Shall We Pray?
Posted on October 20th, 2005 by Reformed Pope into the Uncategorized categoryPrayer. It’s interesting isn’t it? Essentially prayer is asking God to intervene with our lives, right? It’s asking for Divine intervention, a miracle. Even if it’s as small as finding a parking spot at Starbucks it’s still a miracle. Strip down our prayers and what do they really sound like?
Father God,
Please stop what you are doing and come take care of my problems.
Your Son.
Or if you’re really spiritual:
Father God,
Please, Father, stop what you are doing, oh Lord, and come, Jesus, come Jesus and take care of my problems, Father.
Your Son.
Of course we, as followers of Christ, believe that God loves to hear these prayers? Don’t we believe that he will always stop and listen? God cares for us so much, it really doesn’t matter what our prayers sound like. But should there be more to it?
What part do we play? Shouldn’t prayer be followed up with action? They say faith without works is dead but isn’t prayer without action the same?
When Mrs. Smith gets abused by her husband she should pray that God “softens his heart”, but she should also kick him in the balls and call the cops.
When Mr. Jones can’t get his son Johnny to listen, he should pray that God “breaks down the walls”, but he should also take away little Johnny’s car, allowance, and cell phone and tell Johnny to get a job.
At the same time when Andy gets diagnosed with terminal cancer, there’s nothing to do but pray. And that’s what should be done.
My point is simply this, Prayer should be a given. Pray. Always pray. Start with a prayer, end with a prayer. But I’m tired of people using prayer as an excuse.
Do you want to know why there are so many lousy pastors out there? It’s because Christians always want to take advantage of God. If someone’s going through a rough time, simply pull out a handy scripture and tell them to “Pray about it”? If that doesn’t work, ask them about the “secret sins” they must have in there life. When they get upset and leave the church because you aren’t helping them, go tell everyone how “bitter” they are. And in three quick steps you’ve turned them off of Christ. “Don’t worry bro, we’ll be praying for you.”
Why not mix in a therapist every now and again? Would it be so hard to say “Gee-wiz Tommy, I’d like to pray with you about this; but when were done, you really should seek professional help.”
Now, my mother will take great offence to all this. She loves prayer about as much as anyone I know. Last night she told me when you pray you should spend as much time listening as you do talking. “You can’t have a good relationship when only one person is talking”. She thinks I’m under-spiritualizing everything; but then again, she left CBC too.
Bitterness must run in the family.
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October 20th, 2005 at 9:45 am
Bitterness definitely runs in the family.
-Andy Brown
(Joe in C-Town)
October 20th, 2005 at 10:10 am
Good Post. And good thoughts on prayer. My question, what’s the difference between prayer and mediation?
Also, I would just like to add that I’m not bitter. I’m not. I’m genuinely happy and could really care less what CBC does. For me, its just a big target to pick on.
October 20th, 2005 at 10:17 am
A big lopsided target.
October 20th, 2005 at 12:04 pm
Prayer isn’t supposed to change God, it’s supposed to change us. As far as praying for others, yes let’s. But follow it up with a food basket, ride to work, or whatever they might need (remember they didn’t hear your prayer for them, they only see your actions).
October 20th, 2005 at 2:24 pm
Just out of curiosity, did you mean “mediation” or “meditation”?
And, if I were you, I’d be careful what I say about “Mrs. Smith” and her problem with her husband…it’s never so simple as a kick to the balls and a call to the cops. I know this is meant to be humorous, but it seems cruel to trivialize something so widespread and tragic.
RE: prayer…I recently heard someone say, “An activity is only meaningful if it functions as both a means and an end.” I can’t decide for sure whether or not I agree, but I think it’s interesting. Is prayer useful in its own right, because of what it does in and of itself? Sometimes. Is prayer useful as a means, because of what it eventually causes? Sometimes. However, I’d say that it’s also accurate to answer both questions with “sometimes not”. If we really examine our data, both personal and empirical, I think it’s clear that prayer does things that are really useful, really non-useful, and indifferent.
Therefore, I think it’s fair to conclude that prayer (from our perspective as humans, anyway) is neither objectively good nor objectively bad. It’s an activity that can’t be confirmed as an “always useful” means or end. It’s not a cure-all. Again, we are accountable for keeping our brains engaged and choosing an appropriate course of action at each juncture in life. Yet again, we’re decidedly NOT off the hook.
October 21st, 2005 at 8:57 am
I am sooo relieved to see that this blog is still alive and well. Winding down?…..fuggetaboutit.