Somebody came up to me offering to pray for me today

[Fake Messiah]

[Losty]

@AtlasS33 far be it from me that I should sin against God by failing to pray for you.
I believe we should pray for others. It doesn't have to be in their face or even in person. I've prayed for many people on this forum. What exactly do yu see wrong with intercessory prayer?

A believer in God must assume that God exists. If one assumes the existence of God, it will be not good to pray without knowing how God himself would respond.

You can't knock on God's door, and ask him something that disrespects him or contradicts what he already said. I should only pray for somebody in need of that prayer and deserving that prayer too; or else I'm asking God for what I don't know.

Imagine praying for somebody like Hitler or a serial-killer. My prayer would then be a kind of an insult to their victims.
I expect God to honor the victims of unjust. That's one example.

One would think that Hitler and serial killers are the most deserving of prayer. If someone needs god the most, surely it’s them.

[tackattack]

@AtlasS33 far be it from me that I should sin against God by failing to pray for you.
I believe we should pray for others. It doesn't have to be in their face or even in person. I've prayed for many people on this forum. What exactly do yu see wrong with intercessory prayer?

A believer in God must assume that God exists. If one assumes the existence of God, it will be not good to pray without knowing how God himself would respond.

You can't knock on God's door, and ask him something that disrespects him or contradicts what he already said. I should only pray for somebody in need of that prayer and deserving that prayer too; or else I'm asking God for what I don't know.

Imagine praying for somebody like Hitler or a serial-killer. My prayer would then be a kind of an insult to their victims.
I expect God to honor the victims of unjust. That's one example.

1 Timothy 2:1-5 exhorts us to pray for others: "I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone - for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth."

In order to successfully stand in the gap, I agree with you, that we should stand before God first and get our self right. The Blood sacrifice of the old Testament replaced with the spiritual sacrifice. As Losty pointed out, I can easily see myself praying for Hitler or a serial killer. I guess the victims could see me praying for Hitler as an insult, but I'd pray for them too. That's why sometimes it's best to "when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. " But if someone claims they need it I have no problem praying for them outloud and actually with them. Guess we'll just have to agree on different perspectives Atlas

[onlinebiker]

I try to be polite since I live in a community of Holy Rollers. I keep a low profile. Best joke about prayer: Prayer is like masturbation.Feels good, does nothing for tne person you're thinking of.

The difference between prayer and masturbation - when a guy finishes wanking off he has SOMETHING to show for his efforts......

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

I try to be polite since I live in a community of Holy Rollers. I keep a low profile. Best joke about prayer: Prayer is like masturbation.Feels good, does nothing for tne person you're thinking of.

The difference between prayer and masturbation - when a guy finishes wanking off he has SOMETHING to show for his efforts......

George Carlin joke.

Boru

[onlinebiker]

The difference between prayer and masturbation - when a guy finishes wanking off he has SOMETHING to show for his efforts......

George Carlin joke.

Boru

Not that I'm aware of - but he had a mountain.of material. You'd be hard pressed to come up with something funny that he hadn't already touched upon...

[Gawdzilla Sama]

My last Carlin album got left in a window box in Toledo.

[brewer]

If the god worshiped happens to be omniscient (often claimed) then all that will ever happen has been preordained. Prayer to change the preordained would be meaningless. The same would cancel any free will.

[Figbash]

[WinterHold]

@AtlasS33 far be it from me that I should sin against God by failing to pray for you.
I believe we should pray for others. It doesn't have to be in their face or even in person. I've prayed for many people on this forum. What exactly do yu see wrong with intercessory prayer?

You didn't ask me, but I'm comfortable with butting in.

God is ineffable.  You cannot possibly know the fine details of how God wants things to turn out.  Oh, sure, you can know big picture stuff, but when you pray, for example, that people afflicted by a famine in Africa may somehow get enough to eat, you could very well be praying against God's purposes.

Intercessory prayer seems pretty pointless (other than making the supplicant feel good), as it is asking God to alter plans that have been in place since the beginning of the universe.

'Pray, v. To ask that the laws of the universe be annulled in behalf of a single petitioner, confessedly unworthy.' - Bierce

Boru

I gave you kudos for these two bold sentences

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One would think that Hitler and serial killers are the most deserving of prayer. If someone needs god the most, surely it’s them.

They have minds and had their consciousness with them before going on with their crimes, they thought about the pain they will inflict and chose to either enjoy it or suppress it. They are not innocent, Losty. They don't deserve my prayer because they are guilty.