Biblical Prayer Contradictions

[Drich]

After reading parts of the bible recently, I became inspired by some divine force, to elaborate on the prayer contradiction that I first heard from George Carlin years ago. Hopefully you guys get some enjoyment out of it, and see how much more it actually contradicts itself with regards to god's will for us, and praying.

Keep in mind this verse: Pro 30:5-6 5 Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. 6 Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.

I'm assuming 'Pro' is short for proverbs. if so, then I assume you understand the difference between a proverb and a command or a point of the law...

If no, then know a proverb is a wise saying or a bit-o-wisdom like the early bird gets the worm, or an apple a day keeps the doctor away, a penny saved is a penny earned.. while in most cases true, these sayings are not intended to cover every circumstance. That is why the Jews identify proverbs and books like it (that do not give direct revelation from God) as wisdom literature.

- So, you're being a good little boy/girl, praying in your room. -- You start to realize that your prayers aren't being answered. -- You recite the classic, perpetual mantra of doom, "Maybe it's not god's will."

There is a big problem with a child's or your theology if you believe that 'prayer' is a Christian wishing ceremony.
In the model pray Christ gives us in Luke 11 Prayer is shown to be a way of asking God to change our will to match His, and not a way we can change God's will to match our own.

- However, I disagree. The bible says, whatever you ask for will be given to you. (Ps 34:17,

Again with the Books of Psalms like Proverbs belong to the books of 'wisdom literature' in the OT as such are not law, Prophesy or command, but man's take on Godly inspiration.

On the rest of your verses Context, context, context will answer your objections.

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Mk 11:24,[size=x-small]21 [/size]Peter remembered the tree and said to Jesus, “Teacher, look! Yesterday, you told that fig tree to die. Now it is dry and dead!”

[size=x-small]22 [/size]Jesus answered, “Have faith in God. [size=x-small]23 [/size]The truth is, you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, mountain, fall into the sea.’ And if you have no doubts in your mind and believe that what you say will happen, then God will do it for you. [size=x-small]24 [/size]So I tell you to ask for what you want in prayer. And if you believe that you have received those things, then they will be yours.

In Context Jesus is telling the Deciples more over specifically He is speaking directly to Peter, and not to you or anyone else. Even so, Jesus is directly speaking about moving Mountains of doubt that was keeping peter from being who he needed to be. Jesus gave Peter a way to address his doubt. While directed at Peter this still can apply to us.

Mt 21:22, is a retelling of what we just discussed in Mark.

Lk 11:9-13,5-6 Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose one of you went to your friend’s house very late at night and said to him, ‘A friend of mine has come into town to visit me. But I have nothing for him to eat. Please give me three loaves of bread.’ 7 Your friend inside the house answers, ‘Go away! Don’t bother me! The door is already locked. My children and I are in bed. I cannot get up and give you the bread now.’ 8 I tell you, maybe friendship is not enough to make him get up to give you the bread. But he will surely get up to give you what you need if you continue to ask. 9 So I tell you, continue to ask, and God will give to you. Continue to search, and you will find. Continue to knock, and the door will open for you. 10 Yes, whoever continues to ask will receive. Whoever continues to look will find. And whoever continues to knock will have the door opened for them. 11 Do any of you have a son? What would you do if your son asked you for a fish? Would any father give him a snake? 12 Or, if he asked for an egg, would you give him a scorpion? Of course not! 13 Even you who are bad know how to give good things to your children. So surely your heavenly Father knows how to give the Holy Spirit to the people who ask him.”

Maybe read the passage above with a fresh perspective and pay close attention to the embolden parts...
(Because we are supposed to be asking for the Holy Spirit, not making wishes for crap we want.)

 Jn 14:13,12 “I can assure you that whoever believes in me will do the same things I have done. And they will do even greater things than I have done, because I am going to the Father. 13 And if you ask for anything in my name, I will do it for you. Then the Father’s glory will be shown through the Son. 14 If you ask me for anything in my name, I will do it.

I guess the problem here is you don't understand what it means to "Ask for something in the name of Christ." It doesn't mean to end your prayer in 'Jesus name." It means Ask in the name of or on the behalf of.. Which means you have to ask for no more, or no less than the person who's name your asking in, would ask for/give you. It is the same as speaking for someone or speaking in their name. When you speak in someone's name you are representing that person which means you should not say anything that person would not have to say.

