Posted on 05/08/2015 7:19:06 AM PDT by Patriot777
In a few years, her only fans with be gay men.
If a person is not directly in a position to otherwise help someone (like a far off celebrity), then prayer is doing something.
If you are an atheist and don't believe in prayer, then why bother reading this thread or commenting on it?
And if you are an atheist, I will pray for you too. :)
Even an atheist would admit the calming reassurance a believer has when he prays. Even if a prayer went nowhere, the benefit to those who pray is enormous.
Much like someone who chants, or practices transcendental meditation, or yoga, or who even sits around and thinks happy thoughts, one who prays has some internal peace of mind.
That alone refutes the notion that prayers accomplishes “absolutely nothing.”
We are, indeed, commanded to pray for, and to love, our neighbors and co-workers. But if and when the Holy Spirit challenges us also to pray for another that He brings to our attention, be it a celebrity, someone passing in the street, or a lunatic sharing our road, how then should we respond? Or if someone announces that he has been so challenged, which announcement may itself be an act of obedience, should we encourage or discourage it?
That is my point. Hashtag activism gives one a similar peace of mind.
I can accept that.
We can disagree with the affects that prayer has on others, but it does - like hashtag activism - make a difference to the person doing it.
The problem for Miley and other musical performers it that, in the internet age, they don't make much money on selling their music and rely heavily on concerts and tours, which means they have to put on a wild show to sell high dollar tickets.
As for myself, I think most of Miley's audio files are quite good, but I don't much care for her video files.
Cyrus is an exhibitionist...literally is.... she fits all the hallmarks. Has nothing to do with the money she makes or anything else...she’s simply that and why she has to be more and more bizarre to feed that beast. I have no reason to believe she’s going to rebound with all the drugs and alcohol .....she has two parents who could certainly intervene but apparently have no interest in doing so. At best Cyrus is of age so they would be limited anyway.
Cyrus knows what she is doing and even when playing the role as Miley she was showing her body on her tweets etc. She feeds on the attention....and really has no concern for what others think.
The gal is going to have fall deep and far before she turns....that I pray will happen.
“I don’t need to be saved. I’m my own person. I’m strong.”.... Miley Cyrus
Miley now claims she’s gender queer.....that’s because it’s the hot seller now...and she does sell herself ...
Unfortunately for her...she’s so drug infested she’s frying her brains as well as turned away from anything remotely about God.
She now hangs with the lowest low of life via claiming she’s helping them when in fact that IS her comfort zone.
I do not believe that the Holy Spirit has especially exerted Himself to "bring" Miley Cyrus "to the attention" of the Faithful that they might focus on her in their devotions.
Rather, I believe that t.v. producers, the media, and other low-lifes are profiting from her notoriety and that they are interested in bringing her to the attention of the public.
I think that we are justified in assuming that the Faithful have only finite time and energy resources - so why should they single out slimeballs like Miley Cyrus for special consideration in their prayers - and thereby neglect other persons in their more-immediate vicinity?
Regards,
The Holy Spirit especially exerts Himself on EVERYONE's behalf, even you and me. And who are you to question Patriot777's understanding of his God's prompting? God loves everyone, even Miley Cyrus.
I think that we are justified in assuming that the Faithful have only finite time and energy resources - so why should they single out slimeballs like Miley Cyrus for special consideration in their prayers - and thereby neglect other persons in their more-immediate vicinity?
1. God doesn't ask us to do anything He doesn't also enable us to do, in time, energy, talent, treasure, etc.
2. We are all "slimeballs." "For all have sinned..." All need our prayer. Why should we withhold it?
3. Patriot777 never suggested neglecting others--you're merely assuming here.
4. You're trying much too hard. Could it be that the Spirit is speaking to you, too, about praying for Miley?
First of all, it was not my intention to get into a theological argument about whether the Holy Spirit goes about surreptitiously encouraging third parties to pray for the salvation of Miley Cyrus (or anyone else), or whether He would have to especially exert Himself, etc.
But I do sincerely doubt that the Holy Spirit values Miley Cyrus above other sinners and would therefore go to the effort make a point of singling Miley Cyrus out for our special consideration - to do so suggests that (even though "God works in mysterious ways") Miley Cyrus is somehow "more worthy" of our prayer than the scores of other people in our immediate neighborhood for whom we could be praying (instead).
And now we come to the crux of my argument. Setting aside the question of whether there are limits to the amount of effort and/or attention which the Holy Spirit could expend and/or focus - i.e., whether his giving special attention to Miley Cyrus in any way "takes away" what He would have "left over" for run-of-the-mill sinners - and also setting aside for the moment that the Holy Spirit might be conceivably pursuing some longer-range goal in doing so (because, e.g., a public recantation and conversion of Miley Cyrus might have greater overall impact than if the neighborhood fixer or drunkard Joe Blow suddenly "sees the light") - it remains a FACT that we humans have (as I said in my previous posting - comment #50) only LIMITED time and energy resources.
