Decisions on Prayer

PE004 11.04.07

Do I believe in capital punishment?

Or am I an advocate of capital punishment?

Okay, I’m splitting hairs on word usage. But think about it. Of course I believe in capital punishment- it’s real. But do I advocate capital punishment. That is different.

How about this: What do we pray for and what do we pray about? Are we enamored in praying for things and even people? Some high visibility televangelists promote that God does want everyone to be prosperous, and many of them set a good example with their own lifestyle of riches. “There’s nothing wrong with being wealthy in the Lord.”

We pray for lots of things. “Ask whatever you may and it will be given unto you.” “Ask, seek, knock…”

We pray for people, laying hands on them.

We pray to pass academic exams and medical physical exams. We pray to win an athletic contest.

And sometimes those prayers become mixed up with what we want and what we need.

Prayers for self, for others, for pets and things…

Prayer for wisdom.

To know the difference.

The best echo of all.

- Keith

Can You Help Me, God?

PE003 10.21.07

I believe in the power of prayer. Period.

But I also believe some of our prayers just echo around.

Remember when Jesus sent his disciples out on their missionary journey, two-by-two? They were told what to take with them and what to do if no one received them and so-forth. They realized they could preach, teach and heal just as Jesus had been doing.

Neat, huh?

When they returned, scripture says they reported on all they had seen and done. I would liked to have been a fly on a tree branch listening to all that. I wonder how long it took twelve guys to report on all they had seen and done?

And then they become tired and need for the folks who’ve gathered around, a pretty large crowd, to give them some space. Perhaps they’re hungry. Perhaps one of the disciples could go into town or even sent one of the crowd into town to get some groceries.

Jesus says, “You feed them. You give them something to eat.”

Literally or figuratively?

But the guys continue to beg away from directly interacting with the crowd.

And thus the feeding of the five thousand.

Jesus did something for that group of people which the disciples could have done for themselves.

Why the miracle? Were these people emaciated or starving as they gathered beside the only sweet water lake in the region? Was that little boy the only one with sense enough to bring a bag lunch?

Jesus did something which the disciples could have done.

And I think sometimes that when we send off our prayers to God and Jesus there’s a similar theological traffic jam. God throws it back to us.

“Hey- I’ve given you the Holy Spirit, and my Son has informed you that ‘these things and greater than these shall you do in my name,’… (Qualtitatively or quantitatively?) You have a faith which can move mountains. Quit running to me for things which you ought to be able to take care of yourselves.”

And then someone chimes in that God’s does answer all prayer. You know, God’s answer is yes, or no, or some kind of silence.

Some strange echo…

- Keith

Because

PE002 / 10.19.07

I used to belong to civic clubs in years gone by and on occasion I would be called upon to offer a prayer prior to the meal. Not wanting to offend anyone, or something-or-another, I would conclude the prayer with: “In the name of all that’s holy we pray. Amen.” I also made that conclusion before two local high school football games.

It was in April and I was reviewing the message before Easter Sunday and out-of-the blue it dawned upon me that I was a modern day Apostle Peter denying my Lord.

I was His representative, His ambassador. And I would not pray in His Name. I figured that if the folks wanted someone to offer a neutral prayer or one with a theologically eclectic perspective, they could grab just about anyone else. But they needed to know I was going to pray in the name of Jesus Christ. (More importantly my Lord needed to know that.)

Political correctness is an illusion in the Kingdom of God over which those blind to His calling, or neglect His calling, stumble. That Man died for my sins because He loved me. And I will always pray in His Name because of that and so much more…

This must be a resounding echo to true disciples.

- Keith

Answered Prayer

PE001  /  10.14.07

The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is my denominational affiliation. It’s a theologically pluralistic faith tradition. And that may be a misnomer- to identify it as a ‘tradition.’ There are so many expressions of the Christian faith throughout our various congregations, that we’re not truly locked in to a particular tradition. Certainly, individual congregations may hold to particular traditions throughout their history. But, we’re an eclectic bunch, and those looking upon us may have difficulty placing us among the greater scheme of things when comparing denominations. It’s an identity thing. I particularly don’t like being locked into a groove; I appreciate my freedom of conscience and my freedom of interpretation and belief. But, to digress a bit, we do hold to a certain common thread regarding the ‘unity through our diversity.’ Weekly communion, mutual recognition of all believers regardless of immersion or sprinkling, and so forth. If that can be defined as tradition, in the common sense of the word, then it’s a wonderful one and, one which is supportive of the liberation in Christ so hungered for in our world.

At any rate this pluralism is not attractive to many in this day of absolutes. I find that many are looking for definitive answers in their church life – to the extreme. A-B-C, 1-2-3, ‘this’ is what we think and believe about ‘that.’ Some Protestants used to hold that against Catholics, that Papal authority was the telling guide and all authority and there were no grey areas.

Now, even among some Protestants, probably many Pentecostals, there is a similar notion, and theological pluralism is not attractive.

But I appreciate the freedom.

And that parallels the notion of this blog spot. Prayer, I believe, is like that. It’s a pluralistic experience, not pigeonholed or limited to human definition.

To the point: How do you reckon your prayers are answered; rather, how do you detect the answers to your prayers? How do you know when and how they’re answered? What proof, evidence do you have? And is it found A-B-C, 1-2-3, in the same place and the same manner every time?

You’ll likely answer that it’s not, and of course you know when your prayers are answered; that they’re discovered in many places and experiences. The answer comes via different paths.

Consider, too, that the answer may also come in stages, not all at once. God’s revelation to humankind is a progressive thing Not all at once. Well, for the most part, it’s not all at once. Undoubtedly, there are occasions when it’s like a ‘blinding light’ or burning bush’ but even then it has to be assimilated, absorbed into human consciousness.

But, I believe answered prayer is also a progressive thing, like forgiveness. Forgiveness, for we frail humans, doesn’t happen all at once. It takes time, and during that time the one extending the forgiveness doesn’t sit around twiddling their thumbs. (Does anyone even know what we’re supposed to be about after pronouncing “forgiveness?”) Throughout the day or even longer we must be on the lookout for pieces of the puzzle, how one experience fits into the other, one encounter with someone fits into other experiences to cause the answer to bubble to the surface of our consciousness.

Life is the sum total of its many parts, and moment-by-moment life can also be the sum total to the equation of answered prayer. But do we recognize the elements of the equation? (Pray without ceasing?)

Consider these thoughts and this aspect of prayer “echoes.”

- Keith