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What happens when you pray for rain and, instead the sun shines?

I guess it depends on why you are doing the praying. A couple weeks ago, Focus on the Family, an evangelical religious movement in Colorado Springs, asked its members to pray for rainfall of “biblical proportions” in Denver Thursday when Sen. Barack Obama delivered his speech accepting the Democratic Party’s nomination.

The organization later withdrew the suggestion, saying it was just trying to be humorous. If so, it marked the first time in known history that James Dobson’s group tried purposefully to be funny. It certainly marked the first time Focus on the Family tried to ridicule the power of prayer.

At any rate, it didn’t rain Thursday. In fact, the official forecast called for “0” percent chance of rain, a small percentage even for Denver.

Which leads to a philosophical question: If a religious group prays for rain to thwart the plans of a politician and, instead, the sun shines, does that mean God is favoring the politician?

Did God provide a heavenly rebuke to the Dobson organization by sending good weather (since Obama spoke at night, moonlight is a better description than sunshine)? Or does God just not hear the prayers of people who think he takes sides in political campaigns?

It all seems a bit bizarre, I admit.

But people take prayer seriously, and they take prayers for rain seriously, indeed.

One of my earliest memories of life in Madison was being with my family driving past Edgewood High School and seeing a sign asking people to pray for rain. It was similar to signs asking Christians to come to the school grounds to pray for peace (in this case, peace in Korea).

Prayers for rain are far more common in other states. Last November, Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue joined clergy and lawmakers on the steps of the state capitol to pray for rain. When it rained, he said he was vindicated, though the drought continued. Earlier, Alabama Gov. Bob Riley asked his citizens to join in rain prayers.

What differentiates those prayers from the Focus on the Family pleas is that the Catholics in Madison and the politicians in Georgia and Alabama were, at a minimum, praying that God send rain to help those who suffer from drought.

They prayed for farmers and for those who serve farmers. They prayed for residents of cities that face severe water shortages. They prayed for positive results.

Focus on the Family and a couple of other “evangelical” copycat organizations, prayed that God punish those who hold a political viewpoint that differs from theirs. They prayed for negative results.

In the end, it probably makes little difference.

The Bible says rain falls on the just and the unjust alike. It is a question for scientists and theologians whether God actually intervenes in the weather. I don’t think He does. After all, the rain that waters your tomato patch may be the same rain that drowns out my daughter’s outdoor wedding.

But just in case I’m wrong about this, the Focus on the Family leaders might really want to take a look at what God might be telling them about their prayers and about their politics.

Contact Bill Wineke at bwineke@madison.com.