Prayers only (no action) faith is bad?

timewerx said:

A Christian will often say "I will pray for you".

However, examples in the Bible show not only early Christians prayed for another but also helped each other in quite substantiable way in the material and physical capacity, even setting aside significant amount of their time, effort, and resources to help those in need or distress.

But I see many Christians today seemingly using "prayers" rather as an excuse from helping in any physical capacity. Purely as a matter of convenience.

Click to expand...

Yes, its a frequent thing.

timewerx said:

Could they be setting a bad example or even cause other Christians to blame God and Christianity if these "prayers out of convenience" fail and eventually leave the faith?

Click to expand...

I do not think so. The true faith is not dependent on the behavior of other people.

If it is, such faith would go away anyway, sooner or later, because its built on a sand.

Amen @timewerx very true.

Along with this goes the phrase "bless you". What does that mean exactly? Bless me how? Blessing me by saying "bless me"?

"Bless you" is not a magic phrase that suddenly instills me with a spiritual gift or help. But if you done something for me for my benefit, something tangible for my need, that would be blessing me. Saying these words alone is tantamount to saying "help you!" and then walking off.

Another one that will challenge more people is the phrase "praise God". Such words are an instruction only and not actual praise itself. Therefore, when one says "I praise you God" they are doing so at all, but rather talking about doing so. The same with HalleluYah - which is another instruction to hearers. We pick up such phrases from the Psalms and other Scriptures but these were encouraging the hearers to actually praise God - not to simply say "praise God". Saying these words alone is tantamount to saying "I will eventually adore you God" and thinking you're done. Or saying to a loved one "I'll tell you how I feel soon".

Great point you've raised timewerx

Love & Shalom

timewerx said:

A Christian will often say "I will pray for you".

However, examples in the Bible show not only early Christians prayed for another but also helped each other in quite substantiable way in the material and physical capacity, even setting aside significant amount of their time, effort, and resources to help those in need or distress.

But I see many Christians today seemingly using "prayers" rather as an excuse from helping in any physical capacity. Purely as a matter of convenience.

Could they be setting a bad example or even cause other Christians to blame God and Christianity if these "prayers out of convenience" fail and eventually leave the faith?

Click to expand...

Exactly what " faith without works is dead", means. Be blessed.

We should pray for what we cannot provide and give that which we can provide whenever a need arises that is brought to our attention.

I love these verses too

Prov 19:17 He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.

When it says, that he will pay him again, it says this also when we consider the poor

Psalm 41:1 Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.

Prov 21:13 Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.

Just as it says here...

Duet 15:7 If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother:

Duet 15:8 But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth.

And when he says,

Duet 15:10 Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for this thing the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto.

I love that it says, thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest (because God loves a cheerful giver) and that for this thing you will be blessed (just as it is more blessed to give then to receive).

I think thats just so beautiful really, heres a few more

1John 3:17 But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

Duet 7:8 But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth.

2Cr 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

Just as we are created in Christ unto good works

James 2:15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

Similiarly

Titus 1:16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

Duet 15:11 For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shall open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, andto thy needy, in thy land.

Likewise it says,

Jerm 22:16 He judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well with him: was not this to know me? saith the LORD.

Theres the opposite as well, for example

Ecc 5:13 There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt.

Luke 12:20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

Luke 12:21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

Therefore the rich in this world are charged

1Ti 6:17-19 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

Theres quite a few more, I think James shows it best