Posted on 03/15/2011 3:58:16 PM PDT by MNDude
Sorry, but I have to vent, and wonder if I'm looking at this wrong. I was in church this Sunday, and this guy went up to do the scripture reading and prayer. His prayer was "Please let the experience in Japan turn the people towards you Christ, so then their land will be healed". There was not an utter for taking care of offering comfort for those suffering this disaster.
Don't get me wrong, I'd love to see all people come to Christ, but I was thinking "Dude, do you have not an ounce of human empathy?" I mean suffering what these people are going through is beyond horrific. People are losing their babies, their moms, grandpas, everything. I'm not sure if you can really care for someone's immortal soul if their well-being in this earth is not an issue to you. To me, it just came across as really really cold.
It is very cold and unfeeling.
Shame on your pastor.
Nah, just somebody that needs help with prayer. What happens in these events is people seek God. He should have prayed for relief and never tried to define God’s response. He is just slow.
There are Christians who mainly think about spreading Christianity.
God is more interested in the condition of your eternal soul than your temporary body.
I gave my all to two churches for 10 years. One royal back-stabbing by a Pastor I trusted, two splits and a host of drama queens finally drove me away a couple of years ago.
I love God and am enjoying sleeping past 8:00am on Sunday mornings.
That felt good.
That was pretty tasteless.
He may have meant well but it definitely sounds clumsy.
God uses calamities to draw people to him. Look at what Jonah was prophesying about. He told the people that they would be killed, that God was going to destroy them due to their disregard for God. They changed their tune, turned to God, and God spared his hand against them.
It was a good prayer, and one that was close to what I prayed in church Sunday, also. What I prayed was that those ministering in God’s name would reflect the light of Christ to those who have been afflicted, and that God would allow this to be a warning to those who have not turned to him.
He should have done both.
Nothing wrong with praying they will turn away from their pedo culture toward Christ, but it should have been along with a prayer towards ending the present suffering too.
Cold.
If I win the lotto I’ll start a church, it’ll start services later so people can get some shut eye first. I’ll plan on one wall that will open to a field for really nice days where members can picnic while the services go on.
I was taught to pray for all people to find God no matter what the circumstance.
I think worrying about this is being a bit oversensitive.
Faith without works is dead.
If, through the alleviation of suffering we let God's light shine through, He will attend to the rest.
The opportunity to do God's work is present, and all Christians should make the most of it. Lead by example.
I lived in Japan several years and am heart-broken over what is happening there. I have nothing but love and deepest respect for these precious people. I see nothing at all wrong with the prayer offered. When all is said and done, Christ is the only answer for any of us. It is my prayer the Japanese people will come to know Christ and will accept Him. They need Him now as never before but so few of them can see it. Maybe good can come of this awful tragedy.
Considering they aren’t christian, it sounds like a poor choice of words.. Maybe he meant well..
It sounds cold and unfeeling to us. But it’s because we think as humans, with human needs. In the big scheme of things what’ more important? The standing of your soul. I would not have prayed that prayer in that way, and I’m sure it turned some off, but I’m also sure it was heartfelt, and I don’t think I can criticize him for that.
Amen! Eternity is forever.
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