ur friend Tim has been asking some very good questions about faith and prayer. I really enjoy my interactions with Tim, because his questions are honest and he appreciates my honest answers, even if he does not accept them as truth.
When I sat through the sermon Sunday morning, I thought immediately of Tim and of the questions he's been asking, and determined then to post a link to the sermon when it was available on our website.
Our senior pastor has been "sidelined" with a broken kneecap. In his absence, one of our associate pastors, Dave Burgraff, has been teaching from the parables of Jesus. I am sharing this link and hoping you will take time to listen. It does address some questions about prayer and faith and it is worthy of your time.
Colonial Media PlayerOnce there, choose the first option, "Listen to Media". In the pop-up window, choose the third option, "Sunday Morning Sermons" In the new list, choose 11/1/09 | The Persistent Friend, and the sermon will begin.
Hi Richard. It's obviously a slow day at work. I actually was able to find the time to listen to Pastor Burgraff's sermon.
ReplyDeleteHe definately a good speaker and very genuine. Some of his message helped clear some things up for me. YEAH!
One question that nagged at me throughout his sermon was 'Why does God what a relationship with him to be so difficult?' He makes the comment that if you find praying to God easy, you're not doing it right. The Bible says that prayer should be "agonizing". I can't explain why but just hearing him say this made my heart sink. He spoke further about the rules around prayer (use reverent language etc) He used the example of his own children and how they can have access to dad at any time. And it's easy. Maybe I was taught that God was that same kind of father.
There was also some fear in Paster Burgraff's message in relatoin to prayer. He repeated MANY times that prayer is not a command from God, but "an assumption". And an assumption is BIGGER than a command. WOW! All I could think of were the kids in the congregation. I bet they all went home and said a prayer out of guilt or fear.
If I ever do believe in God I want to pray to him because he's the father who loves me. I don't want to agonize. I don't want to pray because he commands it or worse "presumes" it. And I know what you're going to say. It's not about what I want, but about what God wants. Well, I just can't imagine a loving God not being concerned with the needs of his children.
Lunch Time!
Richard,
ReplyDeleteThis might be a sign from God that I need therapy, but over my lunch hour I was able to come up with an opposing view to MY OWN posting.
I had heard your pasters message about prayer as having a fearful tone to it. Perhaps that fear was just in my head.
I have a best friend and 12 step sponsor named Don. I know that in order to stay sober and healthy I need to reach out to Don and call him. However, even though I enjoy talking to Don, I often avoid making connecitons with him. Partly because I'm an introvert and partly because I don't want to be honest about how my life is going. I think this is what the sermon may have been trying say about prayer and why it's agonizing. We have a tendency to want to avoid God, NOT because we fear God, but because we fear our true selves.
This is so sad that I'm now debating myself on your Blog.
That's interesting, Tim, as I didn't hear one bit of fear from him on Sunday. Could it be that you heard anticipation as fear? When we receive Jesus as our Savior, we are given the power to become the "sons of God" (John 1:12). Romans tells us that we cry "Abba" which means "Daddy". And Jesus taught us to pray, "Our Father". So yes, He is very much a loving heavenly Father. He loves us so much that He hates having sin destroy our lives and destroy our fellowship with Him. That's why Jesus came to earth and died -- to keep us from that penalty. I know that Pastor Burgraff said, "Even if I was the only person on this earth who had sinned, Jesus would have died for Dave Burgraff." You can't be anymore loved than that!
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, it's very true, that it is NOT God avoiding us. He has spent centuries seeking and saving men and women. He provided the only way we could ever have total access to Him through the sacrificial death of our Lord Jesus Christ. We avoid Him for the very reasons you stated, and especially when we know we're guilty. But we still need to come and repent and restore fellowship. There is no sweeter place than to be in God's presence enjoying Him. That, my friend, is what you recognize in Rich and I -- the joy of time spent in company with our Heavenly Father.
Tim, this was my very first post about my "journey" of faith. I think it will give a deeper perspective on what I was praying for and asking others to pray as well: http://richgelina.blogspot.com/2009/09/sometimes-its-blessed-to-receive.html
ReplyDelete