, soaked by the rain and significantly late. Though I was not scheduled to speak for another hour, as we walked in I was told that necessary changes had been made to the program and that I would be speaking immediately. As yet, I had not heard or seen any of the program. Several individuals were involved in the program and because a congressional vote was also going on, participants were not able to come at their appointed times. The sequence was being rearranged after each speaker or musician. I literally walked in to a standing room only crowd and had no sooner taken a seat than I was introduced to speak. When I was handed a note on arrival at Cannon House that I was to speak immediately, I assumed that is all they wanted me to do at that time. As all who followed it know, the program was already very lengthy. I understood that the prayer was to be given at the White House and that I was just to speak at the other venues. Had I been told that I was to follow my message with the prayer, I would have done so.
The message I brought at the Cannon Building will be aired over Focus on the Family. This event without any limitation provided an incredible opportunity to present the message of Christ to those in high positions of authority and influence who might not otherwise take the time or opportunity to think on these things. We have already heard from so many.
The impact of this event has been profound and very affirming. Young and old alike, people in high positions of power and a group of eighth graders who were present, have told me what the message meant to them. And yes, even people from other nations who were present at the event said the same, many with tears of conviction in their eyes. Those who know me and have seen our ministry in the toughest settings know I will never compromise my belief or my preaching on the exclusivity and sufficiency of Jesus Christ. This team that the Lord has brought together under RZIM will continue to honor the Lord in our lives and in our message. Many times when we are overseas, we speak under tough restrictions. Some we live with, some we don’t. As long as we are allowed to preach the Gospel we will accept it. I have preached the Gospel even under death threats. I have preached on the Cross while armed guards are positioned around me by the organizers for fear of an attack on me. My voicemail has often had a voice threatening all kinds of things. I will never flinch at that. As a team, we will continue to preach the Word under God’s anointing through the hundreds of other stations we are proud to be a part of and in venues all over the world. This message of the Gospel is God's only and gracious offer for salvation. To spread this Gospel of Jesus Christ is why we exist and to that end I live. Anyone who has read my two most recent books Beyond Opinion and The End of Reason know precisely our apologetic calling, conviction, and clarity.
The largest newspaper in my home city of Atlanta was kind in covering my involvement, yet I leave this matter in God’s hands and just want one day to receive the divine accolade from Him: “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.” That is my earnest prayer.
Sincerely,
Ravi Zacharias
Holy Father,
In a world where so many are hungry,
You have given us food in abundance;
In a world where so many are hurting,
You offer to bind up our wounds;
In a world where so many are lonely,
You offer friendship to every heart;
In a world longing for peace,
You offer hope.
Yet, we are so stubborn and resistant.
Have mercy upon us, Lord.
Our nation is at a crossroads this year;
We look to you to be our strength and shield.
Please, Please Lord, give us the guidance to elect one who will honor you,
And to respond to the wisdom from above so that our hope
May be renewed and our blessings be treasured.
In Your Holy Name.
AMEN.
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