God's Priorities

Originally posted by lucifershammer
No.

Every prayer is answered - but the answer is always the one you need, rather than the one you seek.

So those Rwandans who prayed for civil war to be averted got the answer they needed, i.e. genocide?

Originally posted by darvlay
Is God more likely to answer a relatively trivial prayer that concerns the well-being of one singular Christian than to answer a prayer that positively affects an entire nation of suffering people?

If so, why would God sooner answer an "easy" prayer than answer a "hard" prayer?

If God exists, it is likely that neither you nor I would understand the answer.

Originally posted by dottewell
So those Rwandans who prayed for civil war to be averted got the answer they needed, i.e. genocide?

Lesson: Pray for the little things, like a new bicycle--that way, when you get the sled, you can just say, "Thanks, I needed that." 😕

Originally posted by Kalsen
If God exists, it is likely that neither you nor I would understand the answer.

Does He speak in tongues as well?

Originally posted by darvlay
Does He speak in tongues as well?

I have no idea.

Originally posted by Kalsen
I have no idea.

Obviously.

Originally posted by darvlay
Obviously.

You hijacking my intros from the other thread, Darv! 😉 God'll get you for this plagiarism...

What I want to know is what happens when different people pray for mutually contradictory things. If I pray that the Tigers beat the Yankess and No1marauder (rot his soul) prays for the opposite, what happens? Does god check on who is the most pious between us? Does god choose the team with the greatest number of god fearing christians? Have the Tigers somehow offended god so that they've been condemned to wander through the wilderness for 40 years?* Are the Yankess god's chosen team?

*1984 + 40 years = 2024. Aaaaargh!!!

Originally posted by rwingett
What I want to know is what happens when different people pray for mutually contradictory things. If I pray that the Tigers beat the Yankess and No1marauder (rot his soul) prays for the opposite, what happens? Does god check on who is the most pious between us? Does god choose the team with the greatest number of god fearing christians? Have the Tigers some ...[text shortened]... ness for 40 years?* Are the Yankess god's chosen team?

*1984 + 40 years = 2024. Aaaaargh!!!

As I was trying to imply to the idiot a few posts up, if there really is a God-like entity controlling things in our universe, I don't think "he" would think of things in such simple terms. It is possible most of what we pray for isn't really what will bring us happiness. We probably do not know what we ultimately want.

God probably doesn't need to resolve the types of prayers you speak of, because they don't matter. If there is a God, his paperwork has far more depth than what we have the ability to absorb. I'm sure his methods are sound.

Originally posted by Kalsen
As I was trying to imply to the idiot a few posts up, if there really is a God-like entity controlling things in our universe, I don't think "he" would think of things in such simple terms. It is possible most of what we pray for isn't really what will bring us happiness. We probably do not know what we ultimately want.

God probably doesn't need to resolve ...[text shortened]... s far more depth than what we have the ability to absorb. I'm sure his methods are sound.

Don't matter? Spoken like someone whose team doesn't need divine intervention.

Originally posted by rwingett
Don't matter? Spoken like someone whose team doesn't need divine intervention.

Well, I do support the All Blacks.

In general, darcie, your post begs the question. The real question should be: what is prayer, and how is it used?

Prayer is not a crutch for the weak, but a weapon for the strong (strong = righteous).

Originally posted by FreakyKBH
In general, darcie, your post begs the question. The real question should be: what is prayer, and how is it used?

Prayer is not a crutch for the weak, but a weapon for the strong (strong = righteous).

So the "weak" get what they deserve (famine, genocide, etc.), while the "strong" get what they want (easy-to-break concrete, etc.)

Seems fair.

Originally posted by FreakyKBH
The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

2 BILLION christians. Surely they must be praying for a better world, right? So, why all the poverty, famine and suffering? Why DID he, in all his powerfull wisdom see fit to drop a mudslide on a village this week? Or are you just talking crap?

Originally posted by scottishinnz
2 BILLION christians. Surely they must be praying for a better world, right? So, why all the poverty, famine and suffering?

Because most of them are weak, and those who are strong only pray for the breaking of concrete and bicycle seat repairs.