Comments on: The solution is not to get “prayed up.” http://www.justinlong.org/2010/07/reality-check-the-solution-is-not-to-get-prayed-up/ Justin Long on the unevangelized, mobilizing missionaries, swarms, and other mission issues. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:12:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Kendra Nafziger http://www.justinlong.org/2010/07/reality-check-the-solution-is-not-to-get-prayed-up/comment-page-1/#comment-632 Kendra Nafziger Thu, 08 Jul 2010 21:07:41 +0000 http://www.justinlong.org/2010/07/reality-check-the-solution-is-not-to-get-prayed-up/#comment-632 Yes. Well said!<br><br>The implication (and truth of scripture, really) of all of this is that we absolutely, unashamedly, and without argument need to be in communion with God, so that our prayers do indeed line up with what HE has in mind. He promised in James that if we lack wisdon to ask, and He will give it. Our expectations of God too often reflect our own selfish motives, and that is dangerous.<br><br>Good stuff. Yes. Well said!

The implication (and truth of scripture, really) of all of this is that we absolutely, unashamedly, and without argument need to be in communion with God, so that our prayers do indeed line up with what HE has in mind. He promised in James that if we lack wisdon to ask, and He will give it. Our expectations of God too often reflect our own selfish motives, and that is dangerous.

Good stuff.

]]> By: Kendra Nafziger http://www.justinlong.org/2010/07/reality-check-the-solution-is-not-to-get-prayed-up/comment-page-1/#comment-630 Kendra Nafziger Thu, 08 Jul 2010 20:31:04 +0000 http://www.justinlong.org/2010/07/reality-check-the-solution-is-not-to-get-prayed-up/#comment-630 John's response triggered curiosity in me. "Christian Animism"? Does such a thing exist? So I did a little research. <br>Most definitions of animism didn't seem to apply to his response, but I did run across this: <a href="http://lingamish.wordpress.com/2009/02/25/christian-animism/" rel="nofollow">http://lingamish.wordpress.com/2009/02/25/chris...</a>. There was some application in this to support the teaching that we have power over inanimate objects by sheer faith and belief and prayer.<br> I do, however, totally agree with his definition of how some mainstream churches represent prayer, miracles and faith. Many times to the destruction of those believers who, with all intent and purpose to "do the right thing", found themselves a victim of unanswered prayers, or, at best, not answered as they had intended. Good subject to consider. Thanks, guys. John's response triggered curiosity in me. “Christian Animism”? Does such a thing exist? So I did a little research.
Most definitions of animism didn't seem to apply to his response, but I did run across this: http://lingamish.wordpress.com/2009/02/25/chris…. There was some application in this to support the teaching that we have power over inanimate objects by sheer faith and belief and prayer.
I do, however, totally agree with his definition of how some mainstream churches represent prayer, miracles and faith. Many times to the destruction of those believers who, with all intent and purpose to “do the right thing”, found themselves a victim of unanswered prayers, or, at best, not answered as they had intended. Good subject to consider. Thanks, guys.

]]> By: Justin Long http://www.justinlong.org/2010/07/reality-check-the-solution-is-not-to-get-prayed-up/comment-page-1/#comment-631 Justin Long Thu, 08 Jul 2010 19:36:10 +0000 http://www.justinlong.org/2010/07/reality-check-the-solution-is-not-to-get-prayed-up/#comment-631 That was an interesting article. I see what John's getting at although I, too, don't really think of it as "animism." I would call it more "Christian spiritism" or "Christian mysticism" or "Christian magic": the idea that we can control the world, the events around us, and even God with the right application of the words of a prayer or the emotions behind it or even the right amount of belief-in-the-impossible. There is "having faith" (belief) and there is "keeping faith" or being loyal to your King. Having faith is important - but I think it's less about believing in the impossible that you want done (not necessarily what God wants), and more about believing in the impossible that God says he will do. Christian magic gets out of the realm of letting God be God and believing that God will be God, and more into the realm of believing God is all-powerful and can be controlled or cajoled to do what you want. Like a jinn in a bottle. That was an interesting article. I see what John's getting at although I, too, don't really think of it as “animism.” I would call it more “Christian spiritism” or “Christian mysticism” or “Christian magic”: the idea that we can control the world, the events around us, and even God with the right application of the words of a prayer or the emotions behind it or even the right amount of belief-in-the-impossible. There is “having faith” (belief) and there is “keeping faith” or being loyal to your King. Having faith is important – but I think it's less about believing in the impossible that you want done (not necessarily what God wants), and more about believing in the impossible that God says he will do. Christian magic gets out of the realm of letting God be God and believing that God will be God, and more into the realm of believing God is all-powerful and can be controlled or cajoled to do what you want. Like a jinn in a bottle.

]]> By: John Kenneth King http://www.justinlong.org/2010/07/reality-check-the-solution-is-not-to-get-prayed-up/comment-page-1/#comment-629 John Kenneth King Tue, 06 Jul 2010 13:19:07 +0000 http://www.justinlong.org/2010/07/reality-check-the-solution-is-not-to-get-prayed-up/#comment-629 What you are describing here is a form of "Christian animism"--the false worldview that affirms if we get the right formula and work all its elements properly, then we hold power over the spiritual forces to get what we want/need. Thanks for reminding us that biblical prayer is communing with God. What you are describing here is a form of “Christian animism”–the false worldview that affirms if we get the right formula and work all its elements properly, then we hold power over the spiritual forces to get what we want/need. Thanks for reminding us that biblical prayer is communing with God.

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