Articles
Why Pray?
In the aftermath of the Texas shootings, some unbelievers have been emboldened to ridicule belief in prayer. Skeptics suggest that it is the height of insanity to continue seek comfort and aid from a God who couldn’t protect them from getting shot in the first place, even in the very act of worshiping Him.
Actually, some Christians may be silently asking this very question. So, why pray? We do not have the space to fully develop a treatise on prayer, so I’ll just suggest these ten bullet points:
1. God commands prayer – Jas 5:13; Ph 4:6; Col 4:2; etc.
2. Jesus prayed – Mk 1:35; 6:46; Mt 27:46; Heb 5:7.
3. The apostles and disciples prayed – Ac 2:42; 4:24-31; 6:4; 12:12; etc.
4. Paul prayed for others – Ph 1:3-4; 1 Th 1:2-3; 3:9-10; Rom 10:1; etc.
5. Paul treasured the prayers of others on his behalf – 2 Th 3:1; Rom 15:30; 2 Cor 1:11; Ph 1:19; etc.
6. Prayer is heard – 1 Pet 3:12; 2 Kgs 19:20; Ac 10:4; Ps 116:1-2.
7. Prayer is effective – Jas 5:15-18; Mt 7:7-11.
8. God tells us to persevere in prayer – Lk 11:5-8; 18:1; 1 Th 5:17.
9. Jesus specifically gave instruction on prayer – Lk 11:1-4.
10. Prayer brings a peace that “surpasses all understanding” – Ph 4:7.
In the worldview of atheists, prayer is worthless superstition. Since they don’t believe in God, they have nowhere to turn in a tragedy but to politics and psychology. They consider prayer to be a crutch or an escape from taking sensible action (i.e., gun control). Prayer is not a substitute for rationality, but rationality without prayer often turns into irrationality.
Further, atheists assume that God should preempt all harm aimed at the innocent. From this vantage point I can understand their confusion. But they are mistaken. God does not as a matter of course override our endowment of free will, even when it has been corrupted by evil. From this cauldron of “toil and trouble” rise souls that have been purified by overcoming evil. God is gracious to help us and answer our prayers instead of abandoning us to the monster of evil we ourselves have created.
