Ye have not, because ye ask not
Posted on May 6th, 2008 by catalyst into the Things Dougie wouldn't do categoryI file this under, "Sure, why not."
"Someone's making a lot of money and it's really, really wrong," added Twyman, who founded the Prayer at the Pump movement last week to seek help from a higher power to bring down fuel prices, because the powers in Washington haven't.
The half-dozen activists — Twyman, a former Miss Washington DC, the owner of a small construction company and two volunteers at a local soup kitchen — joined hands, bowed their heads and intoned a heartfelt prayer.
"Lord, come down in a mighty way and strengthen us so that we can bring down these high gas prices," Twyman said to a chorus of "amens".
I sincerely hope this movement replaces See you at the Pole, where students pray in front of the flag pole every morning before school. And instead, I hope we get, "See you at the Pump", where the working class gather around their local gas station every morning before work, asking God to lower gas prices.
As a believer in the Power of Prayer, I figure if God wants to lower prices, He certainly can. Of course, I'm not so sure God actually wants to lower gas prices, but I suspect this has a better chance of keeping oil prices low than, you know, invading Iraq.
At the Shell station, Twyman had dire words of warning for those who are raking in profits from high gas prices.
"Woe be unto those people that are really greedy and taking advantage of American families," he proclaimed from his pump pulpit.
"These prices will come down, just like the walls of Jericho came down in the Bible," he said, as another chorus of amens punctuated the sound of cash flowing out of the gas pumps.
Sounds like a fun and practical preacher.
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May 6th, 2008 at 7:26 am
Christians who do this kind of thing are like the embarrassing Uncle you pretend not to be related to. And it just goes to show how stupid it is to place spiritual significance on stuff that has nothing to do with faith. That kind of ignorant mysticism is what turns off normal people from hearing the Gospel.
What’s next, a rain dance?
May 6th, 2008 at 8:15 am
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bsikz0n1uDE&feature=related
This is extremely off-topic but I just watched the funniest video about scientology ever.
IT DOES HAVE SWEARING so if you are offended by swearing don’t watch it.
The last part of the video really says it all when it comes to cults.
May 6th, 2008 at 8:34 am
Couldn’t have said it better myself.
A bunch of freaking mystics.
May 6th, 2008 at 10:55 am
“Give us this day our daily gasoline…”??
Actually, I think it would be more interesting to ask the Lord for alternatives and see what He comes up with. He’s very creative.
May 6th, 2008 at 11:38 am
Guys, I have to say that while this DOES seem weird, the gas prices are affecting a LOT of people (my family included)! Consequently, the price of food and other energy sources are also going up. Is there some rule that tells us NOT to pray for relief from the situation…or at least God’s provision THROUGH the situation?
May 6th, 2008 at 11:49 am
No. I mean, I’m laughing at this idea. But really, this is no different than praying for an increase in finances. Or praying that your school basketball team will win the championship.
So yeah, if you’re going to pray for something selfish, might as well pray for low gas prices. At you’re being honest about it.
Of course, I’m sure a lot of Christian environmentalists are praying that gas prices stay high. So, I’m not exactly sure where God comes down on this issue.
May 6th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
There’s a difference between “give us this day our our daily bread” and “make my life easy in spite of the reality of my own actions”. For those in real need, prayer for basic necessities is no joke. But these jokers are asking God to wave his magic wand and fix a situation that is the result of decades of a failed energy policy. In my mind, asking God to fix gas prices is almost as bad as proposing a gas tax holiday. (On second thought, it’s not even close.)
You want real change? Vote for leaders with the guts to stand up to oil lobbyists and Detroit automakers. Vote for leaders who will have the courage to stop subsidizing gas, coal, and oil and instead subsidize clean renewable energy!
May 6th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
Exactly. Or if you want to pray, pray that God provides America with leaders who are able to accomplish these things.
I will add, because I can’t resist, that I do think God has in fact given our nation just such a leader, and his name rhymes with Schmobama. So, you know, when you’re voting, just consider that.
May 6th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
Well, we shall see. I don’t find it selfish to pray for a need. This situation is affecting a LOT of people both inside and outside the US. We’re on the verge of a world-wide food crisis, in part due to the gas situation. Prayer, whether grace to go THROUGH the situation as it is and trust in the Lord’s provision or for this crisis to pass does not equate selfishness.
It’s funny how we decry the greed of prosperity pastors (which I also can’t stand), but we remain largely silent on the greed of the oil companies!
May 6th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
Good point. However, America is a capitalist society, so all corporations are greedy to an extent. I’m not sure we can just blame the oil companies for all these problems.
Also, you need to consider FICM’s point that this is partly America’s fault. We’ve gone too long without a real alternative energy policy, and now we’re paying the price.
But yeah, high gas prices do have a real negative affect on people, especially the poor and working class.
May 6th, 2008 at 12:27 pm
Hey since this blog is equal opportunity. What do you all think of the Florida Revival happening in Lakeland Florida?
