Cooper: A Day of Prayer is welcome

Staff Photo By Tim Barber / Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee proclaimed Thursday a Day of Prayer, Fasting and Humility in the state, but some weren't happy about it.
Staff Photo By Tim Barber / Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee proclaimed Thursday a Day of Prayer, Fasting and Humility in the state, but some weren't happy about it.

Gubernatorial candidate Bill Lee heard a number of comments as he toured Tennessee en route to his election last November and since his inauguration. One of them was that people were praying for him. Lots of them.

That touched the active Christian, who is a member of the nondenominational Grace Chapel Church in Williamson County. Once he was elected, the prayers also prompted him - last month - to declare that Thursday would be a Day of Prayer, Humility and Fasting.

In the proclamation setting forth the day, he said Tennesseans should "acknowledge our rich blessings, our deep transgressions, and our complex challenges, and further acknowledge the need to give thanks to God Almighty, to turn from our transgressions and ask for God's forgiveness, and to humble ourselves and seek God's wisdom and guidance."

Not surprisingly, Lee's declaration brought out the naysayers that sneer that God and government should never cross the same lips, that it is forcing religion down people's throats and that it might marginalize people who don't believe in God.

Balderdash.

What people missed in the wording about the special day was "voluntary." It's in the proclamation and was implicit in Lee's video setting forth the day and "inviting" people to join him and his wife, Maria. No one is forced. No one is coerced. No arms are twisted. No faith or denomination are mentioned. No savior is raised. People could take part or not.

Since prayer and fasting are individual acts anyway, no person would be the wiser whether one took up the invitation or did not.

We appreciate Lee's forthrightness in calling for such a day and believe it especially appropriate when the country is so politically divided that individuals stop and give thanks for their state, their country and their personal blessings. Nothing is more welcome.

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