How powerful is a PRAYER?

[JennyMominRI]

Well I'm not saying that God CAN"T use those things if he so chooses, I think he could, I just don't think he does on a everyday basis. Very rarely. But of course none of us can know or presume to know the real answer. We don't speak for God, but IMO, God may have done those things in the past, but I don't think he uses those tools anymore.

Someone could maybe track this down, but I think that there are passages in the Bible that talks about how now that we have the NT that God no longer directly speaks with people or no longer actively takes a role in this world as he did in the OT. I'm pretty sure I'm right about that.

That would be pretty consistant with Jewish beliefs..

 

[jimmiej]

Someone could maybe track this down, but I think that there are passages in the Bible that talks about how now that we have the NT that God no longer directly speaks with people or no longer actively takes a role in this world as he did in the OT. I'm pretty sure I'm right about that.

That sounds familiar. I'm gonna look for that. In the meantime, from The Revelation about the future:

Revelation 8:6-8
The Trumpets
6Then the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to sound them.
7The first angel sounded his trumpet, and there came hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was hurled down upon the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.

 

[cardaway]

Me too- in fact he sounds like a whack-a-doodle to me.

110% whack-a-doodle

 

[Saxsoon]

I was reading the Screwtape letters by C.S. Lewis, and he showed that even devils (metaphorical or physical) can alter a prayer to the point to where it means nothing. Rather amazing. Screwtape sent many letters to Wormwood saying how he can manipulate the prayers where we are not even praying for what we want. It is just hollow.

While I haven't had the need for an extreme act of God except for when my Great-Grandmother was dieing, (we just wanted her to be put to peace, and the was) I am almost certain that God affects lives if we truly need it. The whole "I will not put you through more than what you can handle" comes to mind. While some may not like it, I think God allows loved ones to die (not intervene, nor cause, just allow) because through those moments, one can come closer to Him. 9-11 anyone. I can't remember seeing God Bless America more since then.

 

[JoyG]

Someone could maybe track this down, but I think that there are passages in the Bible that talks about how now that we have the NT that God no longer directly speaks with people or no longer actively takes a role in this world as he did in the OT. I'm pretty sure I'm right about that.

I'd be interested in knowing if such a passage exists, b/c I've never heard of that...

The only thing similiar to what you're saying that I know of is that some denominations believe God no longer uses the spiritual gift of prophesy now because we have the complete scriptures (something my church believes).

 

[Fly me with Balloons]

Misplaced according to whom??

those who don't believe in a "truth" more than they believe in proveable facts.

blind faith is arrogance, because you, or I, simply don't know.

 

[jimmiej]

Someone could maybe track this down, but I think that there are passages in the Bible that talks about how now that we have the NT that God no longer directly speaks with people or no longer actively takes a role in this world as he did in the OT. I'm pretty sure I'm right about that.

I'm not having any success finding anything. I think what I was thinking about was the verse that says God's patience will not always dwell with mankind.

Romans 1:18

God's Wrath Against Mankind
18The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness,

This sounds like it's already happening and/or it will happen.

 

[SwedishMeatball]

those who don't believe in a "truth" more than they believe in proveable facts.

blind faith is arrogance, because you, or I, simply don't know.

I guess we just see it from different perspectives. I see blind faith as humbling.

 

[Amity 3]

That sounds familiar. I'm gonna look for that. In the meantime, from The Revelation about the future:

Revelation 8:6-8
The Trumpets
6Then the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to sound them.
7The first angel sounded his trumpet, and there came hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was hurled down upon the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.

those are just words in a book, no different than the National Enquirer reporting a three-headed baby was born in Brazil that can play the piano.

 

[jimmiej]

those are just words in a book, no different than the National Enquirer reporting a three-headed baby was born in Brazil that can play the piano.

blind faith is arrogance, because you, or I, simply don't know.

 

[Amity 3]

that's out of context, that's my reasoning for the belief in the afterlife. the bible is completely different. my reasoning is if you never had religion shoved into your head as child by your parents, average logic would circumvent belief in Jesus.

if you walked into a book store at 18 and picked up a bible, the percentage of people that would read it and think "yeah, this is totally plausible and believable" would be somewhere in the low single digits.

 

[jimmiej]

that's out of context, that's my reasoning for the belief in the afterlife. the bible is completely different. my reasoning is if you never had religion shoved into your head as child by your parents, average logic would circumvent belief in Jesus.

if you walked into a book store at 18 and picked up a bible, the percentage of people that would read it and think "yeah, this is totally plausible and believable" would be somewhere in the low single digits.

Then how do you explain the fact that adults are saved & baptized in churches around the world every week? In my church alone (large-3500 members), we average about 3/week.

My brother & I were both made to attend church every week growing up. As adults, I'm a practicing Christian; my brother is not. We both made a decision.

 

[cardaway]

that's out of context, that's my reasoning for the belief in the afterlife. the bible is completely different. my reasoning is if you never had religion shoved into your head as child by your parents, average logic would circumvent belief in Jesus.

if you walked into a book store at 18 and picked up a bible, the percentage of people that would read it and think "yeah, this is totally plausible and believable" would be somewhere in the low single digits.

Excellent point. ITA.

Thinking that there is more to the world, or where we came form or where we go - part of the package of having the human brain.

Speific religion - created by man to teach and convert other people.

 

[Amity 3]

Then how do you explain the fact that adults are saved & baptized in churches around the world every week?

I can't explain it. that's like asking why X amount of people convert to Scientology each day. they've got a book too... same with the JW's. Mormons have their own book and a lot of free DVD's.

they're just media. but Baptists, Mormons, Scientologists, and JW's are the ones who bang on my door pimping their religion.

maybe there's a trend there... praying on the lonely and weak-minded and asking for you to join and donate a percentage of your salary to their belief so your 'soul' will be saved from eternal damnation.

you do want to save your soul from eternal damnation, don't you?

 

[Disney Doll]

Do we ever tire of the "religion is stupid" threads?
sigh....

 

[John VN]

Then how do you explain the fact that adults are saved & baptized in churches around the world every week? In my church alone (large-3500 members), we average about 3/week.

My brother & I were both made to attend church every week growing up. As adults, I'm a practicing Christian; my brother is not. We both made a decision.

And if you both wind up in Heaven, is there an advantage to you being a practicing Christian?

 

[Buckalew11]

Someone could maybe track this down, but I think that there are passages in the Bible that talks about how now that we have the NT that God no longer directly speaks with people or no longer actively takes a role in this world as he did in the OT. I'm pretty sure I'm right about that.

I don't know anything about this either so if anyone does, I'd be interested. I do know that things are different because the Holy Spirit only came and went in OT times and the Holy Spirit was sent down to dwell here within us at Pentacost. This makes this time we live in the "age of grace" which will someday end. that is the only thing it really reminded me of that I heard that is even remotely close to the thought.

 

[Amity 3]

Do we ever tire of the "religion is stupid" threads?
sigh....

I don't know, do we ever tire of the 'I feel sorry for you because you don't believe' threads as well?

 

[Amity 3]

And if you both wind up in Heaven, is there an advantage to you being a practicing Christian?

better cards on Bingo nights.

 

[jimmiej]

if you walked into a book store at 18 and picked up a bible, the percentage of people that would read it and think "yeah, this is totally plausible and believable" would be somewhere in the low single digits.

maybe there's a trend there... praying on the lonely and weak-minded and asking for you to join and donate a percentage of your salary to their belief so your 'soul' will be saved from eternal damnation.

You know, you're exactly right.

Matthew 7

13"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

Mark 2

17On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."