First posted in whatsapp on 29Jan2020
Sharing my thoughts about praying together in one accord.
In my opinion, praying aloud "together" in the New Testament is always done in "one accord, with one voice". I understand this to mean uttering the same words together in prayer.
This is the way the Jewish people have prayed together for centuries, whether at home or in the synagogue, even until today. Their prayers are written in books of prayers called "siddur".
I think it is for such a purpose that our Lord gave his disciples the Lord's Prayer in Matthew Chapter 6 (and in Luke too) - that they should say the words of the prayer aloud, in one accord, with one voice. I guess the disciples wrote it down in some kind of book of prayer in those days.
Notice that the Lord's Prayer was given by our Lord in response to the disciples' request, "Teach *us* how to pray . . ." They wanted to know how to pray together. That's why our Lord taught them to say, " *Our* Father, who is in heaven . . ."
Another example of praying together aloud with one voice is recorded in Acts 4: 24-30, when Peter and John returned to the disciples after their release from detention and interrogation by the chief priests and elders:
"Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:
‘Why do the nations rage
- - and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth rise up
- - and the rulers band together
against the Lord
- - and against his anointed one.'
Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
Acts 4:24 tells us that the disciples raised their voice "together in prayer" to God. That means somebody among them had written out the words of the prayer so that they can all pray together *in one voice*, just like when they pray the Lord's Prayer together.
Sadly, this priceless tradition of saying prayers aloud together has all but disappeared from churches today.