May 6th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
It’s Todd being Todd and charismatics being themselves, too.
And I say that as one who has watched it a lot, wondering what to think.
May 6th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
He sure is.
-joe
May 6th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
What in the world does that mean? Good, bad? Your answer is very non-committal.
May 6th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
If God is too busy to help feed the starving kids in Darfur than he is much to busy to worry about whether or not you can afford to fill you car, boat or rv.
Besides there’s a little issue involving my Missile Command score being recognized by Twin Galaxy that God still hasn’t dealt with.
May 6th, 2008 at 6:59 pm
I don’t think God knows the tricks Billy knows…but I hear he’s really good on the elavators.
May 6th, 2008 at 8:48 pm
Sorry, Former. I was trying to be noncommittal.
For you see, those who like this kind of thing will absolutely love it. Those who are skeptical will not find anything to change their minds.
If you want to see which side of the fence I’m leaning towards, you can check here.
I believe that Todd is into MSOG/Dominionism, along with Joyner and others. I was aghast that he gave Paul Cain the stage and directed the crowd to give him honor. I am appalled that most of his speaking is about how good he is at hearing God, and how he regularly sees angels.
Is that committal enough?
May 7th, 2008 at 7:57 am
Just curious…do you guys think God cares about the details? Do you think he cares about how gas prices put a strain on our current financial situation? Is it really wrong to pray for lower gas prices? Is there a right or wrong way to pray or does this merely boil down to preference or opinion?
May 7th, 2008 at 8:12 am
Anna, thanks for getting off the fence, that helps.
Does it matter if you don’t agree with his theology? What about the testimonies of people being healed and saved? Remember it was the religious of Jesus’ day that rejected His message. And what do you have against Paul Cain?
May 7th, 2008 at 8:13 am
Yes, I think God cares. Yes, I think there’s a right way to pray and a wrong way to pray.
Prayer that asks for God’s help in things that are out of our ability to influence them are perfectly fine. Prayers that promote “[His] will…on Earth as it is in Heaven” are aligned with the big picture.
Prayer that asks God to change things that we can fix ourselves is lazy and irresponsible. Asking God to pay your rent when you won’t make the effort to get a job is silly. Asking God to heal the sick when you have a doctor and a cure is being a bit dense. Asking God to fix the gas problem when you have the power to vote smart people into office who will fix it is being apathetic (especially if you drive an SUV).
Instead, ask God to help you find that job, to lead you to the right doctor, and to give you wisdom when you’re in the voting booth.
May 7th, 2008 at 8:30 am
Pray for lower gas prices and when that doesn’t work try using Oprah’s The Secret. And then when the Olympics are over and China is using less oil and oil prices go down a bit, we can all praise god or Oprah for answering our prays.
In the mean time take the bus, train, or carpool and be thankful that we are bitching about high gas prices and not a rice shortage.
May 7th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
My favorite solution to high gas prices is to stop caring about nice fancy cars and go buy a honda civic for 1,000 dollars that gets 30mpg. I am the kind of guy who will tip @ coffee every day though and treat my hard-earned money like the crap it is.
I would like to see the cars of the kind folk who are praying for such things.
May 7th, 2008 at 8:29 pm
Does it matter to who? I mean, Todd can do whatever, and it’s between him and God. However, when my friends get all caught up in it, and I don’t agree with the whole concept, then it’s hard on the friendship.
That’s the part that makes me ask the Holy Spirit, “Is this You or not?” But I have noticed that at the end of the meetings, there are still rows of people in wheelchairs untouched. Also, many of the testimonies are just people feeling like they hurt less. So hmmmm. ??
And knowing that makes me particularly want to not harden myself against the Lord if something is really from Him. But OTOH, the Lord is very clear about testing things and paying attention to doctrine.
Again, Paul’s past is between him and the Lord. It’s the giving him honor and a place on the platform that is appalling. When finally confronted by his own dear friends about serious moral failure, Paul denied his actions. It took public disclosure for him to finally admit (after a season of denial) that he had problems. The men that disclosed his struggles were not heresy hunters or doctrinal enemies; they were men in Paul’s court who were doing what they could to help him face his problems.
Even though he apologized and said he was working on the problem, I have never heard or read anything that indicated true repentance. The men who originally published the disclosure have never declared their belief that Paul should be reinstated. And Paul himself, on Todd’s platform mentioned the “allegations” against him, that God told him that if he were quiet, he would be vindicated.
That does not sound like a humble, repented person to me. Maybe I’m just mean. What’s your take on it?
May 8th, 2008 at 2:59 pm
Hello,
I’m new here but was linked here by anna concerning my post on Todd Bentley/Lakeland. You’ve sent a good bit of traffic my way so I thought I would check out what you’ve got going on. Not a big fan of Christianese either.
May 8th, 2008 at 4:25 pm
I, for one, enjoyed reading your blog. I find it amazing how polarizing something like what Todd Bentley is doing down in Florida can be. In and of itself, that seems quite significant to me.