Why Do We Pray?

by Ken Thomas

Phil Donahue has often riled his audiences with his audacity and what seems to be hostility to certain Christian principles. However, in his autobiography, Donahue. My Own Story he tells of his respect for a West Virginia preacher.
A mine disaster had trapped 38 miners, and Donahue was covering the story for C.B.S news. As rescue workers came out of the mine into the snow, they gathered with relatives of the miners. Gathered around a smudge pot, the group was led in prayer by a preacher, then joined hands to sing "What a Friend We Have in Jesus." Donahue was emotionally moved, but the cameraman's film was dragging in the frigid camera.
Donahue finally warmed the camera against his body and got it working about 2:30 A. M. He went back to the preacher and asked him 'to repeat his prayer for broadcast on 206 T. V. stations. (Donahue admitted feeling powerful in his first opportunity to personify C.B.S. news.)The minister said, "Son, I just couldn't do it. I have already prayed to my God, and any further praying at this time would be wrong. No sir, I just can't do it." A stunned Donahue was convinced that the preacher had not understood. He said, "Reverend. I'm from C.B.S. NEWS." "My report will be seen in every city in America. Please... pray one more time so the people of the United States of America will see what a fine religious community this is and join in your prayer to save these miners." The undaunted preacher refused. "No, sir, I have already prayed, and that's that."
Shocked and angered, Donahue called C.B.S. and reported, "The ___ _ ___ won't pray! About a year later Donahue recalled the incident as the greatest demonstration of moral courage he had ever seen. "The man would not show-biz for Jesus. He would not sell his soul for T.V., not even national T.V., not even, praise God, for C.B.S. I have thought of that preacher and that night many times since."1
Jesus taught in Matthew 6 that hypocrites pray to be seen of men. The purpose of prayer is to communicate thoughts to God, not to impress a human audience. Public prayer is not wrong
( 1 Corinthians 24:15-17) but our motive must not to impress men.

1 Phil Donahue & Co., Donahue (New York: Simon & Schuster, 1979) 66-67

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