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A question about praying.

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Minty

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I have a small question about praying. My question is this...is is ok for me to pray to God for other people?

Although I am Pagan, I do believe that the Christian God exists for Christians, so is it permissable for me to pray to Him on Christians' behalf (not for me)?

I have many Christian friends, and I don't know what to say to them when it comes to the subject of praying for them, as my faith is different to theirs (although this is not an issue between us). I would never dream of asking my gods to help them, but can I ask their God to help them?

Any advice would be gratefully received (but please no replies saying that Jesus loves me, or that I should repent of my evil ways, as I have heard them all before, and that is not the basis of my question :)).

Thank you in advance.
 
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the.Sheepdog

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I for one think God will honor your prayers for others. That shows that you are loving others and asking for intercession on their behalf and not for yourself. The whole of the Law is "Love you neighbor as yourself".

May our God bless you for loving others! And if you dont mind I will pray for you too that you may receive blessings and grace for your selfless duties to CF!
 
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ephraimanesti

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Although I am Pagan, I do believe that the Christian God exists for Christians, so is it permissable for me to pray to Him on Christians' behalf (not for me)?
MY FRIEND--

If God exists for Christians, He exists for EVERYONE--no matter what type of "spiritual" games they are playing.

If God exists for EVERYONE, then He exists for Pagans and other unbelievers.

If God exists for Pagans and other unbelievers, perhaps you should try praying to Him for yourself--that He would open your heart and mind to the Truth and give you the strength and courage to follow that Truth into His Kingdom.

Life is too short for games--spiritual or otherwise!


A BOND-SLAVE/FRIEND/BROTHER OF OUR LORD/GOD/SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST,
ephraim

P.S. Sorry for my lack of political correctness.
 
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chosenpath

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This is a difficult question. I personally cannot tell you to pray or not to pray. God is specific when he says that he requires exact devotion and there shall be no other gods above him. Jesus Christ is the only way to the Father and anyone who believes in him if it is asked through his name it shall be given. You stated you believed the Christian God exists for Christians but not for you. I am including some scriptures below for you to meditate on.

Matthew 18:5
Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.

Mark 9:38-39
Now John answered Him, saying, "Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow us." But Jesus said, "Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle in My name can soon afterward speak evil of Me.

John 16:23
"And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you.
 
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heron

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Is it permissable for me to pray to Him on Christians' behalf (not for me)?
Of course! How nice of you to want to offer that for them.

Did you know that Moses was not brought up in the faith, when God appeared to him in the burning bush? Imagine taking on the responsibility of setting free a whole community of slaves, when you don't even understand their motivations. Moses grew up in the Pharaoh's temple, with Egyptian beliefs. But God spoke to Moses, of all people, and immediately offered that His power would work through Moses.

Jesus said to ask, and you will recieve; knock, and the door will be opened to you. He was speaking to crowds, not just to religious people. Ask.

Talking to God needs to be approached with the understanding that God is a personality, not a ritual. Churches may put restrictions on how we relate to God, but in the purest most direct form, we can talk to God because He is there.

So for now, toss aside any should's, and allow that God will even listen to our arguments and shouts and complaints. It's not a good habit for regular ongoing conversation, but He can take it. Look at some of the Psalms -- there are prayers where David is not in his best form.

In Psalm 83, David seems about as fed up by injustice and oppression as he can take. I don't think that's the type of prayer you're asking about, but it's an example of how far we can go in talking with God. It sounds like you have a big heart, and really want good things for your friends.

God values people who try to promote justice and kindness, even if they are not part of the Pack.

An example:
Heb 11:31 By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish with those disobeying, having received the spies with peace.

Jas 2:25 But in the same way Rahab the harlot was also justified out of works, having received the messengers, and sending them out by another way.
 
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MikeMcKinney

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John 9:31 - Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.

Pr 15:29 - The Lord is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayers of the righteous

Hebrews 11:6 - But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
 
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heron

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I don't want to debate within the thread, but you will see that there is complexity and different types of insights within scriptures.

