The Great Commission
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We are all aware of the Great Commission, I assume. You know, "Go and
preach the gospel." Yes, yes ... except ... no. That *is* Mark's version
(Mark 16:15)...
Sunday, April 22, 2007
On Prayer Vigils
A friend of mine eluding to all the prayer vigils asked a good question today. He wondered if this tragedy would have happened if those prayer vigils would have been occurring preceding it? Although this thought has never crossed my mind; it did cause me to think. Ever since I saw on the front page of USA Today the photo of the prayer vigil that took place outside Al Gore's campaign headquarters on election night 2000 ; I wonder who they're praying to. He definitely has the better and more challenging question.
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5 comments:
While I believe prayer changes things, how can you hold a prayer "vigil" for something you don't know will happen? In Gore's case it was for an election outcome, and I think the Lord answered correctly, but what I see in the VT case is prayer for the victims to find comfort and healing in our Savior.
Just another prospective....
BTW BG, insightful blog.
Thank you for leaving a comment on my quotes post. I've been reading some of your posts this morning. I'll be back!
Good point, the word vigil might not have been a good word. Perhaps a better question would have asked if diligent prayer had been taking place all along, would this have happened?
Interestingly, this is the little prayer that was at the heart of the 1962 Supreme Court case Engel v Vitale that effectively outlawed prayer in public institutions:
"Almighty God, we acknowledge our dependence upon Thee, and we beg Thy blessings upon us, our parents, our teachers and our Country."
Didn't Lewis talk about this in one of his books? (I think it was Miracles, but I'm not positive.) He talked about "scientifically testing" prayer by having two groups of people, one of which prayed for the physical healing of hospitalized patients, and the other praying that they would not be healed. His point was prayer doesn't work like that. It can't be tested like certain other things can.
I don't think it's possible to know how the outcome would have been different if more prayer had taken place. Since prayer is communication, one might as well ask how a person would have reacted if I had said X instead of Y. We can make educated guesses, but it's impossible to predict exactly how a person will react to anything. Have you ever tried to figure out what God is going to do? The moment you think you have it, then He does something completely different (at least this is my experience).
BTW, may I return the favor and put your link on my blog?
Jon
I would love it Jon, thank you very much.
Got to run...
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