Prayers by Non-Christians

[W2L]

Oh?

Are you saying that you and/or your church observes the unbiblical practices of altar, invitation hymns, and revivals?

And just WHERE are invitation in the NT?

After all, Sola Scriptura is your rule, not mine.

Therefore, it's up to YOU to provide Biblical warrant for them.

That's what im saying yes.

God invites sinners in Isaiah 55 and in Matthew 11:28-30

 

[Archivist]

I do understand you were not specifically soliciting prayers from non-believers. I too had a severe post-op infection after heart surgery and the surgeon scraped half of my chest out due to it. It was a year long ordeal and I had a lot of people say they were praying for me. I also just yesterday posted that my sister-in-law is in a hospital dying from cancer and was given Last Rights. I am not Catholic (far from it) but a lot of folks from different walks of spiritual life stated they were praying for us as they understood what Last Rights meant. I accept and do appreciate their warm thoughts and desires for peace and understanding in the family. But, what I was trying to say was that we get our understanding of healing from the Bible and it reads just the opposite therein. God does hear different denominational prayers where Christ is the center, but that God does not hear prayers from those who deny Christ as Lord and Savior. If I am wrong I would sincerely appreciate being shown where God hears and honors the frivolous prayers of a last chance effort made to an icon of a man-made god built by those who know, but reject Jesus Christ?

Prayers for your sister-in-law and for your family. We simply have to disagree as I remain convinced that a living God hears prayers of healing offered by non-Christians, including those that are for the healing of Christians.

 

[RickardoHolmes]

Of course there are "good" people (according to our societal standards) in all different backgrounds.



But have you considered making close freinds within the Christian community?


And unless I feel close to someone in some way, I don't inquire as to their health. I either wait for them to offer how they are doing, or assume they don't care to publicize it, because how someone is doing physically is often a private and personal matter. Something youd assume they may not share with a stranger.


Just a thought..

This actually happened with the elderly man in the waiting room of the testing center at the hospital. I think he was waiting for someone else and we talked until it was my turn .

In regards to making friends in the Christian community, I have tried and failed many times I think that this would be a much better discussion as a separate thread. I would like to discuss this further with you. Thanks for your reply

 

[rnmomof7]

i have a number of friends who are not Christians. Among them are several Jewish friends, a number of Muslims, several Wiccans and a couple Hindus.

During a recent illness I had friends who contacted me via Facebook to say that they were praying for my recovery. These included prayers from my Jewish, Muslim, Wiccan and Hindu friends.

I believe God hears prayers for healing from my non-Christian friends as much as He hears prayers from my Christian friends. However I’ve had Christians tell me that I should not ask for prayers from non-Christians. Thoughts?

Proverbs 15:29 29The LORD is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous.

John 9:31
We know that God does not listen to sinners, but He does listen to the one who worships Him and does His will.

 

[rnmomof7]

Probably if God has mercy.

The source of Gods mercy is Christ.. there is no mercy found in Allah or other false gods

 

[Archivist]

The source of Gods mercy is Christ.. there is no mercy found in Allah or other false gods

But if you read the thread you know that I never said that any false gods woukd answer prayers.

 

[Monk Brendan]

That's what im saying yes.

God invites sinners in Isaiah 55 and in Matthew 11:28-30

And where in the Bible was this done during a service?

 

[Not David]

The source of Gods mercy is Christ.. there is no mercy found in Allah or other false gods

Never said otherwise.

 

[W2L]

And where in the Bible was this done during a service?

Doesn't your church read those scriptures at the church service?

 

[Monk Brendan]

Doesn't your church read those scriptures at the church service?

Rarely, but this is NOT the same thing as the Protestant invention of the altar call.

In fact, for the first few centuries, there was a place where those who were not baptized were escorted out before the Creed and the Eucharistic action.

 

[W2L]

And where in the Bible was this done during a service?

paul instructed Timothy to commit himself to public reading of scripture. Im sure that includes scriptures I posted

 

[W2L]

Rarely, but this is NOT the same thing as the Protestant invention of the altar call.

