It does if can be done in the name of politics. When Jesus talked about prayer in public, he mentioned those who already have their reward. (Matthew 6: 5)
Besides the pray-er "being seen," I wonder if Jesus had any other rewards in mind. If the only reason to pray is to be seen, then people like Rick Perry get what they want.
There he is, with wedding ring hand raised, praying with all, and as seen at a recent Houston rally. For the onlookers, there are dubious benefits. We might feel he is one us, that he fits neatly in the mainstream.
Were Jesus words a caution directed at the image-driven self which seeks, in almost idolatrous fashion, to mold everything in its own image? We can even mold prayer in our image, can't we? We can attempt to use it for self-serving and limiting purposes. We can take anything given to us, something meant to bless, and misuse it.
So the Governor got what he wanted, a prayer rally about a "national crisis." The secessionist vitriol he spews from time to time notwithstanding, the gathering was first about unity- for Rick. Or else, he would have humbly admitted the Texas- owned crisis of laid off first responders and teachers, a hefty state budget deficit, and disastrous droughts for farmers and ranchers. You can't really blame President Obama for any of those, however many times you talk of a national crisis.
The blessing and curse of such stunts is that people like Rick Perry really benefit more than anyone else, even if it's just being seen by a few more thousand folks.
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