Does God listen to non-christians when they pray

TedT

Member since Job 38:7
Jan 11, 2021
1,850
334
Vancouver Island
✟85,846.00
Country
Canada
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Married
Will my prayers be unheard if I am not a Christian? If I call upon the name of the Lord Jesus, in response to a tragic event that is happening, will my prayers be unheard?

It is plain from scripture that there is a big difference between His knowing someone and His knowing about someone... He never knew the charlatans, the demons nor the foolish virgins but HE created them and knew all about them so to know must have a meaning of acceptance and loving attention.

HE knows all about the prayers of the wicked of the nations but they are not brought to HIS loving attention. HE deals with everyone according to their free will decision to accept HIM as their GOD or to reject HIM as a liar and a false god.
 
Upvote 0

Sophrosyne

Let Your Light Shine.. Matt 5:16
Jun 21, 2007
163,213
64,206
In God's Amazing Grace
✟903,022.00
Faith
Christian
Yes, that could be true. But remember, they can get their perception of who Jesus is by other Christians. For example, every time that I talk about surrendering my life to Jesus, Christians will say well, not everybody who call on Jesus will enter the kingdom of heaven. They have used that verse against me. So, they may go around and think, well maybe I am saved or not saved. They start to think that it is impossible, even when calling on his name to be saved, so then what is the point.
I think there is two things going on the first is people warning about those who pay lip service to God and hypocrites. There are many who "play" Christian to profit themselves like politicians who claim to be one to get votes but then their policies that they support say otherwise and so on.
Now God is the only one who knows the motivations of other Christians. But sometimes when other Christians talk about his judgment and wrath, they appear to be happy that other people going to hell, and they are going to go to heaven. Look at Joy Behar and her comments about other Christians. She made some mocking comments about other Christians, which was wrong. But then when she apologized, other Christians for one thing doubted her sincere apology; but then they said when judgment comes, she is going to get it. It seemed like they would rejoice at that fact. There was a lot of comments about that. I wouldn't wish God's punishment on my worst enemy. The point is sometimes we get our perception from other Christians.
One always needs to cement opinion with the word of God, not necessarily the actions of sinful Christians.
Actually, I am not trying to put God in a box at all. I recognize that I am human and God is not. I recognize that I may view God by human emotions. But my goal is to step away from that. I have put God in a box before. But my goal is to step away from that. That is why I wrote this thread. I have been crying out to God for mercy and for his forgiveness of my sins in hopes that he would give it. But in my threads, I have been saying that I don't truly know God. However, when I talked about God, it wasn't me telling you, this is the way God is, it was waiting for a correction from people that know God already. I have no problem being corrected and told, no, that is not who he is.
Actually we all do it, we have a perception of God that either limits him by making our box too small or only put parts of God in it that we like and leave out the parts we don't. People don't want to accept God as whom he is at times because they find some of his actions unacceptable... even evil.

Don't look to others as a witness to who God is and toss everything they say or do in your "God box" look to things done that line up with scripture that they do and ask yourself if it is because of themselves.... or God that they do things that are right by God and likewise wrong by God too.
Prayers often are answered because even though someone isn't a believer they are trying to do right by God.
 
Upvote 0

ViaCrucis

Confessional Lutheran
Oct 2, 2011
37,458
26,890
Pacific Northwest
✟732,295.00
Country
United States
Faith
Lutheran
Marital Status
In Relationship
Politics
US-Others
Will my prayers be unheard if I am not a Christian? If I call upon the name of the Lord Jesus, in response to a tragic event that is happening, will my prayers be unheard?

God is God, regardless of us.
Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

-CryptoLutheran
 
Upvote 0

andreha

Senior Contributor
Site Supporter
Feb 13, 2009
10,416
12,379
52
Gauteng
✟130,569.00
Country
South Africa
Faith
Word of Faith
Marital Status
Married
Yes, that could be true. But remember, they can get their perception of who Jesus is by other Christians. For example, every time that I talk about surrendering my life to Jesus, Christians will say well, not everybody who call on Jesus will enter the kingdom of heaven. They have used that verse against me. So, they may go around and think, well maybe I am saved or not saved. They start to think that it is impossible, even when calling on his name to be saved, so then what is the point.

