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deist · Sep 20, 2007, 12:54 PM

Isn't it true that christians will accept almost any event as an answer to a prayer ? After all, they have three ideas about prayer : (1) Yes, (2), No, & (3), Not yet. A 4th idea that I've heard many times is (4), Here's your answer according to my will. It seems to me to say that God says yes, no, & not yet, covers it all. A convient excuse for why God did not answer as per request. It seems to me God would answer a prayer in such a way that one would have no doubt about it. If I ask for a car I expect a car, not a bicycle.

firmbeliever · Sep 20, 2007, 01:25 PM

Originally Posted by deist

Isn't it true that christians will accept almost any event as an answer to a prayer ? After all, they have three ideas about prayer : (1) Yes, (2), No, & (3), Not yet. A 4th idea that I've heard many times is (4), Here's your answer according to my will. It seems to me to say that God says yes, no, & not yet, covers it all. A convient excuse for why God did not answer as per request. It seems to me God would answer a prayer in such a way that one would have no doubt about it. If I ask for a car I expect a car, not a bicycle.

God knows that in the future if you are having an accident in your car
While you do not see the future.

He knows the past and the present and the future...

I would like to point out that I am answering as a muslim and not a Christian.

inthebox · Sep 20, 2007, 01:37 PM

Originally Posted by deist

Isn't it true that christians will accept almost any event as an answer to a prayer ? After all, they have three ideas about prayer : (1) Yes, (2), No, & (3), Not yet. A 4th idea that I've heard many times is (4), Here's your answer according to my will. It seems to me to say that God says yes, no, & not yet, covers it all. A convient excuse for why God did not answer as per request. It seems to me God would answer a prayer in such a way that one would have no doubt about it. If I ask for a car I expect a car, not a bicycle.

I think if you view God, as a sugar daddy at your beck and call to give you everything that you think you need , you're not going to get many prayers answered.

Prayer is more than a request line.

It is a privilege to have a conversation with Him. To vent to, thank, praise, think of others, worship, ask questions, etc...

Grace and Peace

shygrneyzs · Sep 20, 2007, 02:01 PM

Isn't it true that people like you, deist, will drum up any kind of slam against anyone who has a profession of faith that defies your imagination?

mountain_man · Sep 20, 2007, 02:49 PM

Originally Posted by deist

Isn't it true that christians will accept almost any event as an answer to a prayer ? After all, they have three ideas about prayer : (1) Yes, (2), No, & (3), Not yet. A 4th idea that I've heard many times is (4), Here's your answer according to my will. It seems to me to say that God says yes, no, & not yet, covers it all. A convient excuse for why God did not answer as per request. It seems to me God would answer a prayer in such a way that one would have no doubt about it. If I ask for a car I expect a car, not a bicycle.

What is your question? If you don't have a personal relationship with God, than you will not be able to understand the depth of prayer or the true intention of prayer. If you truly want to know about prayer ask God to make Himself known to you personally and see where that leads you.

Wangdoodle · Sep 20, 2007, 03:33 PM

God is not a genie in a bottle. We should pray according to His will.

Matthew 6:9-13 After this manner therefore pray ye. Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so on earth.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

Choux · Sep 20, 2007, 07:16 PM

Christians are always begging their GodAlmighty for something.

They ignore the fact that what they "gots" is what GodAlmighty, THE OMNIPOTENT, allowed for them to have in their lives without intervention(according to their worldview). :)

I find all the begging very distasteful and childish.

JoeCanada76 · Sep 20, 2007, 07:36 PM

To me prayer is not just about asking, questioning or for any kind of conveniance. To me prayer is a way of communicating with our Father, creator of heaven and earth. It is a way for us to open ourselves up to him. It is not just a one way deal.

Joe

Marily · Sep 21, 2007, 06:02 AM

Don't condemn others, if this is how you feel about prayer than that's fine

jillianleab · Sep 21, 2007, 10:06 AM

I can't speak for deist, but I think I understand what he is asking. Perhaps people of faith (I won't say Christians because others pray as well) don't pray for a new car or a million dollars (I'm sure some do!), but what about praying when someone you love is sick? Don't you pray for them to get better, or for their suffering to end, etc? And in that case, if you pray for them to get better, and they don't, the "answer" to your prayer was "no". If he does get better, the answer was "yes", and if he stays the same and gets better months later it was "not yet".

If you look at that objectively, it appears that obviously there are three ways a sick person can go; get better, get worse, or stay the same. I'm not trying to start a flamewar or anything, just give a different way of looking at things.

deist · Sep 21, 2007, 11:36 AM

I can pray to a brick wall & get the same results as christians or muslims.

firmbeliever · Sep 21, 2007, 12:55 PM

Originally Posted by deist

I can pray to a brick wall & get the same results as christians or muslims.

As a muslim, I would say my prayer to God and your prayer to the wall is very different,
I am not expecting instant answers or solutions, I am working for the afterlife not for just this world.

My prayers are for patience in hardships,wisdom when troubled,blessings for me and the people I care about,prayers to help me keep myself away from bad deeds and nearer to good deeds.

In every prayer we pray for blessings on the Family of Abraham (which includes all the Prophets descending from him) and Muhammad (peace be upon them all).In every prayer we pray to be saved from the Dajjal(antichrist),to be saved from Hellfire,to be saved from the punishment of the grave,from the trials and tribulations of this world.
In every prayer we pray for forgiveness and to be included among the righteous people.

And we pray 5 times each day of the obligatory prayers... which is not counting the non-obligatory prayers during the day and night.

In all of these instances I accept the decree of the Almighty,that He is all wise and Most Just.

deist · Sep 21, 2007, 04:17 PM

Originally Posted by firmbeliever

As a muslim, I would say my prayer to God and your prayer to the wall is very different,
I am not expecting instant answers or solutions, I am working for the afterlife not for just this world.

My prayers are for patience in hardships,wisdom when troubled,blessings for me and the people I care about,prayers to help me keep myself away from bad deeds and nearer to good deeds.

In every prayer we pray for blessings on the Family of Abraham (which includes all the Prophets descending from him) and Muhammad (peace be upon them all).In every prayer we pray to be saved from the Dajjal(antichrist),to be saved from Hellfire,to be saved from the punishment of the grave,from the trials and tribulations of this world.
In every prayer we pray for forgiveness and to be included among the righteous people.

And we pray 5 times each day of the obligatory prayers...which is not counting the non-obligatory prayers during the day and night.

In all of these instances I accept the decree of the Almighty,that He is all wise and Most Just.

Firm, we have one thing in common. We both believe God is one.