For example, the Hebrew word for wicked in the Proverbs describes someone who is [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva]criminal, harmful, hostile, or destructive to others... intentionally resists honesty and goodness. Proverbs is a book of advice for wise living.
[/FONT]
The Greek word "sinners" (amartwlwn) in John implies wicked -- people who trick or oppress others, not just humans who stumble over selfish decisions. We are all sinners.

The verse was spoken by a man who had just been healed of blindness, about Jesus who was accused by religious leaders of misrepresenting God.

25 He (healed blind man) then answered, "Whether He (Jesus) is a sinner, I do not know; one thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see."

After that, Jesus asked the man, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?"
He answered, "Who is He, Sir, that I may believe in Him?"

The man was healed by Jesus before he grasped who Jesus was. People Lu 8:2 who had demons cast out were probably not devoted believers.
Lu 9:2
And He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to perform healing. (Hearing a proclaiming is an early stage in belief, yet God planned for healing before people solidly believed.) Jesus even raised people from the dead before He found out if they believed.

Mt 12:15 But Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. Many followed Him, and He healed them all,While hoping for healing is not quite a prayer, following after Jesus and asking for healing is a request... similar to a prayer.

There were people that Jesus ran across who wanted to use God's powers for their own gain, as if he were a system of magic. [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva]Mr 9:39 Even then, Jesus was patient with the idea.

It is only logical that God would not grant corrupt wishes as if He were a captive genie. He does not have to grant anything -- He chooses to help us in our weakness. If He is thought of as a person, a heavenly Father, then it is easier to grasp why He operates the way He does.
[/FONT]
 
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ebia

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I have a small question about praying. My question is this...is is ok for me to pray to God for other people?

Although I am Pagan, I do believe that the Christian God exists for Christians, so is it permissable for me to pray to Him on Christians' behalf (not for me)?

I have many Christian friends, and I don't know what to say to them when it comes to the subject of praying for them, as my faith is different to theirs (although this is not an issue between us). I would never dream of asking my gods to help them, but can I ask their God to help them?

Any advice would be gratefully received (but please no replies saying that Jesus loves me, or that I should repent of my evil ways, as I have heard them all before, and that is not the basis of my question :)).

Thank you in advance.
Well, a god that exists only for Christians (or only for any particular group) isn't the Christian God. An absolutely fundamental claim of Jews and Christians is that their God is everybody's God. And absolutely fundamental claim of Christians is the gospel - that Jesus is risen and is (therefore) Lord of all.

By all means pray to whoever you want, but if you aren't praying to a God who is God of all (including you), through a Jesus who is Lord of all (including you), you are not praying to the Christian God.

Relativism is fundamentally incompatible with the historic Christian, Jewish, and Islamic concepts of God. Relativists who say "your God is true for you, but not for me" are actually making an absolute statement that the Christian, Jewish and Islamic concepts of God are false - whether they like it or not a relativistic idea of truth makes as many absolute claims as any other idea.
 
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heron

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I like the emotions of this verse -- it feels to me like God is hearing thoughts and pleas all over the world, and responding by networking people.
Acts 16:9 A [SIZE=-1][/SIZE]vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia [SIZE=-1][/SIZE]was standing and appealing to him, and saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us."
 
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Maranatha27

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May I ask why you think so, please?

Hi minty,

There is to be no offense taken ok :)

The reason I believe this, is because you have a very strong knowledge of who Christ is. You reject Him. He is the mediator between God and man. Sin unrepented of and unforgiven completely cuts off communication.
 
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Philothei

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I have not seen this thread before and I would say that it defenately does not hurt to pray even if you do not believe in Him.... We have examples of pagans who did pray in times of danger to God and God showed them the way to Him... and they became believers. We do not know "where the spirit of God " blows as it blows "wherever it pleases" so I would say it is safe for "anyone" to do so... God will not mind a bit :) Minty :)

*hugs*

Philothei
 
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jesugino

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There is only one God in this world who gave his life for us called Jesus. No question of asking other Gods to help them..

In Prayer, first step is to praise the Lord for his sacrifice in which u can read Isaiah 53, then ask forgiveness for whomever u pray, then ask such that they should not go again to the sins. This is holiness which is very much liked by God. A verse says,
"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."(Matthew 6-33)
If you seek his kingdom like holiness, surely you will get other things also.
 
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