Responding to Prayer Doesn’t Work, But I’ll Keep Praying by North Carolina pastor John Pavlovitz
After reading Pastor Pavlovitz’s blog for some time now, it seems to me that he cares deeply about some people and wants for those people to find acceptance and contentment. This is very good; however, In my humble opinion, this post by the good pastor is very instructive regarding his misunderstanding of prayer and God. The fact that Pastor Pavlovitz once believed that enough prayer warriors could change God’s mind and thus have him bestow whatever blessing was requested shows an immature understanding of God, faith, and prayer. Indeed as Pastor Pavlovitz had come to correctly understand, God is not some benevolent Santa Claus that responds to our prayers with gifts if only we believe and pray hard enough. Unfortunately, thinking that prayer now serves no purpose other than to unite others in empathy and solidarity is also a misunderstanding of the purpose of prayer. While prayer may indeed serve in an ancillary capacity in that manner, it is certainly not the primary reason for it.
How does one person grow closer to another? I would submit is through communication. If we seldom spoke to our spouse, we would not grow in closeness, knowledge, love and respect for them. The same is true for friends and other loved ones. So how do we grow closer to God? We communicate with him. We read his word in scripture. We seek to do his will and not our own through an informed conscience. In other words, we pray. Indeed, the primary purpose of prayer is to increase our union with God.
If one uses “prayer” as a means to get what one wants or uses it to be seen as holier than others or for political purposes and such, than one is no different than the Pharisees, as Jesus instructed. “Amen I say to you, they have received their reward” (Mt 6:5).
I pray that the good pastor comes to understand the true purpose and true power of prayer so that he can better lead his flock. Far from being the “only thing one can do as a last resort”, prayer so as to grow closer to God in thanksgiving, praise, petition, and adoration will only help to strengthen that ultimate relationship between Creator and his beloved creatures. THAT is the purpose of prayer!
“How does one person grow closer to another? I would submit is through communication. If we seldom spoke to our spouse, we would not grow in closeness, knowledge, love and respect for them. The same is true for friends and other loved ones. So how do we grow closer to God? We communicate with him.”
Speaking some words in private after reading the Bible is no more communication with God than speaking some words in private after reading a Harry Potter book is communication with J.K. Rowling. Communication that yields closeness to another, as with a spouse, requires some back-and-forth.