- Oct 10, 2013
- 1,039
- 232
- Faith
- Christian
- Marital Status
- Single
I, just as many of my fellow Christians, have struggled with problem of suffering in this world. While I have not come to a satisfactory answer to this (and may never), I can accept the fact that there are things in this world that I may simply never understand. However, these ideas do have a practical impact on the practice of prayer. The idea of prayer and how it relates to God's relationship to this world can, from my perspective be grouped in three broad areas of thinking:
The reason is that this is such an important issue, is because it impacts how I pray. Is there a point in praying for the healing of others or Mr. John Deer will find a job or beat an addiction? Again, I am very blessed, but I struggle with thanking God because it did not rain or something (when a tornado may be brewing elsewhere). If He gave me sun, does that mean He gave others a tornado? Maybe I should just focus on praising Him for His ultimate "gift" - Jesus Christ and eternal life.
I appreciate any thoughts.
- God is in complete control of this world.
- This, at least, in the environment I was raised is probably the most popular Christian belief. However, as I have aged and started seeking my own answers, I have (right or wrong) increasing difficulties with it.
- Merits: There are many Scripture passages that do seem to indicate that God does control the Earth. Psalm 104 and the latter passages of Job are two examples.
- Problems: If God is in complete control and all-knowing, why pray? Prayer does not empower or inform God. However, this does not coincide with other passages that seem to indicate that prayer does have an impact on this world (some are noted below. Verses that indicate that God sends “good things” (James 1:17, Matthew 7:11, Matthew 6:25-34). Considering all the suffering in the world, it also has some issues with God's loving kindness and justice.
- This, at least, in the environment I was raised is probably the most popular Christian belief. However, as I have aged and started seeking my own answers, I have (right or wrong) increasing difficulties with it.
- God is, for whatever reason, not in absolute control of this world or choose not to always act; He works through our prayers. The earth is a “battlefield” of sorts with Satan as our enemy, and the source, whether direct or indirect, of all that is wrong with this world.
- Honestly, this belief set never appealed much to be in the past; however, upon closer examination, I certainly can see both Biblical and real-world merit.
- Merits: One could explain the suffering in this world as evidence of a lack of prayer. Fervent prayer is a characteristic that might be lacking in the Church. Certain verses do seem to indicate that prayer has the power to change (see Mark 9:29; Jame 5:15; and Genesis 20:17)
- Problems: I am quite certain there are many instances where entire churches and communities have prayed for the healing of an individual or the aversion of a natural disaster, but the negative still happened. Meanwhile, people professing no faith in God may “miraculously” recover from a disease or survive a natural disaster, murder attempt, or similar incident. Suffering and healing sometimes seem to take place independent of prayers. It also seems incompatible with the concept that God is both all-powerful (see above) and good; it implies God “needs” our prayers to work on this earth. However, as personal note, I know I am extremely blessed, and do feel as if God has answered some of my prayers. But why would He respond to my comparatively petty requests and not much larger issues?
- Honestly, this belief set never appealed much to be in the past; however, upon closer examination, I certainly can see both Biblical and real-world merit.
- God is not in complete control and prayer is mainly a relational tool rather than a spiritual weapon. This is essentially the idea put forth in Harold Kushner's book, When Bad Things Happen to Good People.
- Merits: This idea (to me) seems most compatible with real-world observations. It also coincides with much of Ecclesiastes and to a lesser extent Matthew 5:45 and Luke 13: 2 – 5.
- Problems: As noted above, certain passages seem to indicate that there is power in prayer. It also struggles with the same issues relating to God's omnipotence noted in the point above.
- Merits: This idea (to me) seems most compatible with real-world observations. It also coincides with much of Ecclesiastes and to a lesser extent Matthew 5:45 and Luke 13: 2 – 5.
The reason is that this is such an important issue, is because it impacts how I pray. Is there a point in praying for the healing of others or Mr. John Deer will find a job or beat an addiction? Again, I am very blessed, but I struggle with thanking God because it did not rain or something (when a tornado may be brewing elsewhere). If He gave me sun, does that mean He gave others a tornado? Maybe I should just focus on praising Him for His ultimate "gift" - Jesus Christ and eternal life.
I appreciate any thoughts.