Weighing up statements about prayer

Amittai said:

Friends, a query has been on my heart.

Please comment in a kind spirit, about some things a number of people used to tell me in my teens and twenties, and about which I am sceptical.

They said that saying:

- a prayer that is pre-printed
- a prayer that is pre-memorised

even if it occurs in Holy Scripture like the Lord's Prayer, is "Quenching The Spirit".

Thank you & bless you.

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There is no recognizable branch of Christianity that would support that view.
A few people, representative of no particular denomination or cult, can always be found somewhere who will believe almost anything, even the most ridiculous stuff, and we cannot prevent that.

Amittai said:

Friends, a query has been on my heart.

Please comment in a kind spirit, about some things a number of people used to tell me in my teens and twenties, and about which I am sceptical.

They said that saying:

- a prayer that is pre-printed
- a prayer that is pre-memorised

even if it occurs in Holy Scripture like the Lord's Prayer, is "Quenching The Spirit".

Thank you & bless you.

Click to expand...

Personally, I've never heard anyone say something like that in those exact terms. Maybe they were meaning to make reference to what Jesus says.....just before....He taught His disciples "His Prayer"?

Amittai said:

Friends, a query has been on my heart.

Please comment in a kind spirit, about some things a number of people used to tell me in my teens and twenties, and about which I am sceptical.

They said that saying:

- a prayer that is pre-printed
- a prayer that is pre-memorised

even if it occurs in Holy Scripture like the Lord's Prayer, is "Quenching The Spirit".

Thank you & bless you.

Click to expand...

Rote prayer can never be the sum total of Christian prayer, but that does not mean it is erroneous.

Amittai said:

They said that saying:
- a prayer that is pre-printed
- a prayer that is pre-memorised
even if it occurs in Holy Scripture like the Lord's Prayer, is "Quenching The Spirit".

Click to expand...

That would imply that Jesus Himself was quenching the Spirit. Matthew 6:7-13 (NIV)

And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

“This, then, is how you should pray:

“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.

Although it wasn't "printed" in the original, it was certainly copied, and since the press started printing it has been printed.

Amittai said:

Friends, a query has been on my heart.

Please comment in a kind spirit, about some things a number of people used to tell me in my teens and twenties, and about which I am sceptical.

They said that saying:

- a prayer that is pre-printed
- a prayer that is pre-memorised

even if it occurs in Holy Scripture like the Lord's Prayer, is "Quenching The Spirit".

Thank you & bless you.

Click to expand...

Not only do I agree with Albion and 2PhiloVoid but logic and sound theology tells us the appeal to a quenched Spirit is false. The logically necessary implication of that claim is there is a place in prayer the Holy Spirit cannot have power. The notion is prima facia absurd! The Spirit made a donkey talk! He can certainly work within a pre-written or memorized prayer.

What matters it the heart. God does not have contempt for a broken and contrite heart (Ps. 51:17), and it is those upon whom God looks with favor (as opposed to those who dictate to others how they should pray?) (Isa. 66:2). God dwells with the contrite and lowly of spirit in order to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite (Isa. 57:15).

Another logically necessary conclusion of this prohibition is that it would preclude anyone from praying scripture.


The irony is that you in your skepticism may be more spiritually minded and attuned than the one prohibiting pre-printed and pre-memorized prayer. Be encouraged, Amittai

Amittai said:

Friends, a query has been on my heart.Please comment in a kind spirit, about some things a number of people used to tell me in my teens and twenties, and about which I am sceptical.They said that saying:
- a prayer that is pre-printed
- a prayer that is pre-memorised
even if it occurs in Holy Scripture like the Lord's Prayer, is "Quenching The Spirit".
Thank you & bless you.

Click to expand...

Not officially.