JACKSON, Tenn. — Dec. 14, 2004 — The politicization of prayer continues to abound.
Communities in Virginia are debating a federal court ruling that outlawed prayer to begin town council meetings. In Canada, a court decision is forcing the military to change its policies on how soldiers must act during a prayer. In Boston, parishioners from a church closed down by the Archdiocese of Boston are using prayer as a form of protest.
And a cover story in the Dec. 20 edition of U.S. News and World Report explores the topic of prayer and what people pray for.
But regardless of the status of prayer in society 鈥� regardless of whether the government restricts public expressions of prayer or not -- for Christians prayer will always be a spiritual discipline of vital importance, according to 黑料论坛 professor George Guthrie.
鈥淎t its heart, Christianity is relational,鈥� said Guthrie, the Perry Professor of Bible and chair of Union鈥檚 Christian Studies department. 鈥淚t is a relational religion. This is not just about what we do for God. It鈥檚 not about us simply conforming to a set of rules. It鈥檚 that God has invited us into a profound relationship with himself. The barriers have been torn down. He is still awesome, and he鈥檚 God and we鈥檙e not, but we have been invited into his presence.鈥�
Prayer then is the vehicle through which that relationship is nurtured and strengthened. Prayer is a communication tool that allows Christians to grow in their relationship to God.
鈥淚f I do not relate to my wife, if I do not communicate with her in an ongoing way, then our relationship鈥檚 going to stagnate,鈥� Guthrie said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 the same way with our relationship with God. We need the ability to talk to him about things.鈥�
But for many Christians, prayer isn鈥檛 the easiest of tasks, according to Todd Brady, Union鈥檚 campus minister
鈥淚t鈥檚 easy to be spiritual these days, but the kind of prayer that we are called to from the Scriptures, no I don鈥檛 think it鈥檚 easy,鈥� he said. 鈥淓ven the disciples had major difficulties in prayer. We see that in the gospels. The kind of prayer that is Christian prayer requires focus, patience and diligence, and that鈥檚 what makes it hard.鈥�
Only through an appreciation for the word of God and knowledge of the purpose and nature of prayer can a Christian pray obediently, Brady said. That involves studying the examples of prayer in the Scriptures to understand God鈥檚 standard.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a standard to which we must aspire,鈥� Brady said. 鈥淪imply praying is not enough. We must pray rightly. I don鈥檛 think that it is possible to be faithful in prayer apart from a knowledge of the word.鈥�
So how does a Christian go about praying properly? Union president David Dockery said Christians would do well to follow the model prayer of Jesus.
鈥淥ur first responsibility is to recognize the greatness and goodness of God,鈥� Dockery said. 鈥淲e acknowledge his majesty and mercy by saying, 鈥楬allowed is your name, how great is your kingdom.鈥� The model that Jesus gave us helps us understand that first of all, prayer is more about God than it is about us.鈥�
Secondly, another dimension to prayer includes thanksgiving for God鈥檚 blessings and the opportunity to make daily requests. Other examples in Scripture include believers making specific requests to God in times of illness, danger and anxiety.
鈥淲e recognize our dependence upon God for every provision of life,鈥� Dockery said. .
Guthrie added that proper prayer includes praying for God to advance his kingdom in the world, for forgiveness, for authorities and government, for church leaders and for other people 鈥� namely, for all relevant parts of life.
鈥淭hat presupposes that this world isn鈥檛 divided into two spheres 鈥� the religious sphere and the real world,鈥� Guthrie said. 鈥淭hat two-sphere view of life is not the biblical view. The biblical view is there鈥檚 only one sphere. It鈥檚 all God鈥檚 sphere, and therefore God can intervene and invade in all aspects of it.鈥�
Dockery acknowledged that the concept of prayer can be complex, especially when addressing questions about whether God changes his mind because of the prayers of his people.
鈥淪omehow in the great mystery and providence of God, he has willed that his purposes are accomplished through various means,鈥� Dockery said. 鈥淥ne of those means is prayer. Thus, prayer does not change God, but is what is used to advance God鈥檚 purposes in our lives. God is immutable, faithful, constant, changeless, but he does seemingly respond to his people in Scripture when they come to him in humble recognition of his divine sovereignty.鈥