Prayer as a Weapon

I have been convicted lately.

Convicted by people that use prayer as a weapon.

Don’t get me wrong. I think prayer is powerful. One of the most powerful things we have.

And it can be a weapon. But a weapon we are supped to use against the forces of darkness - not against each other.

I have a friend going through a significant period of questioning. And he’s made it very public. Some people don’t like various aspects of how he’s going about it. My point is not his questioning - my point is the reactions he’s getting.

Christians. Lovers of God. Brothers and sisters in Christ - are using prayer as a weapon against him.

And that feels dirty.

When you write mean, hurtful and cutting things against a person. When you shove bible verses in front of their face meant to “convict” them and say that you are “doing it in love” because they need to hear the judgement and then end each hurtful comment by saying “you better believe I am praying for you!!!” those prayers don’t feel very sincere.

I was reading Matthew 5 in my copy of “The Message” and read this: “And don’t say anything you don’t mean. This counsel is embedded deep in our traditions. You only make things worse when you lay down a smoke screen of pious talk, saying ‘I’ll pray for you,’ and never doing it, or saying ‘God be with you,’ and not meaning it. You don’t make your words true be embellishing them with religious lace. In making your speech sound more religious, it becomes less true. Just say ‘yes’ or ‘no.’ When you manipulate words to get your own way, you go wrong.”

If you’re sincerely praying for someone - then do it! And pray also that God changes the bitterness in your heart. You don’t have to shove pious religious acts in their face as if you believe it’ll suddenly change their ways.

God is bigger then the point you are trying to make. Bigger than the judgement you feel you need to bring down on someone.

God does not need defending.

And for the record. Facebook is a horrible place to try and win someone back to the Lord. Those types of things are typically done in relationship - not through random bible verses and points of view pasted on someone’s wall. 

Why evangelize?

I am taking a course on the Biblical and Theological Foundation for Mission right now. For class I am reading Newbigin's book "The Open Secret." He has an interesting quote in one of the first chapters. I am sure I am no where near the intended point by not going further into his argument with you (he soon after begins to help you in responding to questions such as these - I am not satisfied with the answers). But I think these are questions worth asking - at least of myself:

Why not join with the sincere adherents of all religions in seeking the fullness of the truth to which they all aspire?

Why not join with all people of goodwill in tackling the real human problems of hunger, oppression, sickness, and alienation, instead of seeking more adherents for your religious group?

How would YOU respond to such questions?

Hindu to Christian

I am editing a friend's Masters Thesis for him. He is from Nepal but has come to the states for a couple of years to work on his ThM. The title is "An Analysis of the Idea of the Atonement in Hinduism in the Light of Christianity." It is actually quite fascinating. I came across this one section in his paper that I thought was especially probing...

"Does it really make much of a difference when a Nepali Hindu becomes a Christian? Both believe in doing good works, even in loving one’s neighbors; it’s just a question of motive. Hindus accumulate merit from their good deeds to counterbalance their bad deeds. Christians says that a life full of good deeds cannot outweigh even a single sin. We must first seek forgiveness from God relying on his mercy shown to us through his son, Jesus Christ. Then, once forgiven, he enables us to do good out of thankfulness and love for him who died for us."

To someone looking in from the outside - what's the difference? Why is the change necessary?