In fact, for the first few centuries, there was a place where those who were not baptized were escorted out before the Creed and the Eucharistic action.

I don't do alter calls so whats your point?

 

[SPF]

But if you read the thread you know that I never said that any false gods woukd answer prayers.

I'm not sure why people are having trouble grasping that. I get what you're saying. People who pray to false idols are literally praying to nothing. They aren't real, they don't actually exist.

However, the God of the Bible is real, He does exist. So does He actually hear the prayers of your friends who are praying to false Gods and then honor them because they are selfless?

Archivist, I'm curious what you think John 9:31 means and how it applies to your question -

"We know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is God-fearing and does His will, He hears him. "

Personally, I think at the end of the day God always acts in such a way so as to bring Himself the most glory. If that means answering the prayers of a non-Christian, then I'm certainly not going to speak against that. But I would think that is the exception, not the general way of things.

 

[Archivist]

I'm not sure why people are having trouble grasping that. I get what you're saying. People who pray to false idols are literally praying to nothing. They aren't real, they don't actually exist.

However, the God of the Bible is real, He does exist. So does He actually hear the prayers of your friends who are praying to false Gods and then honor them because they are selfless?

Archivist, I'm curious what you think John 9:31 means and how it applies to your question -

"We know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is God-fearing and does His will, He hears him. "

Personally, I think at the end of the day God always acts in such a way so as to bring Himself the most glory. If that means answering the prayers of a non-Christian, then I'm certainly not going to speak against that. But I would think that is the exception, not the general way of things.

But if God doesn't hear the prayers of sinners then He doesn't hear any prayers, because scripture tells us that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.

We simply have to agree to disagree.

 

[SPF]

But if God doesn't hear the prayers of sinners then He doesn't hear any prayers, because scripture tells us that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.

We simply have to agree to disagree.

So how do you interpret John 9:31. It literally says: "We know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is God-fearing and does His will, He hears him. "

So it's there, it's in Scripture, we have to deal with it. How do you deal with it? I'm genuinely interested, because I'm not entirely sure how to. I would appreciate your input.

And I don't know that we actually do disagree? I said that I think there are times in which God answers the prayers of a non-Christian, I just think that's probably more of an exception. Especially when people are praying specifically to false idols.

 

[Archivist]

So how do you interpret John 9:31. It literally says: "We know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is God-fearing and does His will, He hears him. "

So it's there, it's in Scripture, we have to deal with it. How do you deal with it? I'm genuinely interested, because I'm not entirely sure how to. I would appreciate your input.

And I gave an example of that. A missionary plane crashes on an island. The islanders, who are not Christian, care for him and pray to their god(s) for the recovery of the missionary. They certainly are doing His will; I think God will hear those prayers.

And I don't know that we actually do disagree? I said that I think there are times in which God answers the prayers of a non-Christian, I just think that's probably more of an exception. Especially when people are praying specifically to false idols.

Then we do agree. Perhaps I just see it as being less of an exception.

 

[W2L]

God answers our prayers when we humbly repent.

 

[FireDragon76]

Rather than respond to several posts that are, essentially, making the same argument, it is easier to put everything into one post.

I already cited Mark 9:38-41. Yes, the man was casting our demons in the name of Jesus, but the verse is clear that he was not a Christian. If a nonbeliever prays and what he/she asks is in accordance with God’s will, there is nothing in scripture that says that God will not answer that prayer. Look at the City of Nineveh; they prayed that God would spare their city and He did.

I will continue to ask my friends on FB to pray for me when I have health issues. Some of those who pray for my recovery will be non-Christians. I’m certainly not going to say “only Christians need pray for me.” I will continue to appreciate the prayers I receive from both Christians and non-Christians.

Prayer is prayer. The idea that if you don't get the names or words right, that prayer is a waste of time, is magical thinking. People need to stop thinking of prayer as magic, anyways.