Somebody came up to me offering to pray for me today

[ReptilianPeon]

This topic blew up whilst I was away. I will just add the Jehovah Witnesses left, maybe because they where uncomfortable with the direction of the conversation they were hearing. I can't say for sure though.

[WinterHold]

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

It all boils up to the human brain in my perspective: either you look at people as incompetent creatures thus need pleading and also look at God as an unjust judge who can make mistakes         or        you look at people as capable creatures thus they know what mistakes they commit and God as a just judge who never make mistakes.

Humanity is not that innocent, takattack, also God must be absolute in judgement (always right).

I respect your decision to have a different view 

[arewethereyet]

Here's what I don't understand...why announce that you will pray for someone or ask if you can? If you feel like you need to, or that you should, pray for someone then do that. Does making an announcement that you will pray or want to pray make said prayer more powerful? If you want to pray - pray. Announcing your intentions may make you feel bigger and better but that sort of takes away from the selflessness of it.

[The Valkyrie]

Here's what I don't understand...why announce that you will pray for someone or ask if you can? If you feel like you need to, or that you should, pray for someone then do that. Does making an announcement that you will pray or want to pray make said prayer more powerful? If you want to pray - pray. Announcing your intentions may make you feel bigger and better but that sort of takes away from the selflessness of it.

I'll pray for you...



That's Christianese for "fuck you".

Just read this back and it comes across insultingly to you. That's not how this post was meant.

[tackattack]

@AtlasS33 so, you don’t ever pray for anyone?

I used to do it back in the day, but since I changed my view towards God I now think very seriously about my prayers, and either I should give them to others or not.
According to my belief, a prayer is not a spell, it's a real request to a real figure.

Now I view God as a unique, independent entity that has infinite intelligence, and has full knowledge of my current, past and future steps. Thus; I don't  pray for somebody asking God to excuse them; they have their own channel of communication with God, they shouldn't need my "Shafa'ah/pleading for mercy". Also God already knows their past, present and future too.

I try to be as obvious as I can be: here on earth we can ask favors from each other, ask each other to let go of certain constraints, but when it comes to God, this mentality must evaporate. He is an absolute figure, or so Islam had taught me.

I'm glad Moses decided intercede with prayer for those filthy idolators at the base of Mt Sinai. If you're going to use your prayers like currency, remember God is loving and generous. And just like money, God doesn't really need them, they're for our sake.

@The Valkyrie - I can be used like that, especially in the South. That and "bless you". Intonation and context is important.

[Drich]

I was a bit shocked. I was with two friends. I guess we looked pretty unassuming. I just wanted to play my mobile game with my friends.

I asked the man "what's the success rate?" and he initially 50% and then he caught himself and said 70% and then upped it to 100% (though I think he did say it depends on the circumstances). I was going to suggest it's no better than random chance but the conversation quickly moved on. Thankfully, he did say that prayer is no substitute for modern medicine so that was somewhat reassuring, when I pressed him on that. I did suggest that maybe prayer is a placebo as he said some are more receptive than others. Wasn't there that Harvard study on prayer? The one that said prayer makes little to no difference.

I ask him if prayer could make my friend with a missing arm grow a new arm. I didn't feel I really got an answer to that question. A bit frustrating to say the least. After a short conversation he said he had to go and pick up his child(ren) from school and left us.

would you like me to pray for you?

So when I say prayer I mean as the lord describes not a formal wishing ceremony. you know the crap most peons do when they have their heads bowed.. they start with a dear lord and then unload a wish list Santa could not manage in two life times. Stupid stuff like magic tricks or for fake friends growing 3rd arms cars houses girlfriends... 

The problem with this is that my praying for you is only 1/2 the equation. you in turn also have to pray/not wish crap to God as well and yes you have to mean it. I've done this only a few times as the cost is high, as usually it means time and personal dedication to the point the comforts you have in life are over turned and the trials will start. trials meaning hardships which will test who you are and what you know about God. If you donot know God and you continue to press on looking for him, you will find him. however most people crap out once foundational life items like housing are called onto the offering block. (remember primary rule gotta love God with al of your being first,) and if you take a break to get your house back in order then you put your house before God... and the journey ends there till you can rectify your love.

but for the skeptic such as yourself the journey will end much sooner.. Let's say stranger offers to pray for you and you mock him till he leaves or someone invites you to church and you do not go.. Or you even engage in a Q&A session here on the web site and you find yourself a t a logical end to your questioning and can not refute the answer given to you by one of us, but rather than concede the point, you attack the christian helping you personally.. Whatever your refusal The journey will end for you there until you pick up where you walked away.