So what Does Jesus want us to ask in his name? It is outlined in the first part of luke 11 (The part you skipped)

Jn 15:7, 15 Jesus said, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch[a] of mine that does not produce fruit.[b] He also trims every branch that produces fruit to prepare it to produce even more. 3 You have already been prepared to produce more fruit by the teaching I have given you. 4 Stay joined to me and I will stay joined to you. No branch can produce fruit alone. It must stay connected to the vine. It is the same with you. You cannot produce fruit alone. You must stay joined to me.

5 “I am the vine, and you are the branches. If you stay joined to me, and I to you, you will produce plenty of fruit. But separated from me you won’t be able to do anything. 6 If you don’t stay joined to me, you will be like a branch that has been thrown out and has dried up. All the dead branches like that are gathered up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 Stay joined together with me, and follow my teachings. If you do this, you can ask for anything you want, and it will be given to you. 8 Show that you are my followers by producing much fruit. This will bring honor[c] to my Father.

In the context here if you are apart of Christ, then 'anything you want' will be what Christ wants for you. Otherwise how could one petition (not pray that is a separate thing) for something God does not want for them?

Jn 16:23-24)

Again here we are to ask in the same of Jesus, the same thing applies as above.

- Even though, still, your prayers go unanswered. Although, the bible, still tells us to pray unceasingly. (Col 4:2, 1 Thes 5:17-18)

You seem to be confused between the differences between petitioning God and praying. to petition is to ask for crap you want. to pray is to have God change your will to match what He wants for you. Paul in his writing makes the distinction between petition and prayer. Jesus even makes it known that Prayer is what is outlined in Luke 11:1 forward, and he seperates that from 'asking God for stuff.'

- But, why would god ask you to pray, if he won't answer you?

God always answers prayer, even if we don't like what is said. However He seldomly answers empty petitions (wishes people make) unless they are truly asking in the name of Christ. Which means we first have to learn to pray, and have our will match that of God's.

-- Why bother praying if the loving god knows what you need? -- The thought of prayer would have never come across your mind, because god would have provided what you needed in the first place.

Because the key element of prayer is humility. which also happens to be the key to a relationship with God in the first place.
'Humble yourself before God and He will lift you up.'

- You decide to plead to god for wisdom. Jas 1:5 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. Again, you're ignored.

Wisdom is taught through trials hardship and failure. If you went though these things then rejoice your pray was answered! Wisdom, is not given by God sending an angel to sprinkle wisdom dust on you while you sleep so you just wake up wise. Wisdom is earn/learned through having been down the wrong path and knowing the signs to look for before you set out on your next journey.

- He, then, wants you to put your trust in him. Pro 3:5-6 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

Which goes hand in hand with trials hardship and failure.

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- After all of this, how can someone put their trust in him? Let's read on..1 Pet 6:7 [b]6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. [/b]Evidently, he cares for us. 


Indeed

- Eph 5:-17-19 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit -- (I used to be jesus boy and talked like that, and nothing happened) How are we supposed to know god's will, if he won't answer our prayers or provide us with his wisdom? Aren't we already doing his will? Isn't everything going according to his plan? Obviously, no, according to my previous bullet points.

How do you know God's will?!?! you read the bible!!!

- In summation, he tells us that he will answer our prayers, then doesn't. He tells us to never cease from praying, even though he disregards us. He doesn't give us his wisdom, and he wants you to trust him without providing any evidence that he exists, let alone, evidence he actually cares. But, don't worry, he loves you. 1 Jn 4:8 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This actually isn't true, because I love, and I do not know god. Also, if god was love, I'd know him!

- Don't forget to thank him for all of his love that he's bestowed upon you. (1 Chr 16:34, Col 3:17, 1 Thes 5:16-18, Ps 95:2, Ps 107:1, Ps 118:1, Ps 136:1) I'm certain I can poke more holes in god's holy word of absolute nonsense, but this will do for now. Any one else see any problems here? Christians, your faith shouldn't be this easy to dismantle. Any of you guys care to enlighten me here; am I not interpreting this right?

The word love here in the Greek is 'Agape' The Greeks subdivided the word love into 4 different ideas or aspects, we in the English have only one word that covers all four (sometimes 5) aspects of the greek words or ideas of Love.
Agape is a Heavenly type of Godly love that transends emotion and feeling, a definition that can only be grasped when one experiences to the direct Love of God. Then we have Philia which is a brotherly love. a love friends share. Then eros which is a passionate love and finaly we have storge' which is the love between parent and child.

If you have ever known Agape then you know the passage above is true. Otherwise just because you have experences a few different types of love, does not mean you have a mastery all of it.