Now God is the only one who knows the motivations of other Christians. But sometimes when other Christians talk about his judgment and wrath, they appear to be happy that other people going to hell, and they are going to go to heaven. Look at Joy Behar and her comments about other Christians. She made some mocking comments about other Christians, which was wrong. But then when she apologized, other Christians for one thing doubted her sincere apology; but then they said when judgment comes, she is going to get it. It seemed like they would rejoice at that fact. There was a lot of comments about that. I wouldn't wish God's punishment on my worst enemy. The point is sometimes we get our perception from other Christians.



Actually, I am not trying to put God in a box at all. I recognize that I am human and God is not. I recognize that I may view God by human emotions. But my goal is to step away from that. I have put God in a box before. But my goal is to step away from that. That is why I wrote this thread. I have been crying out to God for mercy and for his forgiveness of my sins in hopes that he would give it. But in my threads, I have been saying that I don't truly know God. However, when I talked about God, it wasn't me telling you, this is the way God is, it was waiting for a correction from people that know God already. I have no problem being corrected and told, no, that is not who he is.

You clearly have a humble heart. You have already called to Him. He won't judge you, no, He'll lovingly guide your life and fill your path with blessings. You will get to know His love. Nothing can stop that.

Edit.
I Just thought of an analogy, regarding how folks can be hesitant to come to the Lord and give themselves to Him:

It's like a toddler that sees the ocean for the first time. They are visibly filled with awe. As they see the waves coming and going, mom or dad may hold their child by the hands and let him slowly step into the waves, further and further. But quite often, as the cool water touches their toes, they giggle and run back to the sand. This is also how folks hear of the Lord, but they are hesitant to give their lives over to Him. But the Spirit, patient and kind, will let us come to Him at our own pace. I was like one of those children who ran into the waves and never looked back.
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0

biblelesson

Well-Known Member
Jun 11, 2021
1,120
407
66
College Park
✟72,763.00
Country
United States
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Married
Will my prayers be unheard if I am not a Christian? If I call upon the name of the Lord Jesus, in response to a tragic event that is happening, will my prayers be unheard?

How can you be a non-believer if you call on the name of the Lord Jesus? You have acknowledged Jesus as Lord and need Him to answer your prayer. How can you say you are not a Christian? 1 Corinthians 12:1, "...No man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost."

If you have confessed that Jesus is Lord, then you believe in Him. A Christian is simply someone who believes in Christ. I"m not understanding!

I pray for your situation that God will grant healing to your family.
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0

zoidar

loves Jesus the Christ! ✝️
Site Supporter
Sep 18, 2010
7,222
2,617
✟886,360.00
Country
Sweden
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Private
God bless you too.

My mom is in the hospital with covid. She is doing better. But she is not out of the woods. Thank you for your prayers.

Friend, how did it go?
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0

Marumorose

Active Member
Nov 30, 2019
329
321
45
Polokwane
✟37,738.00
Country
South Africa
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Single
Will my prayers be unheard if I am not a Christian? If I call upon the name of the Lord Jesus, in response to a tragic event that is happening, will my prayers be unheard?
Jesus Christ can hear your prayers.
Mark 9:38-39 says "Teacher,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us. Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “For no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, for whoever is not against us is for us"
May God Bless You
 
Upvote 0

Aussie Pete

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Aug 14, 2019
9,081
8,285
Frankston
Visit site
✟727,630.00
Country
Australia
Faith
Non-Denom
Marital Status
Divorced
Will my prayers be unheard if I am not a Christian? If I call upon the name of the Lord Jesus, in response to a tragic event that is happening, will my prayers be unheard?
God hears all prayer, from a believer or not. I had a prayer answered when I was 12 years old. It was so obviously God that it scared me. I was not saved until 9 years later. A short while before I was saved, I said "There must be more to life than this." I was sort of directing that to God. I had no idea if He was listening at the time. Now I know that He was.

God always answers prayer. It may not be in a way that you like. Just remember that you are praying to a real person, who happens to have created the universe just by His words. I suggest that you show respect.
 
Upvote 0