Quebec plans to outlaw public prayer to “strengthen secularism”

According to the Canadian news outlet The Globe and Mail, the government of Quebec is planning to ban prayer in public places “as part of a move to strengthen secularism in the province.” The idea was first made public by Premier François Legault, who said he did not want to see people praying in public parks or on streets. Last Thursday, the province’s secularism minister (yes, that oxymoronic office is real) confirmed he would advance the legislation this fall.

The move comes in response to tensions in Quebec over Muslim prayers as part of pro-Palestinian demonstrations. However, as a Catholic bishop warned, it would apply equally to all religions. Another Quebec political leader called all public prayers an “appropriation of public space by religious fundamentalists,” illustrating the Catholic leader’s concerns.

If you live in America, you might be thinking that you’re glad you do. But consider a post on X by Jen Psaki, MSNBC host and former White House Press Secretary, in response to the horrific church shooting in Minneapolis last week:

Prayer is not freaking enough. Prayers does [sic] not end school shootings. prayers [sic] do not make parents feel safe sending their kids to school. Prayer does not bring these kids back. Enough with the thoughts and prayers.

She is already on record for opposing House Speaker Mike Johnson (R–La) for being “basically a Christian fundamentalist” because he stated that he has a biblical worldview. When the Annunciation Catholic Church was attacked last Wednesday, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey responded: “Don’t just say this is about thoughts and prayers right now. These kids were literally praying.” He later called for a statewide and federal ban on assault weapons in response.

Labor Day and a “day for National thanksgiving”

Today is the earliest Labor Day can be. The US Department of Labor calls today’s holiday “an annual celebration of the social and economic achievements of American workers.” The closest thing to a similar holiday focusing on public prayer is Thanksgiving, which became a formal national holiday when President Lincoln proclaimed it so in 1863 as a “day for National thanksgiving, praise, and prayer.”

Amid the horrors of the Civil War, Mr. Lincoln encouraged Americans to use the holiday to pray for God to “lead the whole nation, through the paths of repentance and submission to the Divine will, back to the enjoyment of union and fraternal peace.” Presidents continued to issue Thanksgiving proclamations on an annual basis; Congress enshrined the holiday in federal law in 1941.

Today, of course, Thanksgiving is about football and food, not repentance and submission to God’s will. And therein lies my point today.

Those who criticize offering “thoughts and prayers” in response to tragedy presumably believe praying to an omnipotent God has no practical value, or they would not oppose the practice. They often call for more “practical” responses, advocating for gun legislation, mental health reform, and similar measures. Some even believe public prayers do public harm, as illustrated by the news from Quebec.

As Western culture becomes increasingly secularized, such sentiments are unsurprising. As the devolution of Thanksgiving illustrates, Americans are nothing if not pragmatic. There is far more money and entertainment value to be found in football and food than in repentance and prayer services. Words addressed to a deity who didn’t prevent the tragedy about which we are praying are obviously less than practical in the view of skeptics.

When your doctor disappoints you

Since I assume you are not among them, I won’t respond with an apologetic for God’s existence and character or the value of prayer. Nor will I concede the “zero-sum” argument that we should be acting rather than praying. You and I know that prayer is in no sense a substitute for practical actions and often strengthens such responses.

Matthew Deboer, the principal of Annunciation Catholic School, said after the shooting, “Please pray. But don’t stop with your words. Let’s make a difference and support this community, these children, these families, these teachers. Never again can we let this happen.” As James made clear, genuine faith leads to genuine action (James 1:22–27).

However, opponents of “thoughts and prayers” do point to an issue we need to consider: Such prayers are offered because a tragedy has occurred. We are praying not to prevent disaster but in response to it. As Jen Psaki wrote, “Prayer does not bring these kids back.”

And it can be hard to trust God for his help with suffering he could have prevented but did not.

If your doctor could have kept your malignancy from metastasizing, you likely would have looked for another doctor to treat your disease. If your lawyer could have prevented your guilty verdict, you would probably seek another attorney to handle your appeal.

But God is not a doctor or a lawyer. And trusting him even when he disappoints us can be the path to our most empowering and redemptive experience of his grace.

“This will please the Lᴏʀᴅ more than an ox”

David wrote Psalm 69 at a time when he had “come into deep waters” of opposition and persecution (vv. 1–2). He had been praying for help, but God had not responded (v. 3). Even worse, he was being persecuted because of his faith: “It is for your sake that I have borne reproach, that dishonor has covered my face” (v. 7).

Did he then turn from God in anger? Did he give up praying since God had not answered and his very prayers were a cause of his persecution?

The opposite, in fact: “As for me, my prayer is to you, O Lᴏʀᴅ” (v. 13a). David knew that it is always too soon to give up on God: “At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness” (v. 13b).

In response to God’s response, David said, “I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving” (v. 30). He knew that “this will please the Lᴏʀᴅ more than an ox or a bull with horns and hoofs” (v. 31).

When God “gives his best”

It is one thing to trust God because of our circumstances, those times when he has blessed us and all is well. It is another to trust him despite our circumstances. Such faith shows that we believe what Scripture says about him even though our experiences seem to contradict his word. It shows that we love him when he disappoints us, just as he loves us when we disappoint him.

It shows a skeptical world that our faith is real and relevant in the hardest days of life. And since God honors our free will, such faith positions us to experience his grace in ways we could not otherwise.

Missionary Jim Elliot’s declaration is therefore both biblical and logical:

“God always gives his best to those who leave the choice with him.”

Will you experience your Father’s “best” today?

Quote for the day:

“Life with God is not immunity from difficulties, but peace in difficulties” —C. S. Lewis

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