Boogity, Boogity, Boogity!

Rev. Joe Nelms delivered an interesting pre-race invocation before a NASCAR Nationwide series race Saturday.  At an event like this, there will typically be an invocation at which the minister delivering will thank God for the beautiful weather and the freedoms we enjoy in the U.S.  The prayer will include petitions for the safety of the drivers and the fans as well.  Rev. Nelms wasn't content Saturday to offer up such a typical prayer.  He thanked God "for the Fords, the Dodges, the Chevrolets, and the Toyotas..." for the"Sunoco racing fuel," and for his "smokin' hot wife."  He ended the prayer with "in Jesus name, boogity, boogity, boogity, Amen!"

Of course this has created a lot of stir amongst radio and TV talking heads and on the internet.  I'm loathe to be openly critical of another minister, but I guess I'll have to make an exception in this case.  I can't speak for Rev. Nelms' intentions with the prayer, and I have no knowledge of his ministry in the local church, so I can't address those.  I did hear the prayer and will surely sound off on it. 

The prayer surely sounded like what Jesus mentioned in Matthew 6 when he talked about heaping up empty phrases as the gentiles do, for nearly the entire thing was empty phrases.  Much worse though, what was offered up as a prayer could have been mistaken for a comic skit from a stand up comedian.  The effect is that he made light of prayer itself which is serious business if we actually think of prayer as a communication with almighty God.  In my opinion, this is an affront to God's honor, and just as seriously is a detriment to our evangelical witness.  If he can't take his faith seriously when praying, how can the non-Christian or nominally Christian there be encouraged to take the faith seriously.  Just speaking for myself here, I wouldn't want to have to explain this prayer to Jesus.

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