If a believer prays for a non-believer...what happens?

[brinny]

Posted this on another forum, and thought I'd ask it here, since it's somewhat religious, and philosophical.

If I don't believe that God exists, and someone prays for me...will God still bless me? (if he or it exists)

I've been wondering this lately.

People often 'pray' for me, or tell me that God loves me...but if I don't believe what they believe, what happens? Does a god require a person's belief, to 'bless' him/her?

I never pray for anyone, especially if they are not of my faith, unless i ask their permission to pray for them.

As far as what happens? I'm not sure what you mean, specifically. Would you care to elaborate?

Thank you kindly.

 

[Freodin]

I never pray for anyone, especially if they are not of my faith, unless i ask their permission to pray for them.

As far as what happens? I'm not sure what you mean, specifically. Would you care to elaborate?

Thank you kindly.

I do have to wonder: did you ask Archbishop Cordileone for his permission to pray for him?

I don't want to imply that you cannot do that, should not do that or whatever... I was just wondering that you so categorically stated that you never do something that on the other hand you seem to advertise in your signature.

 

[brinny]

I do have to wonder: did you ask Archbishop Cordileone for his permission to pray for him?

I don't want to imply that you cannot do that, should not do that or whatever... I was just wondering that you so categorically stated that you never do something that on the other hand you seem to advertise in your signature.

Hi Freodin. He is a believer just as i am. There are many asking to pray for him. It is assumed that when another believer is in need of encouragement, support, etc. that part of that support and encouragement would be prayers for said believer in their time of need. I responded to the request to pray for him from other believers. It is my profound belief that he more than welcomes and appreciates prayers from his brothers and sisters in Christ, as we are admonished in God's Word to pray for each other. I would welcome prayers and encouragement and support when i am in need of such as well. There would be no need to ask me.

I was referring to those not of my faith mostly, in my first response. I would ask someone not of my faith if i can pray for them.

Thank you kindly.

 

[bhsmte]

Hi Freodin. He is a believer just as i am. There are many asking to pray for him. It is assumed that when another believer is in need of encouragement, support, etc. that part of that support and encouragement would be prayers for said believer in their time of need. I responded to the request to pray for him from other believers. It is my profound belief that he more than welcomes and appreciates prayers from his brothers and sisters in Christ, as we are admonished in God's Word to pray for each other. I would welcome prayers and encouragement and support when i am in need of such as well. There would be no need to ask me.

I was referring to those not of my faith mostly, in my first response. I would ask someone not of my faith if i can pray for them.

Thank you kindly.

Ok.

Can you demonstrate what happens when a believer prays for another believer?

 

[brinny]

Ok.

Can you demonstrate what happens when a believer prays for another believer?

Not sure what you mean by demonstrate.

Thank you kindly.

 

[bhsmte]

Not sure what you mean by demonstrate.

Thank you kindly.

Can you show us how you know what happens when you pray for another believer?

 

[brinny]

Can you show us how you know what happens when you pray for another believer?

Praise reports.

Thank you kindly.

 

[bhsmte]

Praise reports.

Thank you kindly.

Can you give an example of a praise report?

 

[brinny]

Can you give an example of a praise report?

Yes, a praise report is when someone gives an update or feedback about their dilemma, and how it diminished, etc.

Thank you kindly.

 

[bhsmte]

Yes, a praise report is when someone gives an update or feedback about their dilemma, and how it diminished, etc.

Thank you kindly.

Gotcha, thanks.

 

[brinny]

Gotcha, thanks.

You are most welcome.

 

[GrimKingGrim]

That Exhange was... an exchange

 

[brinny]

That Exhange was... an exchange

LOL! Wut?

 

[GrimKingGrim]

LOL! Wut?

Lol it read so straightforward that it was ironic. Especially for this forum.

That doesn't happen here. Stop messing with the script.

 

[brinny]

Lol it read so straightforward that it was ironic. Especially for this forum.

That doesn't happen here. Stop messing with the script.

hahaaaa sorry

 

[Gracchus]

I never quite understood this "prayer" thing. I am told that God is omnipotent, omniscient, and benevolent. That means he is going to dispose of me in the best way possible. It would be the height of arrogance for me to second guess him by asking him to do otherwise than what he is going to do. If he demands that I plead and grovel, I can only point out that isn't who he made when he made me.

 

[zippy2006]

I never quite understood this "prayer" thing. I am told that God is omnipotent, omniscient, and benevolent. That means he is going to dispose of me in the best way possible. It would be the height of arrogance for me to second guess him by asking him to do otherwise than what he is going to do. If he demands that I plead and grovel, I can only point out that isn't who he made when he made me.

See Summa Contra Gentiles, Book III, Question 69; or De Potentia Dei, Question 3, Article 7.

 

[dms1972]

if someone is using prayers to try to bring others to their faith. But, when I was once a believer, I remember thinking that believing in God was right and good and that everyone 'should want' what I believed. Brainwashing is powerful in some families. lol I grew up in religion, so...that's how it was 'taught' to me.

It is right and good but each has to recognise for themselves what the Bible says is true to believe.

Don't let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ. Colossians 2:8


There is a difference between faith and beliefs in the sense of theology people give mental assent to. Its wrong to try to pray others into particular theologies, or into particular churches, ie praying people to believe the "pre-trib rapture", "young-earth creationism", or "to go to hear this guy" or such, is in my view a wrong way to pray no matter how important it seems to someone, or group.

The thing with prayer, genuine prayer is that it is not brain washing or manipulation. The question is the motive behind specific prayers. Is it to control, manipulate God or others? If that is the case we won't get guidance on how to pray about things until we deal with these attitudes. Firstly no one can manipulate God, or dictate to Him. Prayer in christian faith is made unto God through Jesus Christ His Son, who is the Mediator and with the Holy Spirit - Intercessor. You can certainly bring requests humbly to God, but our thoughts are not His thoughts. Unless he gives us guidance on how to pray our prayers will often be muddled. He understands and has promised to help once our motives are right.

CS Lewis said once prayer doesn't change God, it changed him. He was talking about praying after the death of his wife. This comment by him is not universally the case because genuine prayer can sometimes change things and situations.


I dislike the notion of prayers to make people do anything. Its like saying "pass me the salt and slide it down the table"

Christians can pray for each other, and are told to. In the case of non-believers, yes its good to ask.

God can bring a person back from unbelief to repentance and faith, but in His timing and Way.

Jesus of Nazareth the Good Shepherd certainly will go looking for a sheep that wandered off.

 

[John James3]

What happens? Trouble, because thats how God gets our attention imo

Posted this on another forum, and thought I'd ask it here, since it's somewhat religious, and philosophical.

If I don't believe that God exists, and someone prays for me...will God still bless me? (if he or it exists)

I've been wondering this lately.

People often 'pray' for me, or tell me that God loves me...but if I don't believe what they believe, what happens? Does a god require a person's belief, to 'bless' him/her?

 

[dms1972]

What happens? Trouble, because thats how God gets our attention imo

No not always. If someone asked me to pray I certainly would be praying for them to be gently drawn back. No one can tell God how to get peoples attention or say what He will use. If the OP honestly is reconsidering some things after not doing so due to a more religious background then I would hesitate to say trouble is first way. We experience difficulties in life in any case from time to time. I reconsidered christianity several times, going back to agnosticism temporarily each time, I ventured into atheism too which was not necessary but that is what happened. God led me back gently at times. I probably overdone thinking it through. But there was little scope for conversation with others who had thought it through - it seemed like I was thinking it through for some of those christians I did talk too.