Shall We Pray? Maybe Not


Why not pray? It might help and can't hurt, can it? I found a short essay on Face Book that argues against praying. Modified a bit it goes like this:

Prayers are dangerous. Prayers are a way for people to convince themselves they've done something when they've done nothing. Prayers seem to absolve people of taking responsibility of demanding change. Prayers pass the buck to an imaginary being. Prayers ensure the problem will persist.

I've wondered if any conservative Christian person has ever prayed, "God, help me understand why atheists don't believe you exist. And, help me accept my gay child and treat her with the love and respect she needs to be successful in her life." While this prayer is heard by no one but the prayer it would introduce the humility a person needs to understand humans unlike him/herself. Liberal people would say such prayers easily. 

Homosexuality has a lot of prayers associated with it. Gay Christians probably pray for God to accept them because they cannot be different than they are. Conservative Christian parents no doubt pray God will change their child back to what they themselves want their child to be. Again, neither prayers are heard by anyone other than the prayer. In both cases it would be healthier to simply acknowledge the sexual orientation, accept it and carry on.

Prayers of thanks for recovering from an illness or to avoiding illnesses and accidents are really insulting to those who are less fortunate. A prayer like, "Thank you Jesus for sparing me from the Corona Virus" is also a prayer that says "Thank you Jesus for noticing I'm a better Christian than those schmucks who died." 

I realize there are people who get some form of comfort from praying and they should do so. That praying to God or Zorro are equally futile is unimportant if the inner mind is convinced it helps. What's harmful is praying when some concrete and productive action is delayed for the prayer. 

Comments

  1. “Lord. I am grateful. Amen.” without further petition should suffice. If not take a break. You are by faith alone low. Get off your knees.

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