It appears that the National Day of Prayer has turned into yet another contentious fiasco involving people of faith.  The annual observance is established for the first Thursday in May, and was initiated by Harry S. Truman when he was president.   While it is not an official U. S. Government event, observance, or holiday, ceremonies always are sponsored at the White House and on Capitol Hill.  The president issues a proclamation, as do many state governors.

The problem is that the organizers limit participation to a narrow group of Christians.  While there is an application that allows faith communities to sign up, there also are strings attached.  A doctrinal statement must be accepted and embraced:  “I believe that the Bible is the inerrant word of The Living God.  I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the only one by which I can obtain salvation and have an ongoing relationship with God.”

Whew!  That cuts out a lot of praying people – not only Jews, Muslims, and other non-Christians, but eliminates many Christians, as well.  The head of the group controlling participation in the National Day of Prayer is Shirley Dobson, wife of James Dobson, who presides over Focus on the Family. 

Her group tosses off criticism of their restrictions against people who understand God differently basically by saying the others can form their own events.  They make no apologies for excluding people of faith and good will from this “National” opportunity to join together in prayer.

This isn’t how most believers would understand or approach a National Day of Prayer.  I rather doubt this is what Harry Truman had in mind.

And, I wonder whether God even would listen to prayers from those who judge the hearts and faith of others.