Facing East in Prayer. Cursing at God. Christening and Baptism.
by the Rev. Walter Snyder
Religion Columnist

Q: Does the Bible specify any particular direction to face during prayer? Almost all
churches here in India have the priest or pastor facing east during the service. Is there any
biblical significance to this practice?

A: Unlike Islam and some other religions, Christianity has no set orientation for prayer. This is
especially true for private or family prayer, where we may sit, stand, or kneel and take our
thoughts and feelings to God. Likewise, there is no commanded posture. I mentioned sitting,
standing, and kneeling. Some raise hands. Some fold them. Some press them together. I do all,
depending upon circumstances. 

The direction and the posture should help to focus on the content of the prayer. This is most likely
why your church faces east. This practice is common all over the world. Many buildings are
oriented so the altar is at the east, the direction of the rising sun. This is a physical reminder of the
rising of the Sun of Righteousness, Jesus Christ. Since He brings life and light, and since the
endless day of heaven is part of our faith, facing east and the rising sun reminds the faithful that
Christ has risen from the dead, that He rises in our hearts, and that He will return to raise us from
the dead to live with Him in heaven.

Churches built north of the equator, where Christianity had its roots, have expanded on this. Even
if the building is turned a different direction, the direction of the altar is called "east" on the inside.
Some churches follow the ancient practice of reading the Epistle (and Old Testament) on the
"south" side, which is also called the Epistle side. The pastor or priest then moves to the north
(the Gospel) side to read the day's Gospel. This follows the natural pattern, where the sun tracks
through the southern sky in the northern hemisphere. Thus the light of Christ begins, but does not
remain---it travels also to the "north," where darkness and sin are put to flight.

Q: What happens when a Christian gets so angry that they curse God or Jesus? Is this the
unforgivable sin?

A: Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost (see Ephesians 4:30) means rejection of the salvation He
brings in Word and Baptism. It denials the forgiveness He delivers in divine Absolution. It rejects
the faith He creates in your heart and the gifts of church fellowship, Holy Communion, and the
like. Such hardness of heart denies and refuses God's love. Anger against God is not usually
unforgivable, because most often, those who yell at God do it because they know God's power
and His mercy and are upset because they aren't seeing this concern more clearly in their own
lives.

You don't say if you did this yourself. If you did, then you may well have sinned against God. If
so, then trust His forgiveness and give your sin to Him, just as you gave Him your wrath.

Q: Are being baptized and being christened the same thing?

A: Traditionally, "christening" was used as another word for baptism, since in baptism, one "puts
on Christ." The white baptismal garments that are used in much of the Christian Church show
this. However, there are some who do not believe in baptismal regeneration or infant baptism, but
who desire to have some sort of church rite for their newborn children. These have invented
various services of dedication that are sometimes also called "christenings" but which are not
baptismal in nature.

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Walter Snyder is the pastor of Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Emma, Missouri and coauthor of
the book "What Do Lutherans Believe."

Ask the Pastor is copyright (c) 2001 by Walter P. Snyder. It may be reproduced  in totality,
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