---

Here's what I don't understand...why announce that you will pray for someone or ask if you can?  If you feel like you need to, or that you should, pray for someone then do that.  Does making an announcement that you will pray or want to pray make said prayer more powerful?  If you want to pray - pray.  Announcing your intentions may make you feel bigger and better but that sort of takes away from the selflessness of it.

because itis a two part thing if you want God to work in your life. if you are not ready to come out of the hole you are in then my efforts could be better spent helping someone looking for the truth. If you dug your hole and you covered yourself up in it, then why should I make an effort to dig you out? IE why would I pray to get you out of a mess that either you put yourself into or God has seen fit to land you in inorder to one day have you want to come out? May time would be wasted if You and God want you in the hole you are in

[Gawdzilla Sama]

The worst thing a believer can say to a non-believer: "You're going to HELL!!!!!"

The worst thing a non-believer can say to a believer: "You're going to have to think about this."

[Jrouche]

I was a bit shocked. I was with two friends. I guess we looked pretty unassuming. I just wanted to play my mobile game with my friends.

I asked the man "what's the success rate?" and he initially 50% and then he caught himself and said 70% and then upped it to 100% (though I think he did say it depends on the circumstances). I was going to suggest it's no better than random chance but the conversation quickly moved on. Thankfully, he did say that prayer is no substitute for modern medicine so that was somewhat reassuring, when I pressed him on that. I did suggest that maybe prayer is a placebo as he said some are more receptive than others. Wasn't there that Harvard study on prayer? The one that said prayer makes little to no difference.

I ask him if prayer could make my friend with a missing arm grow a new arm. I didn't feel I really got an answer to that question. A bit frustrating to say the least. After a short conversation he said he had to go and pick up his child(ren) from school and left us.

After living in the South for twenty years I feel your pain. I now explain to people in a very nice way that praying for me is rather insulting because that implies I'm in some way deficient or needing their help. I like to then hear the spitting/sputtering and apologies. When I was much younger I would say "I worshipped the Dark Lord" and then improvise what I thought a Satanist would behave like. Don't let the sanctimonious bother you--enjoy your mobile game.

[madog]

Just a thought  .... when we see all the shit in the world we say prayers are not being answered?

Maybe the prayers are being answered and christians are just shitty people  

[slartibartfast]

I was a bit shocked. I was with two friends. I guess we looked pretty unassuming. I just wanted to play my mobile game with my friends.

I asked the man "what's the success rate?" and he initially 50% and then he caught himself and said 70% and then upped it to 100% (though I think he did say it depends on the circumstances). I was going to suggest it's no better than random chance but the conversation quickly moved on. Thankfully, he did say that prayer is no substitute for modern medicine so that was somewhat reassuring, when I pressed him on that. I did suggest that maybe prayer is a placebo as he said some are more receptive than others. Wasn't there that Harvard study on prayer? The one that said prayer makes little to no difference.

I ask him if prayer could make my friend with a missing arm grow a new arm. I didn't feel I really got an answer to that question. A bit frustrating to say the least. After a short conversation he said he had to go and pick up his child(ren) from school and left us.

Same thing happened to me and my wife the other day in the middle of the supermarket. She has arthritic knees and will likely need a knee replacement in the next couple years or so and limps as she walks. Young guy comes up and says "Can I pray for your leg?".

So here's the thing. His method may be completely ineffective, and somewhat offensive to me on a "I'm just gonna thrust my world view on you, a complete stranger in a public place" level, however his demeanor, intent and genuine nature made it impossible for my wife and I to reject him. Overall I was personally taken aback by his simply very genuine desire to help another human being. It was kind of like a boy scout offering to carry your bags when you don't need any help. You can appreciate the sentiment and just accept the attempt at help and let someone else feel good about having tried without being a prick about it.