To read the tribute to SFC Marcus Muralles, please click here
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Praying For Rain
Focus on the Family Action (the PAC, not the religious non-profit) had a little video that made me go "hmmmm..."
So... would it be wrong to pray for rain at Invesco Field on a specific night in August? According to Allahpundit, it might be wrong from a Biblical standpoint. Let's leave out the fact that an atheist is trying to school us all on the Biblical objections to praying for another's misfortune. Is it ok, or is it wrong?
There is a Bible verse that says, "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us - whatever we ask - we know that we have what we asked of him" (1 John 5:14-15). Then compare "…The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective" (James 5:16). to "When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures" (James 4:3).
Where am I going with this? Did you hear the man's motives in the video? He fears that Barack Obama, if elected, will do his best to enact anti-life legislation and, if a Justice steps down from the SCOTUS, he will appoint a very liberal, activist Justice to take his or her place. I agree with him that both of those actions could result in actions that are very much against God's desires and will for His People. If the righteous are praying and it is within God's will, then the rain will pour on Invesco Field on Aug. 28th. If they are asking with wrong motives or it is not within God's will, then the sun will shine.
Personally, I think the video is kind of funny. As a commenter on Allah's post pointed out, haven't we all secretly wished for rain that night? But it seems like a waste to me. In my opinion, believers instead should pray for revival in our land, wisdom for our leaders, wisdom for the electorate, and that God's will be done in our lives.
That reminds me... I probably need to start my "prayers for the election" posts like I did in '04.
FOFA pulled the video after it had several complaints. I'm not sure what the complaints were and what, if any, theological points were made.
So... would it be wrong to pray for rain at Invesco Field on a specific night in August? According to Allahpundit, it might be wrong from a Biblical standpoint. Let's leave out the fact that an atheist is trying to school us all on the Biblical objections to praying for another's misfortune. Is it ok, or is it wrong?
There is a Bible verse that says, "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us - whatever we ask - we know that we have what we asked of him" (1 John 5:14-15). Then compare "…The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective" (James 5:16). to "When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures" (James 4:3).
Where am I going with this? Did you hear the man's motives in the video? He fears that Barack Obama, if elected, will do his best to enact anti-life legislation and, if a Justice steps down from the SCOTUS, he will appoint a very liberal, activist Justice to take his or her place. I agree with him that both of those actions could result in actions that are very much against God's desires and will for His People. If the righteous are praying and it is within God's will, then the rain will pour on Invesco Field on Aug. 28th. If they are asking with wrong motives or it is not within God's will, then the sun will shine.
Personally, I think the video is kind of funny. As a commenter on Allah's post pointed out, haven't we all secretly wished for rain that night? But it seems like a waste to me. In my opinion, believers instead should pray for revival in our land, wisdom for our leaders, wisdom for the electorate, and that God's will be done in our lives.
That reminds me... I probably need to start my "prayers for the election" posts like I did in '04.
FOFA pulled the video after it had several complaints. I'm not sure what the complaints were and what, if any, theological points were made.