Hence, if you pray only 2-3 minutes a day for her, and there are only so many hours to a day, then you must, perforce, pray less for someone else.
And now specifically to Patriot777: Your thread finishes with the final exhortation of "Pray for Miley." So you are clearly and explicitly enjoining others to do likewise. Even if a person devotes, say, three hours a day to prayer (and who, seriously, among us does that?), praying for the salvation of everyone with whom he is personally acquainted, then that leaves less time for them.
It's more likely that the average FReeper might, in actual fact, devote 10-15 minutes a day to intense prayer for the intercession of the Holy Spirit, that individual persons might be saved - then you are asking that we devote roughly a quarter of our limited prayer time specifically to helping Miley Cyrus.
And that, frankly, is silly and even harmful!
I am far too busy praying for Britney Spears, Snoop Dogg, Ice-T, and a dozen other skanky pop singers and low-life rappers I'm constantly reading about in my tawdry women's magazines to spend an additional 2-3 minutes praying that Miley Cyrus will get "churched up."
Regards,
How much earnest praying for Miley Cyrus could you have done in the abundant time you’ve spent instead arguing with us about it?
Probably the most-ludicrous question I've been asked on the Internet this year.
Regards,
It’s not the questions I’m asking that matter. It’s the Holy Spirit’s questions that do: those to me, those quite distinctly to Patriot777—and those to you.
I am grieved at your response; in no way did I seek to argue with you or anyone else, but in my posting to point out in the Bible where it describes End - Times behaviors of this world and generation and the consequences thereof.
I know that you understand what is called “righteous indignation”, and I was filled with such as I posted. But we are called to pray and intercede for a wicked and perverse generation, individuals that they may be saved.
In all, I know for a fact that the Lord Jesus has put Miley on my heart repeatedly, to pray for her. In the past months, every time I see anything in the news regarding her or her comments, I pray for her. I will have immense joy when Miley accepts Jesus, and she will have even more joy as she experiences the grace, peace and love of Christ our Lord. She will become a witness to others, and many will also be saved because of her witness.
I ask your forgiveness, and I hope that you have a day filled with peace and promise.
Are you sure you intended that for me? You haven't argued with me, and I've supported your view consistently. I agree wholeheartedly with you and am gladdened to see your public stance on this important issue.
So, as nearly as I can understand it, either you misunderstand me, or else this apology should be directed elsewhere.
For it is by grace she is saved, by faith - not from herself, it is a gift from God, not a result of works, so that no other person may judge.
Must have misunderstood you.
As I noted, I very much appreciate not merely your obedience in following God's prompting to pray for ol' Miley, but also your public announcement of your intention and encouragement of others to do so. True Christians who disparage such a call will, at a minimum, just miss out on a blessing.
Before I retired last year, I was commuting 3+ hours daily on SoCal freeways. Many years ago I heard a call similar to yours: to pray for strangers brought to my attention by the Holy Spirit. That started with various road-lunatics I encountered, but since then it has broadened to anyone who suddenly stands out to me from the crowd--in a store, at church, on the sidewalk, on TV. It's a blast!
If I may, I'd like to relate two brief true incidents illustrating the importance of obeying such promptings.
About twenty years ago a man was driving past Lake Elsinore when he sensed God's strong, unmistakeable direction to pull off the freeway and drive to the lakeshore. Puzzled, he did. Once he had stopped, God told him to get out of the car, approach a man walking by on the beach, and tell him the gospel. When he did he was amazed at his response. The walker revealed he was suicidal and had told God, "I'm going to walk around this lake once; if you don't reveal yourself to me by the time I get around, then I'm going to kill myself." He was just completing his circuit when that driver approached him with the good news, and he received Jesus' salvation on the spot. You'll meet him in heaven.
Another man was driving home from work when he sensed God's call to stop at a market and go inside. Once in, he felt directed to buy a gallon of milk. He got back in the car and continued, only to be told to stop outside a particular house. Uncomprehendingly, he carried the jug to the door and rang the bell. A crying woman answered the door, and the driver just said, "God told me to bring you this milk." She screamed, drawing her husband to the door. They had no milk for their baby and, in desperation, had prayed for God's help. Apparently, God delivers to some front doors. The driver gave them all the money he had and drove away, crying and rejoicing.
You keep praying for Miley Cyrus. She needs all the prayer she can get. More importantly, you keep listening to and wholeheartedly obeying the Holy Spirit. Your faith and obedience and courage inspire me.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.