PRAYING ALOUD AND DISTURBING NEIGHBOURS IS A SIN!

Many hypocritically pray aloud, disturbing people including those sleeping in their neighbourhood. This is also applicable to some Churches that hold vigils, praying aloud and disturbing their neighbours sleeping at night, thinking they are praising God or praying to God.

Many hypocritically pray aloud, disturbing people including those sleeping in their neighbourhood. This is also applicable to some Churches that hold vigils, praying aloud and disturbing their neighbours sleeping at night, thinking they are praising God or praying to God. This is nothing, but a sin!

Those engaged in this practice most times do not know that they are undermining the wellbeing of their neighbours who are sick and want some sleep or those with acute headache and are praying to have some rest.

Proverbs 27: 14 says: “He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse.” 

What this passage is saying is that if you wake early to praise or pray for your neighbour loudly, thinking you are doing the right thing, you are rather heaping a curse on him.

Jesus condemned the Pharisees’ manner of praying. But Jesus, Himself, prayed out aloud on some occasions (John 17), as did the apostles (Acts 8:15; 16:25; 20:36). Acts 1:14 says: “They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary, the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.”

Then in verse 24, the apostles prayed together to choose someone to fill Judas’ spot among the 12. They were clearly praying together and out aloud. So, the sin was not in the public nature of the prayer or the fact that people could hear that they were prayer warriors. 

Many do quote Paul and Silas, but they forgot that it was in the prison and other prisoners too had interest. Therefore, it was not a disturbance and not often done nightly by them!

Church buildings in the early days were usually situated at the far end of the villages and towns. Then, the church could pray and shout without disturbing anyone. Today, many church buildings are found amid the people. You may be thinking you are worshipping God praying aloud, but the truth is that you hurting others and it is a curse for you to do this.

Each person and church must pray and praise God within the four walls of his or her room and the church. Outside speakers must be removed. Many go to vigils to dance and entertain themselves rather than going to pray. 

I hope Christian leaders will correct these attitudes.